The Art of Conversing PVF

Ron Nash describes how to model and teach students specific skills like summarizing or asking for a point of clarification...all linked to that first day lesson on "Active Listening". The strategy PVF paired verbal fluency gives students an opportunity to perhaps process something new that they have just viewed or heard. Ask the students to find a partner and decide who will be "A" and who "B". A will explain something for 30 seconds, and then switch to B who works at summarizing what A said. Then have the students switch roles from Listener to Speaker. B talks while A listens and then summarizes. Encourage the same "Active Listening" strategies that are now in place (appropriate body language, facial expressions, and eye contact). Having student use a sentence starter such as "You mentioned _____; tell me more about that." should help students begin to learn how to paraphrase what has been said.

Brainstorming and A Safe Classroom

Keeping our judgements aside we need to accept all student responses in a neutral fashion therefore creating a safe environment where all students are willing to share their thoughts. An idea I would like to try from my reading is for my students to journal a response about what, if anything have they noticed about how I have responded to their ideas, and comments during this first week of school. Have students take their journals, find a partner and talk about what they have written. Continue with a few more paired discussions and then choose a few students to share. This should lead to the class being able to develop a list of nonjudgmental behaviours that will be a model for us to follow all year.

Active Listening

The resource "From Seatwork To Feetwork" by Ron Nash has led me to reflect more carefully about how I do things in my classroom and to ask myself "Are ALL of my students actually engaged in their own learning?" I am now on a mission to reflect on my classroom processes to add more active student learning for my students. How refreshing! The first day will be all about Active Listening. This is the lesson so far. Without giving the students any information place the Active Listening Cards face down on each desk. (We want our students to build their own understandings and connections). Next have the students pick up the card and stand with a partner somewhere in the room. Then they will take turns sharing the sentence and discussing what the sentences have in common. Then ask them to thank each other, switch cards, hold their new cards in the a air and look for another classmate who has his or her card in the air. Then have the students begin the process over again until everyone has paired and shared several times. Finally the students will return to their seats and record their thoughts on reflection sheets "Skills for Listening" setting the purpose as to list as many listening skills as possible. Ask one or two students to share everyone can add the ideas to their lists. Then have students stand up in pairs and talk about what they have written down. They can add to their lists. Use music to move them from partner to partner. After taking time to do personal reflections discuss what all the cards have in common. The last part of the lesson will be to have the students watch the video. "Talking Twin Babies" As a group discuss how well the babies did with Active Listening. Finally create a class chart with the significant points of Active Listening. This will be our constant guide for the first week of school when we work in partners, whole group and then gradually move into triads and quads using the same Active Listening framework that we have developed as a class.

Preparing For The Frenzy

As I soak up the final days of the peace and tranquility that flows through the hallways my mind shifts to thoughts of my students who will arrive full of anticipation, anxiety, and excitement! I've finally sat down at what will be the guided reading...guided help table fairly satisfied with the results of my week long cleaning, setting up, and organizing of my room. Now I must dig deep and ready myself for the planning. I thought..."Why not plan your first few lessons on a blog?" and so here I am. This summer I have discovered 3 new amazing resources that will help me refine some of my current teaching strategies. The first "From Seatwork to Feetwork" by Ron Nash has motivated me, and challenged me to seek every opportunity I can to have my students listen, collaborate, and complete their assigned work in more engaged and active ways. The next few posts will document my journey of applying my new learning in the classroom.

By the way what does the view from your window look like? I love my window...