by Dimitra, Brussels
Jigsaw Reading

This is a jigsaw reading activity I often use with my students, in order to give them the opportunity to collaborate and to feel they are valued regardless their learning diferences. Actually this strategy aims at differentiating learning. Firstly we brainstorm ideas and discuss the topic to be studied, e.g. Ancient Greek Myths. Next, I assign each  student to  a “home group” that reflects a range of different reading abilities. In this group, each student will be assigned a reading passage that I had prepared according to their reading level. They also have a task to accomplish, e.g. create a presentation for the class to share their learning. Following this, I tell students that each of them is an expert in a specific topic that will help his/her group to complete their task. So, they will gather with other experts in the same topic who are in other groups and together, with the help of graphic organizers, they will summarize what  they understood from the text. After that, they will return to their “home group”, who depends on their part to complete the task, and they will share what they did in the “expert group”. So, by participating in this jigsaw reading activity, each student feels valued because to accomplish the task, the whole group depends on his/her piece of information.
I often use Forum theatre techniques in my regular classes, and my students (16-19 years old) love them. One possible option: a few students have to act out a scene in front of the class. The topic can be either suggested by me, or by them; the important thing is that it should be engaging, else, the whole activity will fail. So, let's say, they have to act out a fight between a teenager and his/her parents.The actors are free to use their imagination to make a lively show (my only task meanwhile is to make sure their language is decent) :) Those who are watching the scene are encouraged to stop the action when they think it is necessary, and to suggest a different action. It is also possible that the actors themselves want to stop the action, and ask for help. Thus, someone else from the class can step in and take over a role, or even introduce a new character. What are the advantages? - 1) students practice their communication skills in a foreign language (I teach English); 2) they become more confident in front of a familiar 'audience'; they learn while playing; such activities develop the 4Cs - collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creative thinking. hide

by Margarita Dobreva, Bulgaria

There are some useful games to learn to collaborate effectively.  I specially use kahoot (team mode) and a game called "hedge a bet", where the students are divided into groups and they are ‘offered’ a sum of points (or fake money), let’s say 100 €. The teacher has a list of questions related to the topic he/she would like to revise. Students have to bet a part of their money before knowing the question. If they are right the money adds up to what they already have. If they are wrong the amount of money will decrease with the money they bet.  Bets are done without knowing how much money the other team will bet. The picture below shows an example of the questions I ask.

Many times I divide the class in groups of four, and give them four maths-word-problems. Each member of the team assumes a different role:   1. Read the problem and collect data.   2. Give ideas to solve the problem.   3. Write and develop ideas previously given by a peer.   4. Write the solution of the problem in suitable words and including measure units if they are necessary.   Then, they change roles the next problem.   At the end of the task they are provided with a rubric to make an assessment of their peers in each role.
I think this activity deals with empathy, and also remind the students the different steps to solve a problem

It appears that you have a lot going for you already – several of your answers indicated a sense of resilience, but there's room for improvement. You can build your own inner and outer resources to make yourself more resilient in the face of stress. The resources below can help you with this, and can help others in your life as well. Enjoy!