I chose to use Informal Cooperative Learning strategy with my 7/8 Grade Computer Science classes. They are doing computer coding on the website: code.org, which is full of both content and academic language. Some students were having some trouble with academic words such as: functional, principle, dominate and factors.
I grouped students in threes and each person took a turn at reading and explaining what was to be accomplished and in what order. I required that each group work on only one Chromebook per group to make sure they had to talk to each other. The students love these activities because it is similar to playing a video game. Engagement is not a problem and they help each other when one of them is not clear of the meaning.
It was necessary for me to address the class on only two academic words from these lessons. Excellent strategy for any content area.
broomfieldlk 