Plus, Minus and Idea

Feedback is important. BOPDs learned a new way to assess a classmate's presentation by using the Plus,Minus, Idea format. This format organizes our thoughts and focuses our feedback on implementing change and learning from each other.

In this presentation, a due shared a passion project about fashion.

I Can Statements for Communication

Passion Projects are framed by skills. Our previous focus was on research and now it ha shifted to communication. BOPDs have a routine of assessing a presentation based on a criteria. We changed this routine by using I Can Statements of communication for assessment. Students write the statement on their slates before the presentation begins, and when it is completed, they give their assessment using their learning cups. Then a dialogue begins between the presenter and the audience.

Communication Styles

Our current read aloud is a non-fiction book entitled, "Improving Your Communication". One section talks about communication styles. Ms Montilla read this to the class before they paired up for Reading Workshop. She asked students to be mindful of their styles and to reflect on how it affects their interactions. Reflecting about our communication styles throughout the day has raised awareness about the way we interact.

The Value of Process

Once upon a time there were three authors who chose to collaborate on a story 

about a sport they all loved - cricket. 

A group of students encountered an issue about their collaborative story. They were disagreeing on the setting of a main event. This necessitated the need to go back to their story plan to verify what had been agreed upon, with an eye for revision if necessary.

The conversation was thorough, and filled with rich discourse. There were further disagreements that urged clarifications from everyone involved. During this dialogue, all three were mindful of how they were communicating with each other.

A solution was reached and the story continues with the three authors reverting to the roles that they assigned to themselves. After the discourse and before they returned to writing, they reflected about the process and what helped them. They pointed out that they needed to stay calm, they focused on rethinking their ideas, and that hearing everyone's opinions was important.

Communication

We added a new routine in our class. Aside from the individual focus skills, we will also focus on one skill as a class. This routine entails us some of us playing a game, while the rest of us watch. After the game, we engage in a discussion about our observations and reflections on the chosen skill. Our first collective skill is communication, and the game we are playing requires two players who are seated back to back and trying to create the same structure using polygon tiles. One student is the giver of information, and the other is the receiver. Both may ask questions throughout the game and one the structure is completed, they stand up and join the class in the discussion.