Numbered Heads Together, Random Spinner

Excellence in Education: Numbered Heads Together 

This is an oldie, but goodie from Spencer Kagan, a cooperative learning guru. I had great success using it for anything from unit reviews to the most complex, higher-order questions.

How to:

1. Students are placed in groups of 4. Assign each of the 4 a number (1-4).
2. You, as the teacher, pose a question. Of course, it helps for students to be  able to see the question as well as hear it.
3. Students individually think and write down their answers. Answers can be written on a their desks (using white board markers), individual white boards or on paper.
4. Provide the students with a set amount of time to answer the question individually and provide them with a countdown as time is about to expire.
5. After time is called, the group discusses the answer and works towards a consensus answer.
6. Each member of the group should be able to answer the question for the entire group.
7. Randomly call a number (1-4) and that student reports the answer to the entire class. Again, depending on the type of question, you could use this as a competition between groups by keeping score or by having all of the randomly called numbers write their answer on a small whiteboard. For example, after giving groups time to answer, tell them to erase their answers. Randomly call on a number and have all students who were that number write down the correct answer on their whiteboard. Then have them display their answers to you. It’s also great to ask follow-up questions too.  

Why it works?

1. Each student is accountable, but the team approach eliminates fear
2. It provides opportunities for students to talk and listen, making learning visible
3. Appropriate grouping means stronger students can support struggling students without feeling “slowed” by them

Ideas for the Classroom: Random Name Picker

You know I’m a big fan of cold-calling as a means of questioning and formative assessment. Russel Tarr—he of classtools.net and many other great things—has created a spinning wheel for random name selection.

To create your own wheel, go to http://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/ -> Edit/Save

After editing the names, click <Save this list as currently shown>

You’ll be prompted to save it using a password so you can have access to it in the future.

It can be embedded into a website and is accessible from ipads and iphones too.

Administrative Notes

I enjoyed our meeting on Friday. The responses to “Why do you teach?” varied greatly yet the underlying theme was always about helping our students. I promised the share with you the questions that I occasionally ask the students when I observe (or sometimes I’ll ask at lunch, on the bus ramp, etc.):

1. Why are you doing this?
2. What will it help you do?
3. How does it fit into what you’ve previously done?
4. How do you know you've met the objective/learned what the teacher wanted you to learn? How do you know you've done good work? What does quality work look like?
5. Did this activity make you think? Did you have an opportunity to be creative for this activity or assignment? Are you being challenged?
6. What do you do in this class if you need help? Are you comfortable asking questions?

 Please complete the professional development choice form by Friday

Let’s make greeting our students at the door and accurate attendance a goal of ours this year.

Positive Referral Link: http://goo.gl/s0KXRB

Work Order Request Form: http://goo.gl/H7hFwK

Tweet of the Week:

What I’m Reading

Teachers, Remember We Are a Work In Progress

World’s Most Famous Teacher Blasts School Reform (other great tidbits in Q-n-A format)

15 Examples of Student-Centered Teaching