Critical Literacy - Extended Discussions

 Observation of RA in LS2

With my goal around improving my teaching of critical literacy I observed RA getting her Year 7/8 class to discuss a topic in their groups. They were clearly very practised and I have a long way to go with my Year 4's to get that fluidity. I was very impressed. The 7/8 class have been using the technique of T Shaped Literacy which is about using different texts and connecting the concepts; for example, gender bias and stereotyping. 

The lesson included Building Connections by looking for patterns, A provocation statement, ( Are all brainy people nerds); Words are gifted with definitions to build vocabulary, and the students are each given a word to use at least twice in the discussion. The students looked up the gifted words and wrote the definitions on a large piece of paper.  As I listened to one group, I was very impressed with the way each student would say I agree/disagree with you (name) because.

I realise that a lot of work with the students and setting the rules and roles of the group had been done in the months prior and I know that these are Year 7/8s. Looking at what I need to do with my group is to get the discussions going and bring in the vocabulary at a later date. I am finding with my students they are not reading for meaning and understanding so answering questions about the text need more evidence seeking work.  I have decided to do one text a week and one poem so that I keep the momentum of sustained meaning over a longer text. 

RA advised I use nursery rhymes as she had modelled for my group with Humpty Dumpty. Watching RA draw my students into a discussion without the reading cards and setting the groups norms was a very positive experience, and for me to see how to get my students to come up with questions.

Extended discussion is a new idea for me. I like the way that it teaches students the skills of explaining their stance without an argument. This is a life skill for the students.

Other things I need to bring in are developing the vocab (gifting the words) and have the students come up with questions. I have planned questions for this week, however, I am thinking I let them come up with the questions and I have my questions hidden on a link to ask at the end.