Here is Angie demonstrating for us the difference between mere Circling and actually gathering information because she wants to know what her students are actually thinking (communication). The kids’ answers are short and easy for them to create and the topic is interesting. I personally wouldn’t have allowed Isaac to keep his head down. I would have him out of there or faking it. Just my own opinion.
Hi Ben,
I want to share a conversation that took place in my combined Novice 1 and 2 class today in Block 4. All in TL.
Me: (asking for gestures) Show me “wins”. Show me “loses”
Student 1 (Quincy): I never lose!
Student 2 (Sadie): I never lose too!
Me: You always win?
Student 1: Yes!
Me: Class, does Quincy sometimes lose?
Class: No! Quincy never loses!
Me: Does Sadie lose?
Class: No! Never!
Me: Is it good to never lose?
Student 3: No! People who never lose are not nice.
Student 4: It’s impossible to never lose.
Me: So it’s good to lose sometimes. Isaac, is it good to lose sometimes?
Isaac: (picking his head up off the desk)…huh?
Me: Is it good to lose sometimes?
Isaac: Yes.
Me: It’s important to win sometimes and to lose sometimes? (I had to translate the infinitive “to lose”)
Students: Yes.
I thought that this was very sophisticated!