Interview Journal, Thinking and Asking Questions

     Happy Monday!  In addition to continuing to review our procedures and rules, we have also been working hard on learning how to think and question.  Each day we have selected (at random) a first grader to interview. Here's how it works!
     We have been using prewritten questions, but now is time for the children to generate their own questions.  We talked about the reasons for asking questions and they talked with each other.  Then we wrote a few down to use for our interviews.  They were great questions.  I encouraged the children to choose questions that would really generate discussion.  We also talked about how questions that ask us about our "favorite" mean that we have to evaluate and have an explanation for why our choice was our favorite...not just the first thing that pops in our minds.

     Then it was time to ask the question.  We used the thinking steps below.  Since the questions are about a topic the children know very well (themselves:), this is a great opportunity to focus on how to think when answering a question and not just settling for the first answer that pops  in our mind.  This hard work will pay off later when the content is more challenging!  I give the children an opportunity to answer the questions(s) to each other as they practice "teaching" to a partner.

     Finally it's time to write.  I am using lots of multi-sensory strategies (many posts about these to come soon) to help the children.  One of which is visual cues for a sentence.  We pound the words in the sentence and write it together.  Finally, the students copy the sentence in their journals.  They are moving along with this process quickly and some will be able to write their own sentences....yay!  I use a timer to break down the steps and help to teach time management to the students.  I encourage students to tell a story with their pictures and to include details.

     Here is a great example of a finished interview journal entry.  Sorry the picture is sideways.  We practice reading the entries, too.  This is a great way for us to get to know each other,  to learn listening, thinking and questioning procedures and to work on sentence writing skills.  The children will be so excited to share these with you when we've learned about everyone.
      One more thing:  the math kits went home today.  We practiced with them today.  The children were very engaged with practicing numbers.  I sent home their sheet so they could practice (with the vinyl sleeve) at home for fun, too. 

Please let me know how the math homework went...I kept the activities simple for now while we all (me too...it was a challenge to gather just those few materials) get used to the procedures.  Have a great evening!