Opinionnaire

 =Strategy Name: Opinionnaire =

Strategy Description:
Opinionnaire is a strategy generally used pre-reading, but can also be used as a post reading assessment. The strategy allows students to begin thinking about a topic and build background knowledge (aka frontloading). Opionnaires consist of a series of statements (controversial!) that students think about and on which they will form/state opinions.

Course: 

 *  Applied Communciations, a 9 week course to support reading and writing.
 * 5 classes of 28-30 students.
 * Students include general education, special education students with writing/reading IEP goals, instructional learning disabled students, gifted, and English Language Learners.

Rationale:

 * The more a student knows before reading (or writing) on a topic, the better.
 * Middle school students LOVE to express their opinions.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Middle school students LOVE to debate their opinions with others.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Opinionnaires are flexible and adaptable to many situations/content areas.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">The activity promotes higher order thinking skills.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Students may have to provide support for their opinions which helps as they write their persuasive essays.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Diverse Learners:
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">This strategy will address several types of learners. Visual learners because they are recording their answers. Auditory learners because they will hear me read the statements and we discuss their answers in class. Kinesthetic learners like the fact that I often incorporate movement into the activity by moving to a corner of the room to express their "agree" or "disagree" with the statement. We also turn these opinionnairs into debates or "Get Off the Fence" activities that involve oral discussions and movement.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Procedure:
> "agree" and "disagree" signs. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Teacher creates a list of statements.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">The statements should be quick, clear, and provocative.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Students respond to the list with agree/disagree. They should not be "in the middle".
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">I usually have the students "vote with their feet" and move to a corner of the room where I have hung
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">I also offer opportunities for the students to discuss in small groups or debate as a class.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Potential Issues:
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Students struggle to support their opinons (either on their own or with a text).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Higher order thinking skills difficult for some students.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Students who like to have the answer may be frustrated.

References/Materials:
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">**Strategy from:**
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Stephens, E. C. & Brown, J. E. (2005). //A handbook of content literacy strategies: 125// //practical reading and writing ideas.// Norwood: MA: Christopher-Gordon Publishers.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Fisher, D., Brozo, W. G., Frey, N., & Ivey, G. (2007). //50 content area strategies for// //adolescent literature.// Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Wilhelm, J.D. (2007). //Engaging readers & writers with inquiry//. New York, NY: Scholastic.


 * In binder:**
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffff00;">Get off the fence prompts
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffff00;">Get off the fence quick writes
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; background-color: #ffff00;">Belief Statements ||

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