Need help one more time :)
I am teaching English as a foreign language(8th graders)
I have a large text (A4 page) about Einstein.This text is divided into 7 paragraphs(Each paragraph deals with another aspect of Einstein's life - his childhood, life in Germany etc.)I have 29 learners in the class. How can i work with this text? I wouldn't like to split them into groups.Or should I better? I need some ideas (concrete ideas on what to do with this text) Before they start reading the text I will explain to them the unknown words.Should they read f.e. the first paragraph and then discuss it a little bit? Or something else?Interesting ideas? I have to mention that I don't have too much time to prepare myself for some sort of games, group works and similar
Thank you!!
Although this method was originally devised to deal with prejudice, you might want to use it in your situation.
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=jigsaw+method+of+teaching&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
I hope this helps.
what is another word for you
When working with a large text like this, there are a few approaches you can take to engage your students without necessarily splitting them into groups. Here are some ideas:
1. Preview and predict: Before reading the text, you can ask your students to quickly skim through the paragraphs and make predictions or ask questions about what they think the text will be about based on the headings or keywords they see. This will activate their prior knowledge and generate interest.
2. Round-robin reading: Assign different paragraphs to individual students and have them take turns reading aloud. This way, all students get a chance to participate and practice their reading skills.
3. Think-pair-share: After reading a paragraph, ask students to think individually about what they found interesting or important, then pair up with a partner to discuss their thoughts. Finally, have a few pairs share their ideas with the whole class. This encourages active engagement and collaboration.
4. Jigsaw reading: Divide the class into small groups and assign each group one or two paragraphs to focus on. Each group becomes an "expert" on their assigned paragraphs and discusses the main points, important details, or questions that arise. Then, reorganize the groups so that each new group has at least one member from each original group. In the new groups, students take turns explaining what they learned from their assigned paragraphs. This promotes deeper understanding and encourages students to rely on one another as resources.
5. Discussion stations: Divide the classroom into different stations, with each station representing a different paragraph. Assign small groups of students to visit each station and discuss the main ideas, ask questions, or share their interpretations of the paragraph. After a set amount of time, groups rotate to the next station. This provides an opportunity for movement, active engagement, and varied conversation.
Remember to allow time for the students to ask questions and clarify any misunderstandings they may have. Encourage them to refer back to the text for evidence and examples to support their ideas. By incorporating these strategies into your lesson, you can make the reading experience more interactive and engaging for your 8th-grade learners.