Title – Literature Chatroom

By – Dawn Pawlowski

Primary Subject – Language Arts

Grade Level – 6-12

Objectives: Students will…

(1) Summarize important events in a reading,

(2) Respond to higher level thinking questions, and

(3) Show evidence of critical thinking skills in the English/Language Arts content area.

Materials Needed:

(1) Post-It Easel Pad or Butcher Paper and

(2) Markers

Step-by-Step Tasks:

(1) Complete a reading for a piece of literature. It can either be a short story, movie, chapter, or entire novel. Reading can occur in class or as the homework assignment from the previous night.

(2) Set up stations around the room. Each station should have Post-it note paper or a large piece of butcher paper. On each piece of paper, write down a question pertaining to the reading. Questions should be higher-level thinking and/or opinion questions. The number of questions depends on the (a) size of the classroom, (b) number of students, and (c) length of reading.

(3) Give each student a different color marker. Have students divide themselves among the questions. Start with having 1-2 students at each station.

(4) Give students 3 minutes at each station. During their time, students will answer the question. When students are done, have them sign their initials or name. Use a verbal or nonverbal signal to let students know when their time is up.

(5) Students should have time to rotate to each of the different stations. As students begin to answer the questions, students can either respond to the initial question or to another student’s response.

Different Approaches:

(1) Allow students to create questions.

(2) Use the student’s desks as rotations. Instead of writing on large pieces of paper, put a pad of paper at each desk. Students can rotate to all of the desks within the classroom.

E-Mail

Dawn Pawlowski

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