Broken Circles Too Rainbow Logic Grouping Live On Reflections

Today, I had grand plans to become over the syllabus, consummate Broken Circles, too consummate Rainbow Logic inwards 1 50 infinitesimal course of pedagogy period. In 2 of my math classes, nosotros did the syllabus, Broken Circles, too PART of Rainbow Logic. In my other 3 math classes, nosotros entirely did the syllabus too Broken Circles. Oh, too I also gave students dorsum the quizzes they wrote for me yesterday to guide hold them graded.

This enquiry broke my heart. You'll let on that I chose to write my ain response in.

(If yous haven't read the Broken Circles and Rainbow Logic posts, read them first! Otherwise, you'll likely travel super confused!)

After talking through our syllabus, I introduced my students to the four grouping travel roles we'll travel using this year. Silly me idea that I could simply become over the 4 grouping roles, mitt my students the Broken Circles business card, too laid them to work.

Let's simply nation I ONLY made this fault 1st period. With each subsequent run-through of the activity, I constitute that how I was introducing/setting upward the activity amongst my students was becoming much to a greater extent than effective.

The "No talking" too "No pointing or mitt signals of whatsoever kind" rules were SUPER difficult for my students to follow. This actually wasn't a surprise, though.

There was much frustration amid the students. Kids would telephone yell upward me over too tell me that I must guide hold cutting the circles incorrect because the activity was impossible. I assured them that the activity worked too pointed to the other groups that had already finished.

The students who received the "A" pieces did guide hold a lot of problem giving upward their pieces to the other students. Some groups were working for multiple minutes earlier the "A" individual gave upward whatsoever of their pieces. They did all eventually figure it out, though. (Full disclosure: 1 grouping was actually struggling. Eventually, I had to allow that grouping start talking.)

After blogging/tweeting almost this activity, I had a lot of people sweat it too out allow me know how long the activity took on twitter. They all advised me that modest groups (especially groups of three) could complete the activity inwards equally lilliputian equally 2 minutes.

I arranged all of my students inwards groups of 4, 5, or half dozen to boot the bucket along them engaged for a chip longer. I never timed my students, but I would justice it took groups 4-8 minutes to finish. Then, I had them consummate the reflection sail equally a group.

Here's roughly pics of Broken Circles inwards action:

It was too thus fun to sentinel the groups celebrate together subsequently finishing their circles. Since they were nonetheless inwards "no talking" mode, almost all of the groups raised upward their hands inwards celebration.

After working through Broken Circles, I constitute that they adjusted to Rainbow Logic a chip better. I mean value it could guide hold gone fifty-fifty amend if nosotros hadn't been too thus rushed for fourth dimension today. One grouping actually impressed me amongst how good they were playing their roles during the Rainbow Logic activity.

I borrowed dividers from my vecino instructor to deal the grid keeper enshroud their designs.

The 1 matter that my students actually struggled amongst was figuring out the rules of the game simply from reading the game's rules. Thinking almost how it went subsequently school, I was reminded that board games are non equally prevalent amongst most students these days. I tin call upward spending a adept xv or xxx minutes trying to figure out how to play a novel board game past times reading the rules amongst my sis equally a kid. My students guide hold grown upward amongst apps too reckoner games that walk yous through a tutorial level. (I realize this is a generalization that doesn't apply to all students!)

As groups worked to figure out the coloring placements, I challenged them to run across if they could figure out the solutions inwards smaller too smaller numbers of questions. One grouping inwards my trig course of pedagogy actually impressed me past times figuring out the pattern of the entire grid inwards entirely TWO questions! My freshmen didn't guide hold equally bully of discussions equally my trig students, but I mean value that comes amongst historic menstruation too maturity. My trig students were actually adept at discussing their questions too making certain it was a grouping question. My freshmen nonetheless demand a lot of hand off that. One pupil would simply blurt out a question, too the grouping would become along amongst it. Just shows me roughly other matter nosotros demand to travel on!

I ended upward really, really, actually loving this activity. I mean value it's a definite keeper!

Here's roughly activeness pics:

I definitely guide hold gotten through nigh equally many activities equally I idea nosotros would too thus far. Everything simply takes twice equally long equally I mean value it will. I justice it's amend to overplan than underplan. :)