Comparing Classroom Instruction that Works- Identifying Similarities and Differences

Comparing Students compare objects and ideas all the time in their personal lives We can use this process to deliberately and rigorously deepen student’s understanding of the knowledge they are learning

Comparing… Complete the Reflection on page 10 of your workbook…. “Compare” your thoughts with your group members

Comparing This module will cover: –How to give students a model for the process –Using familiar content to teach students the steps for comparing –Graphic organizers

2.Select the characteristic of the items on which you want to base your comparison STEPS TO COMPARISON 1.Select the items you want to compare 3.Explain how the items are similar and different with respect to the characteristics

Give Students a Model Students need to be pushed beyond the kind of comparing they do on a daily basis The key to an effective comparison is to identify important characteristics that will enhance their understanding.

Use Familiar Content Use everyday examples when teaching the process –Cafeteria food vs. homemade lunch –Xbox vs. Wii –Abercrombie vs. American Eagle Students will be able to understand the process more deeply when using familiar content at first

Give Students Graphic Organizers Visual tools are important in making comparisons characteristic or qualityVenn Diagrams can be made more rigorous by introducing a characteristic or quality to be compared

Venn Diagrams Review the use of characteristics in Venn Diagrams on pp12-13 in your workbook

Characteristic 1________________ Characteristic 2________________ Easy to see that items are very different for this characteristic… … and very similar for this characteristic.

Characteristic _______________ Animals Plants Environmental Conditions Characteristic _______________Nutrition

Venn Diagrams Another way to increase the rigor of a Venn Diagram is to require a written summary at the bottom –See example next slide

Characteristic ________________ Summary: Animals and plants have many similarities and differences…

Comparison Matrix Graphically represents similarities and differences Helps students systematically organize information about the items they are comparing

Item 1Item 2Item 3 Characteristic 1 Similarities and Differences Characteristic 2 Similarities and Differences Characteristic 3 Similarities and Differences Characteristic 4 Similarities and Differences

Using Organizers to facilitate writing… Graphic Organizers can be turned into useful tools to facilitate writing –See example on next slide

1 Sim & Diff 2 3 Topic sentence Detail/Expand Conclusion

Guiding Students For lower level students- choose the characteristics yourself For higher level students- ask students to choose the characteristics upon which to base the comparison

Checking your own understanding Complete the exercise on page 16 in your workbook… and discuss with group members

Module Reflection… Think about the questions on page 18 and share any thoughts Use the planning guide on page 19 to record ideas and thoughts for implementation…

Great Websites: ed002/books/sourcebook/ chapters/9-graphic- organizers/files/venn- topics.htmlhttp:// ed002/books/sourcebook/ chapters/9-graphic- organizers/files/venn- topics.html