I kind of like the term Watch and Discuss that Ruth uses in her a comment this morning, which I am making into a post so we can put it into the new “Watch and Discuss” category along with the existing “Movietalk” category. (What do we want to end up calling this activity?)
Here is Ruth on the process and thank you for describing this for us, Ruth:
One Possible Routine for Watch & Discuss:
Day 1 prep:
Choose short clip with repetitive action (3 +/- min)
Make a list of all the verbs used in the clip (acquired, familiar, new)
Choose screenshots and create a presentation if you want (no text at first). Screen shots take time.
I did not use screen shots on Day 1 this time. But now I have them.
Day 1 in class:
Establish meaning and TPR or whatever the new verbs
TPR all the verbs for this clip, extra practice with the new ones (“Snow Business” is all about TPR)
Establish meaning of any new nouns if not obvious.
Brief comprehensible introduction to the story in TL
Show the clip (all, part, or screen shots depending on you, your classes, and the clip)
Sometimes it’s good to not show the end at first.
Always show with sound off if there is speaking or you can have sound on if it’s just music and sound effects.
Show the clip again, stopping to ask questions (1-2 word answers), circle, and narrate. Get in as many reps as possible. They’ve already seen it so they won’t be so impatient.
Show the clip a third time straight through while students call out words, phrases, whatever they can as they see things happen. THIS IS A WINNER THING TO DO. THEY LOVE IT!
Day 2 prep:
Create presentation with screenshots if you haven’t already – This takes time.
Add text to screen shots (Example in French: Simon’s Cat – Snow Business)
Alternatively, write up the story. Takes less time than screenshots.
Follow-up activity idea (parallel story, act out, Textivate, cooperative “mural”, sentence frames…)
It’s great how you can use and reuse the same clip, same screenshot PP at different levels; just change the targets, the discussion, and the text. The screenshots take a lot of time, so it’s good to be able to reuse. Of course, you can also just make fewer of them! I got a little carried away perhaps with my newfound skill.
Day 2+ in class:
ROA the story with the screenshots or the reading – Include as much circling as possible.
I sometimes forget to work the story as much as I should.
Follow-up activity if time (parallel story, act out, Textivate, whatever works for you and your kids)