Melissa Hof

Mini Lesson

Conversation Roundtable

1. Conversation Roundtable
2. This activity is used to hold students accountable for the
conversations they have with their peers. Students
communicate with each other while recording each others and
their own thoughts.
3. Audience: Any grade level, any content, there is writing involved.
4. Text: Any text will work with the activity, it could also be a math
problem, a work of art, etc.
5. Guidelines for implementation: Fold an 8 12 by 11 sheet of
paper in quadrants. On the inner corner, which is opposite of the
edge that has open pages, fold down a triangle about 2 long.
This section will be the part in the center of the documentation
where the student writes their personal thoughts. Ask students
to write names in upper left box. Students then will read the
assigned text in groups of three or four. The text can be the
same for the whole class or diferent for each group. When
students have completed the reading they can discuss the text
together. When a peer is speaking, the other members of the
group should write that speakers name in an open quadrant.
When all the members of the group have spoken, each member
of the group writes an individual summary in the center of the
page.
6. Modification and Accommodations: Students can use any type of
computer system to record their thoughts. Students can draw
pictures in boxes instead of writing. Boxes could be labeled
before hand to keep students moving forward.
7. Strengths:
-group work
-actively listening
-making meaning of the subject
-hearing others thoughts and opinions about a subject
-receiving encouragement of thoughts and ideas
Weaknesses:
-mostly likely have to have strong multitasking skills
-students who are shy my feel uncomfortable