TERMINOLOGY IN OUR CLASSROOM
Team Huddles--Students form groups of three to four people of their choice. These groups are used for small group projects and Literature Circles on a weekly basis. By asking the students to form their own groups of two to three, they feel autonomous in their choices. However, as teachers we have the opportunity to combine the small groups in order to provide diversity in our classroom.
Pre-game Warm-ups--A free-writing exercise that students will be required to work on during the first five minutes of class. As students enter the classroom a question or a topic will be written on the chalk board. This exercise will be used everyday for the purpose of introducing our topics and helping the students connect their experiences in the classroom with their experiences in "the real world."
Playbook--This journal is where students have the opportunity to write their pre-game warm-ups, reflections on class discussions and themes. It is our hope that the students will use this play book to help generate class discussion, ideas for paper topics, and create an environment where peer interaction is encouraged.
Season Flashback Folders--While adhering to the extra-curricular theme in our classroom, season flashback folders is our description for the common term portfolio. These folders will be a representation of all of the work and progress made by our students throughout the quarter.
Team Time--Open class discussion. We want Team Time to be student-centered, where students can interact with the class as a whole.