When all the kids continued overdependency on me, I took desperate measures.

      My 6th grade Reading Application classes were a stale mass of apathy.  I had tried all the tricks: hooking them in with a connection, illustrations, great graphic organizers.  Still, as soon as I finished instructions, 10 little hands would go up.  Even though all directions were clearly listed on the board, they'd ask, "What do we do today?" just as if I'd painted my nails in the last ten minutes.
  

     I took Harry Wong's advice and thought of ways to induce them to do the work rather than me. I made little three sided placards by folding construction paper twice.  I typed titles and instructions on each one.  I divided the students into categories and put the jobs on the placards. 

Below are the titles and jobs which were typed and pasted to the three-sided placards:
 

Team Coaches
Listen for teacher’s voice
Get directions
Coach team to follow directions
Put team assignments in box
Award points to team members
May move around room.
May ask teacher direct question.


Demo Experts  

Listen for teacher’s voice
Write demonstrations on board
Do work, put in box
Help team members
Stay seated unless writing on  board!


Peer Tutors 

Listen for teacher’s voice
Look for latecomers
Help another student with assignments
Be on task all the time
May move around room.
 

Organizers   
Listen for teacher’s voice
Help team members
Pick up folders, put in order
Stay seated until the end of the period!


Active Learners


Listen for teacher’s voice
Check the board for instructions
Hear the coach
Follow coach’s lead
Ask a peer tutor for help
Finish work before end of period
Stay seated!    

 Out of the class of twenty, I appoint 4 team coaches and 4 peer tutors.  The teams coaches are not necessarily those with the highest grades.  They are good listeners who always complete work correctly.  Peer tutors are students who score 90 and above, and adeptly explain how to think to others. Onlythese two categories freely get out of their seats and go help others.  I also change jobs frequently, giving different chances to students to hold positions.

The demo experts write things on the board and passed out papers.  They are students who finish work fast, can move around without disturbing others, but who are restless themselves.  

The immediate result has been gratifying.  Now, at least 8 students make sure they "get" the instructions.  They disperse to tell my other very needy students how to complete the classwork.  Now, almost 90 per cent of the students are writing most of the time.  I still have to walk the room and check to be sure they are focused and correctly working--that will never change. But now there are 8 students per class who are learning to "think like a teacher."  Their leadership skills are showing.