I will be presenting a strategy called Save the Last Word for Me. This is a strategy that requires students to think deeply about statements in a text. The strategy begins with students reading the text and writing down five statements from the text on five separate index cards. On the back of each card students must record their response to the statement. After filling out the index cards students form small groups for discussion. The discussion portion of this strategy is unique because it gives students an opportunity to reflect on what they read and to hear peer’s views before offering their won response to the statements in the text. The discussion begins with a student reading one of his/her statements. Then the other students in the class must discuss the statement while the student who presented the statement must wait until the end of the discussion to read his/her comments. This allows the student to have the “last word” on the topic.
-Kelly Campbell