Welcome to our Supporting Deeper Thinking Webinar.

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• We will begin the webinar at 4:00.

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Backchannel DiscussionsAnalyzing students’ comments and questions

Objectives Analyze the thinking behind students’

comments Discuss ways to lift or extend the

thinking a deeper/higher level Noticing patterns in student comments

What is a Backchannel?Means for maintaining a

simultaneous real-time online conversation during a presentation or group activity.

Examples: Twitter, Edmodo, Padlet, TodaysMeet, Google Doc, Haiku

Sometimes students share a comment that may seem literal or lower level thinking that we as teachers can support them to move beyond to higher thinking.

Modeled: Finn Let’s take a look at one of Finn’s comment from

The Top of the World: Climbing Mount Everest

Guided: Aidan

Independent Practice

You will have a chance to complete an analysis of a student’s comment after this webinar.

You fill find it on the Task 3 Assignments page.

Reflecting and Assessing Backchannel Discussions

Comparing comments from Maddie and Kiet

What can you glean from studying a backchannel

discussion?

Look for evidence that… students are actively engaged in the text

with one another. students respond to and build on one

another’s ideas when given time. students’ comments show understanding. students’ comments can be read by

others. students are practicing polite and

respectful exchanges.

Maddie Could this have something to do with a war? @Brynn do you say uh-oh about the year? Do you know

something about that year? I do think this is war time because of the bombed

buildings and the planes flying overhead. But is the war still going on or is it just after?

@Kiara I agree. I’m also wondering why they can’t get a lot of food. Why is this family so dependent on the chickens?

The illustrations in this book are so pretty. I wonder if there are any other books by this author?

@Isak What makes you think that? (In response to “I wonder if this family is part of the holocaust.”)

I like that line…the chocolate found her. I wonder where the author came up with that?

Is that the end??? I have so many unanswered questions!

Kiet What is the berlin air lift and how did

candy fall from the sky? I think there was a war maybe. What’s the russian block and why is

there no on there and is this like war would two and is there only chickens for food?

Why did air planes have to breing the food to Berliln?

So he makes the candy or gets it from a store and what trouble did he get in?

Wha is bombed out house and how dose the chocolat man get the letters?

Look for evidence that… students are actively engaged in the text

with one another. students respond to and build on one

another’s ideas when given time. students’ comments show understanding. students’ comments can be read by

others. students are practicing polite and

respectful exchanges.

Debrief What are the advantages of adding a

backchannel to your read alouds? What are the implications for

teaching? How might you support

the whole class in minilessons? What about guided groups?

How about using the discussion board along with your students?

WisdomWhere Course Code

7309T