Week 2: Teaching with Concentric Circles

(Resiliency Mandala)

This week, following the state visit, I was researching interactive activities for warm - ups (Do Nows) and discovered the versatility of concentric circles.

I am making a Powerpoint of these activities based on the concept of "Think Maps" and decided to try one out, to see how students responded to it.

It was a hit!

Day one, I had students brainstorm everything that they already know about the Main Idea/Essential Message/Central Point with a partner after explaining (Direct Teaching) how to make the Concentric Circle (Think Map) and where to put their ideas...

First, I showed students examples of how the "Circle Map" can be used:

Then, I modeled how to make one of their own...

In the center of the circle, students were asked to write in the benchmark/theme ; the Main Idea.

Next, students were asked to write the attributes of this benchmark:
-What is the main idea?
-How do you find the main idea?
-Where is the Main Idea located in a passage?

This proved to be quite challenging for most of my 11th grade students but I allowed them to brainstorm and discuss their ideas and experiences learning about the main idea with one another, and then with me whole group.

Outside of the circle, we discussed resources:
-who they can go to to learn more about the main idea (ex. teacher, tutor)
-where they could research the main idea further (ex. internet, Google, textbook)

The next day, students were directed to turn to their textbook as a resource; Improving College Reading Skills and to revisit their previous days notes...

I helped them (guided Practice) to navigate through the text and to use it in much the same way one would use the SQ3 or 4 R strategy and to elaborate on their Think map.

Each class, by the end of the day, overwhelmingly agreed that they enjoyed using the Think Map vs Two Column Notes and Outlining and that for most of them, it meet their learning style and deepened their understanding of this benchmark.

For those students that continued to struggle with it, I worked with them in small groups and even though a few of them still did not seem to get the "feel" of it, I assured them that IF they always referred back to the Think Map, EACH time that we were asked to focus on the Main Idea, that they would eventually grasp the concept because our brain now has background knowledge and visual tools and references to draw from.

I will try to scan a few of the maps and post them here at a later date.