Do you need engaging ideas for partner work?
I don’t know about your students,
but my students love to talk!
To keep my sanity, I am always looking for ideas so my students can practice talking and listening to one another.
Here are 3 ideas for engaging partner work ideas that I use in my classroom.
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Turn and Talk This strategy can be used with any subject. I pair up my students and they sit next to each other on the carpet. I teach them to sit elbow, elbow and knee to knee. The talking time might be about reminding our partner the directions, asking a specific question or applying a comprehension strategy. I give them the signal “Turn and talk.” They turn their whole body to face their partner and talk. If they finish, they sit with their thumbs up. I train them to listen for me to say “Tootsie Roll Lollipop.” They say “We were talking and now we stop.” They stop talking and face me and and we continue with our lesson.
- Partner Games I utilize partner games throughout the day and with many different topics. I teach a math game to help build number sense on the 120 number chart. Check out the freebie! Partner Game 120 Number Grid
I also teach games in my guided reading groups. Eventually these games become an independent option for students. Here are some games that help students practice short and long vowel with silent E.
Long Vowels with Silent E Card Game
3. Would You Rather? My students enjoy answering Would You Rather questions. I use these questions during our morning meeting. I choose a question for the day and students go around our morning circle and answer the question. In addition students can read and answer Would You Rather questions with a partner during our literacy work center time. Grab a WOULD YOU RATHER FREEBIE!
Here are some seasonal Would You Rather Questions and activities
I hope you find these ideas helpful!
