https://padlet.com/tlycos2/5nreev3i8u18 A History student's perspective en-us 2016-11-22 23:07:39 UTC 2016-11-27 01:10:41 UTC hello@padlet.com tlycos2 https://padlet.com/tlycos2/5nreev3i8u18/wish/139487882 I am the minority when it comes to the interest level if History. I believe that history is interesting and eventfully fun. I know many of my peers do not agree with such an opinion. As a future history teacher I have to understand the fact that not all students will have the same interest level that I do. But as a teacher I will try and make history class a class in which students will look forward to going, and look forward to sharing their personal beliefs. 

I do not want to be the history teacher that gives out a lengthy textbook and requires the students to read dry writing and data. I aspire to be a teacher in which provokes scholarly debates and learning. To do this I believe the Fish-Bowl method is the practice to do this. I plan to modify the Fish-Bowl method a little. The way I would do it goes as follows. 

The subject is WWII, and the dropping of the atomic bombs. Before the students share what their ideas on what they read, they will be required to read two sources. One that is pro-bombing, and one that is anti-bombing. I will split the classroom in half. One side pro and the other anti. After reading the sources, the groups must come up with their position's arguments using the sources. Each group will elect three speakers to debate with the other side. They will get 3 minutes to hash out their arguments and position. Then another 3 will go and debate. This will go on until everyone has a chance to speak in the circle. While the 3 are speaking the others will observe and develop counter arguments for the next group. 

I believe this will get a lot of participation. Before doing this with a certain topic, I plan on doing this with topics that the students find interesting. There job is to pick the topic and find historical sources that lean one way or the other. 
This modified fish-bowl activity not only sparks debate using primary and secondary sources, but also requires students to research sources in which will need to be credible in order to present successfully in the debate. 
The winning team with the best arguments using the sources will receive a reward ranging from candy to extra credit. Extra credit and candy always entices participation. ]]> 2016-11-22 23:10:24 UTC https://padlet.com/tlycos2/5nreev3i8u18/wish/139487882 kayla_scott225 https://padlet.com/tlycos2/5nreev3i8u18/wish/139994605 Tim, I admire your enthusiasm for history and the type of classroom environment you would like to create. Fish bowl or Socratic circles are also one of my favorite literacy practices! I like the adaption to add sources and split students up for one side or the other. It sounds like you would have 3 on one side and 3 on the other side both in the circle at once, so 6 total. This would be interesting to have a small debate in the middle! You could also think of putting a group of people from the same side in the middle at once so they can clearly lay out their argument without any interruptions, then the next group has a chance to rebuttal. In addition, allowing the students to later choose the topic they debate is important to student choice, students will more likely remember the topic they choose rather than the one you chose. ]]> 2016-11-27 01:06:47 UTC https://padlet.com/tlycos2/5nreev3i8u18/wish/139994605