Everyone Is a Teacher Here (Peer Teaching)

OVERVIEW

This is an easy strategy for obtaining classwide  participation and individual accountability. It gives every student the opportunity to act as a “teacher” for other students.

PROCEDURE

1.  Hand out an index card to each student. Ask students to write down a question they have about the learning material being studied in the class (e.g., a reading assignment) or a specific topic they would like discussed in class.

In a class on American short stories, for example, the teacher might set the foundation for class discussion on Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery" by distributing index cards and asking students to write down a question they have about the story. Here are some of the questions submitted by students and then redistributed to the class for response:

•  Whom were the villagers attempting to please by holding the lottery?

• How did the ritual of the lottery start?

• How did the ritual of the lottery start?

• Why didn't anyone stop the stoning? 

• Why was Mr. Summers in charge of the lottery?

2.  Collect the cards, shuffle them, and distribute one to each student. Ask students to read silently the question or topic on their card and think of a response.

3.  Invite volunteers who are willing to read out loud the card they obtained and give a response.

4.  After a response is given, ask the others in the class to add to what the volunteer has contributed.

5.  Continue as long as there are volunteers.

VARIATIONS

1.  Hold onto the cards you collect. Create a panel of respondents. Read each card and ask for discussion. Rotate the members of the panel frequently.

2. Ask students to write down on cards an opinion or observation they have about the learning material. Have other students agree or disagree with the opinion or observation.