Science instruction combines a delicate balance of hands-on learning experiences, along with opportunities for students to make sense of the learning that occurs during these experiences. While hands-on opportunities are essential for students to grasp concepts, what subsequently follows that experience is crucial for students to make sense of that experience.
That is where The Helping Trio will transform instruction. The Helping Trio is a strategy that creates opportunities for students to read, write, and collaborate with their peers to define their conceptual understanding.
The Helping Trio is strategically structured to offer independent time to read, write, and reflect on a concept, and then collaborate with their peers to engage in productive dialogue and collaborate to further apply their understanding together.
Reading allows students to pose questions, as well as discover answers for themselves. While reading, students assume look for answers to the questions which they are investigating.
While reading allows students to access the content, one very important skill is to be able to synthesize and communicate those findings. Writing provides students with the ability to communicate their understanding.
Progress in conceptual understanding of scientific concepts is amplified when students think and reason with their peers to make connections
The Helping Trio is structured to include three main components – Independent Reading, Collaborative Student Talk, and Real World Application. This design structure is intentional to engage all students in developing conceptual understanding. Throughout this cycle, students will refine their understanding as they collaborate with their peers and work together.
Students read an article based on a scientific concept or phenomena. As students read, they answer Thinking Questions.
Students have prepared responses to three questions stems derived from the reading. In trios, students share their answer, as well as captures the answers of their peers.
Students build conceptual understanding around the scientific concept through application of their current understanding to a new situation.
The Helping Trio will change your classroom forever! It will change how your students interact with the content and each other, as well as improve the way in which they learn and make sense of the world. It will also shift how you teach and allow you to serve as a facilitator as students do the work to make sense of the phenomena.
If you are ready to give it a try in your classroom, go check out our FREE Wildfire Helping Trio to use in your class!