Jigsaw Kahoot for Collaboration

As an ESL teacher I've always been a HUGE fan of making students talk to each other. It could be about their day, what we've read, or working on questions together. In my opinion we cannot teach English to be just writing and formal presentations, they need to speak and collaborate with one another.

Now, I teach a lot more literature, though many of my students are still ESL students, and I still find that they should be talking to one another!

A long loved activity of teachers to encourage collaboration has been the jigsaw (no puzzle required). This blog will discuss the traditional jigsaw and throw in a more modern endings by adding Kahoot. As always there are other low tech or no tech ways to achieve this that will be discussed.

The next lesson I teach is Oedipus Rex, so that's where well start.

Prep Work

Readings. I am very fortunate to have small class sizes (under twenty students). You'll essentially be creating two different sets of groups. I do this with colors and shapes. For the sake of simplicity, pretend you have a class of nine students. I would group them into: Star, Circle, Triangle, Star, Circle, Triangle, Circle, Star, Triangle.

That means each student is in two different groups: color and shape. These groups don't need to be exactly the same, but it is helpful (so in a class of 15, you could have 3 shapes and 5 colors). Keep in mind that how ever many colors you have, that's how big the groups will be at the end. I don't like having them much bigger than 5, and some teachers may want it smaller than that.

For this class, I did it by column and note cards.

Each row has shared readings (and the same color note card) and the columns can easily get together when the groups need to be composed of different colors.

Readings
Each text is labeled with a different color. You can differentiate a bit here.  In this class seating arrangements are actually purposefully arranged so I can do activities like this and have similar students across. If I want students working with someone similar to them, then they face left or right. If I want a more mixed group they look forward or back.

Some things to consider are to give a slightly more difficult text to the students at higher reading levels, and a slightly easier text to students who struggle more with reading. Sometimes I have one group watch a video, one group listen to a song, and one group read a short news article.

To start, each student listens / reads / watches their assignment and answers the questions given. This is usually done on their own.

This can also be done in more of a literary circles fashion. All students are reading the same text, but different colors are focusing on different sections (vocabulary, plot, character development, etc.)

In this case I gave students ten minutes to read their article and take the best notes they could take on their note card.

Small Group Check
Once done, students move into a small group with everyone who has the same color as them. As they all had the same assignment they have the chance to share out here. Did they not understand something? Do they need more guidance? Did someone see something no one else did?


Mixed Groups Share
This is where it gets fun. Students move to another group that has the same shape, but DIFFERENT colors. They leave their worksheets behind, but get to bring their note cards with them. That means all of these students are joining the group with new information. They are the resident experts, and where the jigsaw activity gets its name. Each student has a piece of the puzzle and everyone needs to pitch in to make the puzzle complete.

In many cases they simply share with one another to complete a worksheet or let other students add to their notes. I've seen some teachers pass out a "Group test" and the group is graded based on the answers they come up with together. However, to add some fun to it this is a GREAT time to play Team Kahoot.

Many of you know I love Kahoot. I've blogged about making Kahoots as a teacher, and having your students make them. Team Kahoot, was a new function brought up this Spring. It's great for classrooms with limited tech as more than one student can sign on as part of the same team.

In this case it's great because the questions are made based on ALL of the colors, so one student can't dominate and take over for everyone else. Instead all of the students need to work together. You can see the Kahoot here in all its glory.

I did this today with my class of 15. It took us a solid 45 minutes which included reading, note-taking, making groups, Kahooting, and me explaining while we Kahooted. Students LOVED it and it was a great way to prepare them for Oedipus Rex next class.

Any questions or comments let me know below or tweet me at mELTingTeacher. I'd love to know if you plan on using something like this as is or adapting it to your class.

Interactive Texts - Actively Learn

There's this idea that learning starts and stops at my door

My boyfriend is moving into his own house and I got him this awesome rug. He commented that with the rug "it felt like home." It was a silly comment, but I get it. I often feel like when my students cross the rug into my classroom they "feel like learning." But then, when they leave the classroom, they feel like the learning stops, and I don't want that.

For example, my students tend to be low readers. I like to read in class because we can annotate together. I can ask questions at pivotal points to be sure students understand (before moving on). I like to take polls to see what students think will happen next. I like to explain background if there's an allusion or other reference my students won't understand. If I just assign them reading on their own... they don't get that full experience, and often won't bother reading at all.

So when possible, we try to read in class. Here's the problem, I can't do it. There just isn't enough time. As much as I would love to do all of the reading in class, that would mean all activities would turn into homework, and I don't like that idea either.

On a similar note, since my school has gone 1:1 a lot of my reading has gone online. We still have books but we also have e-books, articles, etc. Sometimes we read directly from the website in question; other times they are moved into a different site...maybe a school LMS, or a discussion board.

There are quite a few options out there. Today's blog talks about ActivelyLearn.

ActivelyLearn

This is a site with an assortment of already created texts. Some of these texts are just the texts (A Christmas Carol) whereas others have assignments build in (The Gift of the Magi). The ones with assignments include multiple choice questions, polls, helpful annotations and short answer questions. All questions are  aligned with Common Core standards.

Like so many education websites out there this is a free site with free articles, but you can pay for some texts and other premium services they offer.

Most of the texts I've been interested in have been free, but the ones that charge cost per student for a period of time. For example, Sarah Plain and Tall is $0.99 per student for 3 months.

In addition to texts that are already set up for you, a free account lets you import up to 3 internet articles, PDFs, or Google Documents each month. I like using Google Documents. If you use a pdf you can only ask questions at the end of each page instead of throughout.

Once you've uploaded or selected a text you can edit the questions and annotations or add your own.

When students read the text, it is like I am there with them! They can see my annotations (or watch videos I've annotated with more information). Plus, they can add their own annotations and comment on the annotations others have left! It is like having a conversation without being in the same room.

In fact, I can pop in and respond as well. This especially works well over the break when they have assignments I can pop in and check on throughout a period of time. I love that the text becomes a discussion board they can look at later when rereading.

It also helps build a culture of students helping students and really learning from one another (instead of just looking for the answers from me).

When they get to a question or poll they have to answer before they can move on. This is great! Recently I was at a conference that mentioned one of the best things to do to help students read at a level that is higher than what they are used to is to chunk the text.  Having them stop to answer questions does just that!

Once they've answered they can see if they got it right or wrong, and how other people in the class answered. We all know immediate feedback is key. Plus, this way they can be better prepared to continue reading.

Short answer questions don't get graded until the teacher goes through and grades them as incomplete, basic, proficient, or excellent. However, they can see the answers other students gave after they have given their own. They can also comment on the answers other students left (or just "like" them to show support).

OK, regardless of the annotations and the help from friends you're stuck. You don't understand a word. There's help!

Students just click on the unknown word. They can hear the word, see a definition or have it translated into Spanish (more languages soon!).

If those steps don't help, or they are still stuck they can click, "I don't understand!" and it alerts the teachers.

To review

Pros for students

• Like I've discussed this is great for lower readers because it chunks the text
• Students can check their understanding as they go
• Great for the culture of the classroom (students helping students)
• Unknown words are easily looked up   

 Cons: 

• This does require the Internet. Students won't be able to read if they can't connect.
• Some teachers / parents / students have issues with screen time and this can add to it

Pros for Teachers

• Read with the students even if you aren't there
• Automatic grading (except for short answers)
• Built in gradebook that labels each assignment and an overall grade.

 Cons: 

• None really... I love it! 
• There is an adjustment period, for some students who are used to all reading being done in class. However, I think that's great for student accountability.

Have you ever used ActivelyLearn? Any questions I can answer, or suggestions? Blog posts to come on GoFormative, Cirriculet, and more options!
Disclosure: I received the rug exchange for review from Giveaway Service website. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Reference ID: e9e0e7a5b3b1