Collaboration is Delicious!

We just finished group science projects.  During research time in the classroom, students would often appear to be unfocused and not get a lot accomplished.  Moreover, some students complained about members of the group being silly and not contributing.  I thought, "Ugh!"  My first attempt at small group inquiry was not a success.

To help students assume individual accountability, I implemented the collaboration lesson, "Making and Using a Work Plan," from Comprehension and Collaboration by Stephanie Harvey and Harvey Smokey Daniels.  

Students were given the task of baking and decorating a cake.  After organizing themselves into groups, students were provided with a  Work Plan Form.  On the form students identifed the group members, their task, who was responsible for brining certain materials and doing specific tasks, and what help they would need from the teacher.  Students were required to sign the form as a sign of commitment.  

The next day, students followed the work plan to bake and decorate a cake a small group.  They collaborated exceptionally well, had fun, and enjoyed a tasty treat!  

I can't wait to have students use the work plan form to help them with their next small group inquiry!

Global Read Aloud

Our class has been particpating in the Global Read Aloud.  It is a global literacy initiative founded by Pernille Ripp.  It has connected more than 2 000 000 students in 60 different countries.  Pernille's goal is to have one book to connect the world.

For six weeks, our class read Pax by Sara Pennypacker.  It is the story of a twelve year old boy who is forced to abandon his domesticated fox when his father decides to join the approaching war.  Students enjoyed the story and liked how the chapters alternated between the perspectives of the boy and the fox.

Using Edmondo, our class made a connection with Mrs. Ballard's grade 5 class in Texas.  We used Google Hangouts to meet and discuss the book with each other on several occasions.

Our class using Google Hangouts to discuss Pax with Mrs. Ballard's class in Texas.

We also used #GRA16, #PaxSlowChat, and #GRAPax on Twitter to regularly communicate with others.  

Students would sometimes reply to questions posed by another class using a Padlet and we would tweet the Padlet.  It provided an authentic audience for the students.

The Global Read Aloud was a great experience and we can't wait to find out which books will be featured next year.

Campfire

We have begun to have campfires in our classroom.  Campfires are sharing circles.  

Sharing circles are a part of the oral tradition of the Anishinaabe.  Usually a talking stick is used in the circle when meetings take place or decisions need to be made.  A talking stick gives the speaker courage to speak the truth and the power to speak from the heart.  When a person is holding the talking stick, he/she speaks from the heart without interruption.  Other people in the circle listen respectfully to the speaker.  Everyone in the circle gets a chance to hold the talking stick and share his/her thoughts and feelings.  If somone chooses not to speak, he or she passes the stick to the next person until the stick has been passed to everyone participating.

In our classroom, we have adapted the sharing circle into a campfire with brags and drags. When I say, "Campfire", the students arrange themselves into a circle.  Sitting in a circle helps to build a sense of community.  We use a rock instead of a a talking stick to pass around the circle.  Students are only allowed to talk when he/she is holding the rock, otherwise they are listening.  Everyone is encouraged to share, but has the right to "pass".  Students share 2 pieces of information (2 brags, 2 drags, or 1 brag and 1 drag).  Brags are good things things that are happening to us and drags are not very happy things.  The rock is passed in a clockwise direction or as the sun rises and sets as is the custom in the Anishinaabe tradition.

Campfires or Sharing Circles are helpful in building positive relationships with students.  It allows me find out how each student is doing.  I might learn about an exciting hockey game played the night before or an upcoming trip.  I may also learn about things that are bothering students, such as a sick pet or a disagreement with a sibling.  Students also have the opportunity to learn more about me when I share.  Most of my brags and drags involve my two daughters.  The students seem to be more kind when the discover I have had a bad morning because my family slept in and my kids missed the bus.