The image above and to the left depicts my class of second graders researching an ocean animal with their group members. The image on the right shows the final project. The students were directed to create an informational poster that focused on one ocean animal. They were to draw a picture of the animal in the center and write four facts- one in each corner.
Reciprocal teaching is a teaching strategy that helps students with comprehension by forcing them to think deeply about what they are reading. There are three jobs. The predictor looks at the next pages to predict what will happen in the story and must justify their prediction with evidence. The summarizer must recognize the main idea of the passage read and articulate that main point to their classmates. And finally, the questioner must develop a deeply thinking question. This strategy has been lead by me in a workshop setting with small groups as well as whole class.
During my student teaching year I was tasked with the responsibility to teach a math workshop group focusing on the standard 4.oa Operations and Algebraic Thinking. This math workshop was spread out through 3-5 grade with each teacher taking a standard. The students took an assessment that identified holes in their knowledge. Then with two days a week spanning three weeks the students focused on whatever standard they needed regardless of grade level. My workshop group had six students: two third graders, two fourth graders, and two fifth graders.