Teacher-Directed+Discussion


 * Teacher-Directed Recitation (to check comprehension)**
 * This method is used for nonfiction selections. After reading, it's important that every student has established the basic facts and information the author has presented.
 * Simple literal-level questioning (following reading) is a reasonable way to reinforce and model several essential elements of effective reading including:
 * The need to quickly check basic comprehension of what has just been read.
 * The specific //kinds// of recitation questions that are useful for a given type of material.
 * Before real analytical work can begin, it is important to cement each student's experience and version of the story in his or her head.
 * Postreading recitation consists of 3 general types of literal-level questions:
 * Recognition - //finding// information
 * Recall - //remembering// information
 * Translation - //paraphrasing// information into one's own words

**Tips to using Teacher-Directed Recitation:**
 * 1) **Help students differentiate recitation from disussion** by telling them that the object of the recitation is to check and encourage their basic understanding.
 * 2) **Keep it short.** About 10-12 minutes is a good rule of thumb.
 * 3) **Keep it moving.** The point is to review the facts, not to overly elaborate on them.
 * 4) **Don't forget "wait time."** Students need to process the question and formulate a response. Try counting to 5 after asking a fact question, and to 10 after a translation question.
 * 5) **Watch whom you call on.** Try to call on all students as equally as possible.
 * 6) **Model active listening.** For example, move toward students as they speak, occasionally write students' ideas on the board and return to something someone said earlier.
 * 7) **Avoid using recitation as punishment.** Rather than calling on students who are unprepared or not attending, call on them to answer a question you're fairly sure they can answer.
 * 8) **Try versions of "Every Pupil Responds."** An example... ask yes/no questions to which, at a given signal, all studetns respond with thumbs up or thumbs down.
 * 9) **Don't forget verification-level recitation.** Ask students to find and point to the place in the text that answers the question raised. Try using a timer to "race the clock."
 * 10) **Don't forget translation (including vocabulary).** Read aloud a short section, phrase, or key term; then ask students to put it into their own words.
 * 11) **Try open-ended recitation.** Call on students to tell any one thing he or she remembers from what was read. A variation is to permit the student who offers an item to call on anotehr student to offer the next item.