All is Well that Ends Well! Dr. Mary Ransdell University of Memphis

Why use closure? My personal motto for the past 30 years… Let children have fun and slip in learning when they aren’t looking. What are your reasons for using closure?

Why use closure? Good teachers present information in a variety of ways. Your administrators look for closure activities as part of current evaluation measures.

Closure activities encourage A review information A prediction of what might come subsequently Students to think critically Students to demonstrate understanding

Closure activities also Uncover confusions or misconceptions Deepen student understanding Support retention by students Gather formative assessment data

Ineffective Closure For tomorrow… Oops, time to go… Do you have any questions?

At the very least…. What questions do you have? As you leave… Tell me… Show me…

Closure as part of SPI, GLEs, & Common Core Standards Language Arts (oral and written communication standards) Spatial and organizational standards (graphic organizers) Drawing and representational standards

Closure as part of SPI, GLEs, & Common Core Standards Content standards Assessment standards Physical Education/Movement standards

Format closure might take Oral (single word from everyone as they leave the room) Written (exit ticket, paragraph, or sentences)

Format closure might also take Gestures (thumb up/thumb down) Game format (competition) Activity (problem or exercise)

Oral Closure Strategies 10-2 (10 minutes of instruction, followed by 2 minutes of student-to-student discourse) Fishbowl Inside-Outside Circles

Oral Closure Strategies Talk to the Animals (use a puppet and let young children “tell” the puppet”) Role Play Think-Pair-Share Reciprocal Teaching

Written Closure Strategies The Important Thing About __________________ is___________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ But the most important thing about From: The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown

Written Closure Strategies The Important Thing About __The US flag__ is __ that it is a symbol of freedom___ __ The stripes represent the thirteen original colonies and the stars represent the fifty states. The red symbolizes the blood spilled for our freedom. __ But the most important thing about __The US flag__ is__its meaning for Americans. ___

Written Closure Strategies 3-2-1 (3 items of interest, 2 things you want to know, 1 idea to take “home”) 3 Whats (What we learned? So what? Now what?)

Written Closure Strategies 3 Ideas (write three … taken from the lesson) QCC (a question, a confusion, a comment) A-B-C Summarize (each child takes a letter and gives a word relative to the topic)

Written Closure Strategies Single Serving (students write one word to summarize content, then two sentences to explain) Relay Summary (1st student writes a summary sentence and passes paper to 2nd who writes a DIFFERENT sentence, then to 3rd student…) Graphic organizers

Written Closure Strategies Write simile or metaphor Write letter, journal, or add to previously created mind map or learning log Describe cause and effect relative to the content Sentence starters

Write a simile…. Using closure strategies with my students is like ______________________. Attending the Martin Institute conference is like_______________________.

Gestural or Movement Orientated Closure Strategies Simple Card sorts Relay “races” Inside-Outside Circle

Gestural or Movement Orientated Closure Strategies Draw / illustrate concepts Thumbs up / thumbs down Fist of five

Game or Activity Closure Strategies Trivia game Flash cards Games / tournaments over several days Relay

Game or Activity Closure Strategies Students write and perform a rap, poem, or song I Have Who Has Noun Game

Closure for today: The Envelope, Please… Creative Let students produce Last Word (Acrostics) Creative Let students produce Open ended Stimulate students Use critical thinking Review Evaluate

Closure for today: 10 minutes, then be ready to share Write a Haiku 3 line poetry with 17 syllables; no rhyming necessary 5 syllables 7 syllables

What questions do you have? Thank you for your attention. Mary Ransdell mransdll@memphis.edu TASL Credit ID: Martin192