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SILENT DISCUSSIONS Writing to Learn in all content areas

Silent Discussions

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Silent Discussions. Writing to Learn in all content areas. What is a Silent Discussion?. Class Discussion, except Everyone participates Everyone thinks Everyone writes. More of this…. … and less of this. (Yes, this is James Franco). Silent Discussion = Process Writing. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Silent Discussions

SILENT DISCUSSIONSWriting to Learn in all content areas

Page 2: Silent Discussions

What is a Silent Discussion?

Class Discussion, except

• Everyone participates• Everyone thinks• Everyone writes

Page 3: Silent Discussions

More of this…

Page 4: Silent Discussions

… and less of this

(Yes, this is James Franco)

Page 5: Silent Discussions

Silent Discussion = Process Writing• Process > Product

• Just like a classroom discussion!

Page 6: Silent Discussions

Research Base

Process writing is the most effective strategy to raise reading scores (effect size 0.72)

Writing to Read, 2010

Page 7: Silent Discussions

Silent Discussion1. Read “Boss Hog—Part 1”2. Form groups of 43. Distribute a prompt to each member of the group4. Respond to your prompt: 2 minutes5. Pass clockwise6. Respond to either the new prompt or your partner7. Continue to pass and respond until you receive your

prompt (four passes)8. Summarize the discussion for the group

Page 8: Silent Discussions

General Procedure1. Generate discussion questions 2. Group students in fours3. Give students 2-4 minutes to write in each round4. Give students option to respond to prompt or previous

students5. Original responders should summarize discussion for

group—in writing or verbally6. Give small groups time to discuss verbally7. Move to whole class discussion if desired

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Silent Discussion Prompts/QuestionsCan be general:• How does this relate to what we’ve learned so far in this unit?• What are the most import ideas to remember from the

reading? Why?• What was the hardest part for you to understand? What did

you do to help yourself?

Can be specific:• List the steps in the Krebs Cycle.• How would the US have been different if FDR lost the election

in 1932?• How can this formula be applied in a real-life situation?

Page 10: Silent Discussions

FlexibilitySilent discussion can be used • Before a traditional class discussion

• Everyone will have something to say!

• After a traditional class discussion• Everyone will get to participate!

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Can be used to process reading:

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Can be used to process video:

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Can be used to process a lab:

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Can be used to process a field trip:

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Can be used to process a performance:

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Can be used to process a game:

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Or just about anything else!

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Variations• Have students generate discussion questions (advanced)

• Allow students to generate discussion without prompts—i.e. begin with a blank sheet of paper (even more advanced)

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What Can Go Wrong?

Unprepared students (didn’t read, absent for lab, etc.)

• Option 1: Hold them out and have them catch up on work

• Option 2: Let them participate, sharing what they do know and posing insightful questions about what they don’t

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What Can Go Wrong?• Fluent and Disfluent writers in the same class• Option 1: Homogenous

grouping • Option 2: Heterogeneous

grouping

• This kind of writing builds fluency!

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Assessment• Use as a formative assessment• What do they know?• Where are the gaps in

their understanding?• What do I need to

reteach?

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Assessment

Give students participation points/credit

Silent Discussion should take almost no time to grade!

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Assessment

Skim students’ writing for content

• Don’t assess conventions! (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

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Your turnGenerate a set of four silent discussion prompts you can use during first term.

Share with neighbors/group.