Lindsay Harrison #8

Dont Stay Outside the Discussion

Undesirable Behavior Targeted:
Several students are not participating in class discussion about readings from The
Outsiders. They are instead staying silent or producing answers that consist of one or two
words, or they are exhibiting off-task behavior including talking to other students,
drawing, or using electronic devices. This behavior interferes with learning because
students arent using class time effectively to absorb information and share ideas.
Desirable Behavior Targeted:
After reading selected passages from The Outsiders, (in class or for homework), students
are expected to answer the discussion question in a group setting or verbally participate
in the group discussion during an allotted 30-45 minutes by raising their hand. Students
will answer questions and listen with their eyes on the speaker, make connections, justify
their reasoning, staying on topic, and asking new questions. Students are given one or
more discussion questions with each assigned reading, so that they have time to
rehearse what they would like to say. After 200 stickers are posted on the board over a 6
week period, students, as a class, may participate in the Interactive Learning Activity.
Types of Positive Reinforces
1. Immediate R+: Initial a sticker and add it to the discussion board.
2. Overall R+: The entire class will participate in the interactive learning activity.
3. Ongoing R+: Students will be able to initial a sticker and post the sticker on the
discussion board.
Interactive Learning Activity
Student will act out their favorite scene from The Outsiders in small groups. Students will
select their favorite scenes and choose what characters they would like to portray.
Students will have four days to rehearse, and afterwards, perform for a recording to
share with parents. Students may invite their parents/ family to watch the class perform.
7th grade TEKS: (2) Creative expression: performance. The student interprets characters
using the voice and body expressively and creates dramatizations. The student is
expected to:(A) demonstrate safe use of the voice and body;(B) define characters by
what they do, what they say, and what others say about them;(C) select movements and
dialogue to portray a character appropriately;
How I will teach the desired behavior
I will hold a brief class discussion about the students favorite dessert. I will ask students
to share their opinions and reasoning behind which one is their favorite, a memory with
this dessert, the ingredients for the dessert, etc. For this exercise, I will ask every student
to raise his or her hand and contribute at least once. As the students share opinions, I will
applaud well though out answers and explain to the class that those are the types of
answers Im looking for.
How I will teach the plan
Following the ice cream discussion, I will introduce the Dont stay Outside the
Discussion board. I will share with them the interactive learning activity as their reward
for obtaining 200 stickers over a 6-week period. I will direct teach the meaning of the
discussion tips using examples. Before the first discussion, I will give students two days
to come up with their response to the discussion question and encourage them to
practice with me.

Lindsay Harrison #8
Options
This plan can be used across class periods for a literature class. There will be 30-45
minutes set aside 3 days a week for class discussion, but, there is an option to have
discussions every day for 15-20 minutes, depending on how long discussions usually last.
How I will teach the desired behavior could change based on a conversation I overhear
students discussing as class begins, or a particular current event.