On Day 12, Dr. Fisher shares the benefits of grouping your students intentionally, as opposed to randomly or allowing the students to group themselves.
Make conversations even more productive by placing your students into balanced groups using the Alternate Ranking method.
CLASSROOM TASK: INTENTIONALLY FORM STUDENT GROUPS
Intentionally form groups based on your assessment information. You can use Lexile reading levels, or any other current information you have on student performance. List them by name, cut the list in half, and form the groups across.
Try out any strategy we’ve used in the past with groups formed using Alternate Ranking to assess the impact of creating student groups with intention.
This journal can be used to reflect on what you have learned as you develop strategies for engaging your students in collaborative conversations.
When students assume increased responsibility for discussions, and when they interact with a wide range of peers on diverse topics, and supply evidence for their thinking, great things happen.