Small Group Discussion Protocols

The use of protocols in the classroom to help facilitate learning can prove to be a highly effective strategy.  It allows a structure for students to collaboratively get the most out of their learning.  Using protocols will encourage quality conversations and allow equal participation by all students.

In searching for some protocol examples, I stumbled upon these three resources.  For a teacher just exploring the use of protocols or a teacher looking for some new ones - the links provided will be a great resource for you.

Three links are provided below.  Some protocols will be repeated, but each link will provide some ideas that the others do not include.  I also found one video to highlight one of the protocols in the first resource.

1.  Collaborative Group Work Protocols

A video example showing how to use the 1-3-6 protocol from the Teaching Channel:


2.  Small Group Discussion Protocols (20 Examples)

3.  Protocols for Culturally Responsive Learning and Increased Student Engagement

Student Engagement

Kids Speak Out on Student Engagement

When the students speak . . . . what should we as teachers do?  Providing an educational experience that is deeply meaningful is what we should give our students each day.  Their engagement must be a priority for us.  Students say they get more out of our class when it and their teachers ensure the following:

1. Working with their peers
2. Working with technology
3. Connecting the real world to the work we do/project-based learning
4. Clearly love what you do
5. Get me out of my seat!
6. Bring in visuals
7. Student choice
8. Understand your clients -- the kids
9. Mix it up!
10. Be human

Check out this link for more exploration on this study and these ten items:  http://goo.gl/QMK0bq

Color-Coded Elaboration Strategies in Writing

It sort of seems strange to blog about a blog - but what does one do when they come across a good idea and want to share it?  It is also a great way for me to capture an idea saving it for when an opportunity might come up to share it with a teacher.  The idea in this blog is such a great visual for students and gives them a structure for spicing up their own writing.  I believe it helps students become better writers when they see an idea modeled.

Blog - http://goo.gl/9xMT9B