SESSION 5
The Core Six:
1. Reading for Meaning
2. Compare & Contrast
3. Inductive Reasoning
4. Circle of Knowledge
5. Write to Learn
6. Vocabulary’s CODE
Circle of Knowledge
Provides a strategic framework for planning and conducting discussions that foster student participation and critical thinking.
Using Circle of Knowledge
to Address the Common Core
1. Effective oral communication is a crucial 21st century skill
21st Century Skills (CC Report Card)
Effective Communicator
The ability to communicate effectively.
• Listens attentively to gain understanding.
• Communicates needs and concerns effectively.
Using Circle of Knowledge
to Address the Common Core
2. Speaking and listening require thinking.
CCSS STANDARDS: Speaking and Listening
1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
2. Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
3. Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
Using Circle of Knowledge
to Address the Common Core
3. Discussions build collaborative and interpersonal skills.
21st Century Skills (CC Report Card)
Community Contributor
The understanding that it is essential to work together.
• Participates cooperatively and appropriately with others to achieve shared goals.
• Shows respect and recognizes feelings of others.
The THE WHY (Research)
Essential Criteria
for Successful Discussions
high degree of student participation
strong focus on essential content
high levels of thinking
Techniques for Increasing Participation
• Pose an open-ended question to the whole class.
• Have students do a “provisional writing” to clarify their
ideas and thoughts
• Allow students to test and share ideas in small
groups
Techniques for Increasing Participation
Use a variety of recognition techniques
Student Calling
Round Robin
Sampling
Redirection
Techniques for Increasing Participation
3. Court controversy
4. Get students personally and actively involved
People Graph
Priority
Pyramid
People Graph
Physical Barometer
Sometimes students need help formulating their responses…
How can we help them get started?
Techniques for Keeping Focus
1. Note Taking - circle or tree maps work great!
2. Record Responses and Summarize Often!
Techniques for Encouraging Higher Levels of Thinking
Impulsiveness is the enemy of deep thinking!
Q Pose a Question
S Silence and Wait Time
P Probe
A Accept
C Clarify
E Elaborate
Sample Lesson
English Language Arts and Social Studies
Purpose: Students read The Drinking Gourd, a chapter book about a family of abolitionists who help a family of runaway slaves to freedom.
Circle of Knowledge: Being used by the teacher to help students explore and develop their own perspective on this issue.
Focus Question: Were the Fullers right to break the law?
Synthesis Activity: With the teacher’s help, students write an opinion paper taking a position on whether the family was right or wrong to break the law.
Sample Lesson
English Language Arts and Social Studies
Planning Considerations
Good discussions take planning!!!
Use the following questions to plan!
• What are my topic and purpose?
• How will my focusing question(s) set up the discussion?
• How will my “sparkling questions” generate student interest?
• How will students acquire the necessary information?
• How iwll I use effective discussion techniques?
• What will students do as a result of the discussion?
Moving Forward
•Think of a lesson where you could use
Circle of Knowledge.
•Use the card to record your thoughts (provisional writing).
Moving Forward
• Group share
• Select one of the recognition techniques to use in your group.
Student Calling
Round
Robin
Wrap Up
1. Reading for Meaning
2. Write to Learn
3. Compare and Contrast
4. Inductive Learning
5. Circle of Knowledge