Your Name: Katie Gregory
Name of Strategy: ABC BRAINSTORM
Source (Where did this come from?): Reading Quest
Link to the Strategy: http://www.readingquest.org/strat/abc.html
Give a thorough description of the strategy and how it will be implemented. This should be a summary of the strategy according to the original source:
Have students list all the letters of the alphabet down a sheet of paper (or use the printable ABC Brainstorm sheet available through ReadingQuest), leaving room beside each letter to write out the rest of a word or phrase. Let them work individually at first, thinking of as many words as they can that could be associated with the topic you identify. Do note: The topic should be big and general enough that students can actually think of a lot of possible terms. Then, in no particular order, let them begin filling in the blanks beside each letter of the alphabet. For instance, if the topic were World War II, students might list Allies, Bombers, Concentration Camps, Dachau, Europe, French Resistance, Germany, Hitler, Italy, Japan, and so on.
It seems to work well if you give students enough time to think of a lot of ideas, but then let them pair up or work in small groups to fill in blanks for letters they had not yet completed. In this way, you can let the brainstorming function like a Think-Pair-Share. This would be the “Pair” phase. Then, go around the room or get students to report out (“Share”) possible terms for the different letters of the alphabet. Be open to a wide range of possibilities! Make sure students know that you’re not looking for exact answers, just justifiable and relevant ones.
Explain what part of the standard course of study is addressed by this activity.
Competency Goal 1
1.01 Narrate a personal account which:
- creates a coherent, organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
- establishes a point of view and sharpens focus.
- uses remembered feelings.
- selects details that best illuminate the topic.
- connects events to self/society.
Explain why you think this strategy will work. How does the strategy help your students?
It allows students to think outside of the box. It will also create a challenge for a student to go through all the alphabet and think of related topics to the subject.
