221+Agenda+-+10.18.12

Based on your preparation about discussion-based teaching, post questions, comments, and/or issues for discussion below: (Be sure to sign your post with three ~)

This seems like a great style in order to get kids engaged in what you are teaching, and in assessing their learning as you go. However, I know that I have encountered many situation with kids who just not comfortable being vocal about their answers and idea. It didn't mean that they didn't have them, they just did not excel in this situation. How do you reach those kids? More practically, how do you grade them?user:LuciaB2


 * Should discussions be graded? If so, how? Things to keep in mind: quality vs. quantity of participation, grading as an incentive, keeping the discussion focused on the whole class, and encouraging students to build on comments and make connections
 * What do you do with students who come to class unprepared for discussion? user:ellen623

What do you do with students who are too shy to participate and do not respond well to being singled out? Should this count against their grade? Also how do you take discussions in class and incorporate them to larger assessments or tests, or should they just be used scarcely for greater understanding on a certain topic? user:alanab2

How necessary is prior knowledge to discussion based teaching? The reading suggested that the students must have a substantial base of knowledge before begining the discussion, but couldn't the discussion be the lesson itself as the students figure out for themselves what the main points to be learned are?
 * During my first observed lesson I got gigged for focusing on the students who were raising their hands and ignoring those who were not actively trying to participate. Suzie Dennis suggested ways to get those who weren't trying to participate involved. One method would be to put everybody's name in a hat then "draw" the names of the students who don't want to talk. The only person who actually knows the name of the student is the teacher. If the student doesn't know what to say, move on to another student. But make sure to let that first student know that you are going to return to them with the same question, that way they have a few more moments to think of an answer as well as hear another students opinion.user:timis85.