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Silent Discussions

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.

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Silent Discussions

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  1. Silent Discussions Writing to Learn in all content areas

  2. What is a Silent Discussion? Class Discussion, except • Everyone participates • Everyone thinks • Everyone writes

  3. More of this…

  4. … and less of this (Yes, this is James Franco)

  5. Silent Discussion = Process Writing • Process > Product • Just like a classroom discussion!

  6. Research Base Process writing is the most effective strategy to raise reading scores (effect size 0.72) Writing to Read, 2010

  7. Silent Discussion • Read “Boss Hog—Part 1” • Form groups of 4 • Distribute a prompt to each member of the group • Respond to your prompt: 2 minutes • Pass clockwise • Respond to either the new prompt or your partner • Continue to pass and respond until you receive your prompt (four passes) • Summarize the discussion for the group

  8. General Procedure • Generate discussion questions • Group students in fours • Give students 2-4 minutes to write in each round • Give students option to respond to prompt or previous students • Original responders should summarize discussion for group—in writing or verbally • Give small groups time to discuss verbally • Move to whole class discussion if desired

  9. Silent Discussion Prompts/Questions Can 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?

  10. Flexibility Silent 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!

  11. Can be used to process reading:

  12. Can be used to process video:

  13. Can be used to process a lab:

  14. Can be used to process a field trip:

  15. Can be used to process a performance:

  16. Can be used to process a game:

  17. Or just about anything else!

  18. 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)

  19. 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

  20. 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!

  21. Assessment • Use as a formative assessment • What do they know? • Where are the gaps in their understanding? • What do I need to reteach?

  22. Assessment Give students participation points/credit Silent Discussion should take almost no time to grade!

  23. Assessment Skim students’ writing for content • Don’t assess conventions! (spelling, punctuation, grammar)

  24. Your turn Generate a set of four silent discussion prompts you can use during first term. Share with neighbors/group.

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