KAGAN of the Month
February 2020
In Pairs , each student takes a turn solving a problem while the other coaches.
A crucial ingredient to student success is receiving specific and immediate help. While working independently on problem solving, students mat get stuck, be unaware of errors they are making, or not know how to solve even the first problem. Working alone, the minds of some students wander. In contrast, RallyCoach structures for immediate help. Each student has a coach, and each student is accountable to a partner for staying on task.
STEPS
Step 1
Partner A Solves
In shoulder partners, Partner A solves the first problem, verbalizing the steps or procedures aloud.
Step 2
Partner B acts as the coach. Partner B watches, listens, and checks. If Partner A gets an incorrect answer or needs help, Partner B coaches. If Partner A solves the problem correctly, Partner B praises.
Step 3
Students switch roles and Partner B now solves the next problem, talking it out.
Step 4
Partner A now acts as the coach: watching, listening, checking, coaching, and praising.
Tips
- Shoulder Partners. Students work as shoulder partners to help lessen the ability gap. the high - and low - medium students are shoulder partners, and the low and high - medium students are partners. The benefit of pairing with shoulder partners is no partner needs to read upside down, as is the case with face partners.
- Think Aloud. Model for students what it means to verbalize their thinking as they solve the problem.
- Consult Teammates. If the pair gets stuck on a problem or has a question, they can consult the other pair on their team.
- Teach Coaching. Model for students what good coaching looks like and sounds like.
- Teach Praising. Have students generate and practice surprising and delightful praise prior to using RallyCoach.
- Sponge. Pairs will finish at different times, so have more problems, an activity or independent work to do after they are done.
- No Grades. Beacuse there is no way to tell which student the work, RallyCoach is not graded.
RELATED STRUCTURE
Steps
- Sage Instructs Scribe
The sage orally describes to the scribe how to perform a task or solve a problem. - Scribe Writes Solution, Tutors if Necessary
The scribe solves the problem in writing according to the sage's step-by-step oral instructions. If the sage gives incorrect instructions, the scribe tutors the sage. - Scribe Praises Sage
After completion of the problem, the scribe praises the sage. - Partners Switch Roles
Students switch roles for the next problem or task.
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Note From Your Coach:
Josh Van Tassel
Imagine Kissimmee Charter Academy
Email: josh.vantassel@imagineschools.org
Website: www.imaginekca.org
Phone: 407-847-1400
Twitter: @TheEngagingVT