#2ndaryELA Archive
#2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. We chat every Tuesday night at 8 pm EST using #2ndaryELA. We'd love for you to join us!
Tuesday September 25, 2018
8:00 PM EDT
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Have a couple minutes to give our student blogs feedback on the results of us Googling ourselves? Thank you! Please RT. https://t.co/KrEbQ144Kj
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Welcome! What and where do you teach? Include a link to your blog if you have one.
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I'm Leslie and I teach 11th grade in California
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Q1: Describe your experiences using breakouts or escape rooms, both physical and/or digital.
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A1: I made my first one last school year using "A Christmas Carol" - it was hard for this ELA brain to think in terms of puzzles.
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A1 I've only done and created digital breakouts but have used them to reinforce skill, to preview or review a novel, and even on the 1st day of school https://t.co/Tj00b4gzZF
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A1: As a result, I think it was too complicated. It took us 3 whole class periods!
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A1: I have only done one escape type activity - grammar related. Last year - was a hit with students. Not sure it was worth all the prep that went into it though.
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I did my first breakout room last year for The Crucible. Students received a journal (from Abigail) and a puzzle map. They had to solve the clues to escape Abigail's "room" and use her journal to prevent her from fleeing Salem and justice
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A1: I've never done a digital esxcape room because I just can't wrap my head around it - I need to see one. :)
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A1: Ss had to put the puzzle map of my room together, with only desk configurations and Roman numerals to guide them to the first stop, which provided them a set of riddles that they had to use their own one pagers (posted on the wall) to solve
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A1: part 3 I began creating one for Gatsby that was going to be digital, but never finished it due to testing and time constraints
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Q2: How do you assure your students meet learning outcomes and standards during these types of activities?
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That's why I use digital ones. No set up!
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A2: I made mine so that if they escaped, they met the learning outcome. There was no other way to escape.
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A2 During skill based breakouts, students must demonstrate understanding in a variety of ways. Even if they don't successfully solve the breakout, they'll have practiced the skills
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Ooo what was the plot line of that one?
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A2: Build it into the activity. Exit tickets, etc.
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A2: One of the puzzles required students to identify correctly embedded quotes from the play, which was a focus of our whole unit. This was a mandatory puzzle that could make or break their ability to "escape"
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Q3: What positive outcomes have you witnessed with these learning tools?
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A3 Most students love a little competition and often the students that really take to breakouts are not your highest achievers. Breakouts can bring students together and encourage cooperative learning
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A3: Total engagement by all members of the team. I actually earned the top score on my evaluation using my Escape Room!
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A3: Total engagement! And many students worked together in ways they were reluctant to before. Also, when helping out my ELs and lower level students, I got to see the satisfaction and pride in solving puzzles others took for granted
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A3: Also students begin to hypothesize, use logic, support their thoughts, and try new things without fearing failure.
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Q4: Describe one part of a breakout or escape room that really challenged or engaged your students.
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A4 In a breakout on symbolism, after students successfully completed a task they were given a book title in the form of rebus puzzles to figure out in order to unlock each lock
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A4: Just getting started was hard for them. Many needed to be prodded to think outside the box and to just go and look at stuff instead of waiting for me or someone else to bail them out
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A4: Following written directions! That seemed to be so hard for students, especially when they were in a hurry.
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A4: After Ss sorted events, they had to use the letters on the backs to create a phrase - that proved to be really challenging!
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Q5: Share favorite resources for breakouts or escape rooms.
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Yes, it can take a bit to get students to actually think. They are so used to being told what to do all the time
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A5 and if you want to create your own digital breakout here's ideas for activities and resources: https://t.co/YHOGpZ7jf4
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I try to give as few directions as possible in breakouts for this reason. I like to let students figure out how to use the information they've been given. It drives some of them crazy :)
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A5: I created a donors choose for my breakout room locks, boxes, and blacklight and it was funded fairly quickly because of the Chevron Fuel Your School initiative. I'd recommend trying that out if you need funds/supplies
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Thanks for chatting with us tonight. Here’s a sneak peek at next week’s chat
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There's still time to sign up for our free professional development webinar on Thursday at 7:30 PM Eastern! Visit https://t.co/NXbOCQ8PoP!
