Fishbowl Discussions 7 th Grade Language Arts

“My Mother’s Food” Look back at your questions. How do you know they are “good” questions? Look back at your questions. How do you know they are “good” questions? Good questions are designed to find something that is not already there—to discover relationships and possibilities that are not given. Good questions are designed to find something that is not already there—to discover relationships and possibilities that are not given. Doing this promotes further discussion. Doing this promotes further discussion. Do your questions for “My Mother’s Food” fulfill these requirements? Do your questions for “My Mother’s Food” fulfill these requirements?

“White Umbrella” Create three more “good” questions with your group. Create three more “good” questions with your group. They should fulfill our requirements: They should fulfill our requirements: Good questions are designed to find something that is not already there—to discover relationships and possibilities that are not given. Good questions are designed to find something that is not already there—to discover relationships and possibilities that are not given. Doing this promotes further discussion. Doing this promotes further discussion. You should use the same category you used for “My Mother’s Food.” You should use the same category you used for “My Mother’s Food.”

Questions Completed? Please take out a sheet of paper. Put your name at the top. Please take out a sheet of paper. Put your name at the top. How did creating questions about these texts contribute to your understanding of the story? How did creating questions about these texts contribute to your understanding of the story? How did creating your particular questions about these texts contribute to your understanding of that category? How did creating your particular questions about these texts contribute to your understanding of that category?

Our Fishbowl Goal CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. So, how do we make this happen? So, how do we make this happen?

All of us will need to… Come to the discussion prepared, having read material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion. Come to the discussion prepared, having read material under study; explicitly draw on that preparation by referring to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe and reflect on ideas under discussion. What does this mean? What does this mean?

During the discussion we need to… Follow rules for collegial discussions and decision-making, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed. Follow rules for collegial discussions and decision-making, track progress toward specific goals and deadlines, and define individual roles as needed. What does this mean? What does this mean? In partners, decide on one rule you feel is needed to have a collegial discussion. In partners, decide on one rule you feel is needed to have a collegial discussion.

Period 3 Rules TODAY’S GOAL: Work together to make sense of “My Mother’s Food” and “White Umbrella” TODAY’S GOAL: Work together to make sense of “My Mother’s Food” and “White Umbrella” No interruptions. No interruptions. Everyone should express at least one idea. Everyone should express at least one idea. Do not digress. Stay focused on topic. Do not digress. Stay focused on topic. Speak in a professional manner. Speak in a professional manner. Build on others’ ideas. Build on others’ ideas. Respect others’ ideas. Respect each other. Respect others’ ideas. Respect each other. Move the conversation forward. Move the conversation forward.

Period 7 Rules TODAY’S GOAL: Work together to make sense of “My Mother’s Food” and “White Umbrella” TODAY’S GOAL: Work together to make sense of “My Mother’s Food” and “White Umbrella” Stay focused on the conversation Stay focused on the conversation Don’t make rude comments (be respectful) Don’t make rude comments (be respectful) Listen. Listen. Give everyone a chance to talk. Give everyone a chance to talk. Be serious about your contribution to the conversation. Be serious about your contribution to the conversation. Professional language/interactions Professional language/interactions Be encouraging Be encouraging

Period 8 Rules TODAY’S GOAL: Work together to make sense of “My Mother’s Food” and “White Umbrella” TODAY’S GOAL: Work together to make sense of “My Mother’s Food” and “White Umbrella” Pay attention and listen to others Pay attention and listen to others Don’t interrupt Don’t interrupt Be respectful towards others’ opinions Be respectful towards others’ opinions Be serious Be serious Contribute (questions/answers) Contribute (questions/answers) Allow/invite others to contriubte Allow/invite others to contriubte

During the discussion… Pose questions that connect the ideas of several speakers Pose questions that connect the ideas of several speakers Respond to others’ questions and comments with relevant evidence, observations, and ideas Respond to others’ questions and comments with relevant evidence, observations, and ideas Finish this statement on the back side of your paper: “So if I want to get a good grade on Thursday/Friday, that means I have to…” Finish this statement on the back side of your paper: “So if I want to get a good grade on Thursday/Friday, that means I have to…”

During the discussion… Acknowledge new information expressed by others, and when warranted, qualify or justify their own views in light of the evidence presented. Acknowledge new information expressed by others, and when warranted, qualify or justify their own views in light of the evidence presented. What does this statement mean? Please write it in your own words on the back of you paper. What does this statement mean? Please write it in your own words on the back of you paper.

Logistics Fishbowl Day Room Set Up: 20 minute sessions (3 different groups) 20 minute sessions (3 different groups) 9-10 chairs in the inner group (speaking group) 9-10 chairs in the inner group (speaking group) Rest of chairs in the outer group (observer group) Rest of chairs in the outer group (observer group) Outer circle student will evaluate an inner circle student. Teacher will assign those. Outer circle student will evaluate an inner circle student. Teacher will assign those. Teacher does not participate. The success of the conversation is in the hands of the inner group. Teacher does not participate. The success of the conversation is in the hands of the inner group.

Groups 3 rd Period Group 1: Adam, Eduardo, Stacia, Kira, Kameron, Kendall, Nick, Tyler, Dylan, Ashley W. Group 1: Adam, Eduardo, Stacia, Kira, Kameron, Kendall, Nick, Tyler, Dylan, Ashley W. Group 2: Alfredo, Gaby, Jelani, Brycen, Kamiya, Josh, Samaia, Myles, Cameryn, Group 2: Alfredo, Gaby, Jelani, Brycen, Kamiya, Josh, Samaia, Myles, Cameryn, Group 3: Nyah, Mikayla, Clarissa, Zakiya, Zoe, Kennedy, Abdel, Rokhaya, Seth Group 3: Nyah, Mikayla, Clarissa, Zakiya, Zoe, Kennedy, Abdel, Rokhaya, Seth

7 th Period Groups Group 1:Alissa, Brianna, Aaniyah, Arturo, Abigail, Destiny, Maxine, Tor, Landen, Micah Group 1:Alissa, Brianna, Aaniyah, Arturo, Abigail, Destiny, Maxine, Tor, Landen, Micah Group 2:Curtis, Aminah, Savannah, Jahleel, Justice, Morgan, Semaya, Aalyah, Lisa, Group 2:Curtis, Aminah, Savannah, Jahleel, Justice, Morgan, Semaya, Aalyah, Lisa, Group 3:Tahye, Robert, Benjamin, Chanel, Jetaun, Carlos, Tia, Tyra, Darriea, Group 3:Tahye, Robert, Benjamin, Chanel, Jetaun, Carlos, Tia, Tyra, Darriea,

8 th Period Groups Group 1:Lydia, Immanuel, Robert, Stephen, Lauren Group 1:Lydia, Immanuel, Robert, Stephen, Lauren Group 2:Chynah, Devin, Jeremiah, Anthony, Angel Group 2:Chynah, Devin, Jeremiah, Anthony, Angel Group 3:Kobee, Brittney, Kemba, Ariel, Jayla Group 3:Kobee, Brittney, Kemba, Ariel, Jayla

Assessment Being prepared for conversation Being prepared for conversation Engagement in the conversation Engagement in the conversation Ability to take notes/engage with conversation (even if in outer circle) Ability to take notes/engage with conversation (even if in outer circle) Collegiality Collegiality Posing questions Posing questions Answering questions using evidence from the text Answering questions using evidence from the text Acknowledge new information expressed by others Acknowledge new information expressed by others

Finally…. Lastly, tell me what you expect a successful Thursday/Friday class period to look like. Lastly, tell me what you expect a successful Thursday/Friday class period to look like.