Yesterday, I presented a new assessment tool for teachers and students to support thinking about, talking about, and reflecting on Big Ideas. This "simple tool" combines a cluster of reading, thinking, writing, and collaborative competencies. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity.
Here’s how it works:
- Step One -Storyboarding in Three Frames
Learners must be able to distill the essence of the text or the talk down to three essential moments. These are captured visually in the storyboard frames. - Step Two: Two Words
You know the two word strategy is one of my favorite! During this phase, learners must chose two words that best capture the meaning of their images. Two words are given for each of the three storyboards. - Final Step: Big Idea Statement
Learners must be able to write a clear and concise statement articulating the "Big Idea" of the entire text…in their own words! They are encouraged to included some of the vocabulary and language used in step two within their Big Idea summary statement.
Today, I will be presenting a lesson to students on Big Ideas in Nonfiction. I will be sharing our 3,2,1 samples very soon!
If you would like to give this strategy a try, it works for all levels of learners. Feel free to adapt and change it to meet your needs. Just click below and download immediately!
