Utilizing the Story Exchange throughout the K12 Classroom
How can we thoughtfully implement Story Exchanges (and activities that use the Story Exchange structure) while working with typical classroom restrictions?
This document outlines a number of modified and alternative Story Exchange structures that can be used by classroom teachers who do not have the two hours or 10:1 facilitator-to-participant ratio of a traditional Story Exchange.
Learning Outcomes
Students will understand the structure and expectations of a Story Exchange.
Students will build connections to their classroom communities through participation in a modified version of the Story Exchange.
Students will use the Story Exchange structure to demonstrate shared understandings of an activity or lesson.
Materials
N/A
Preview Lesson Plan
MORNING MEETING WELCOME / ICE-BREAKER (7 – 12 min)
OVERVIEW
Students participate in a brief “welcome” routine that matches the Story Exchange structure. By keeping the prompt responses to a single sentence and abbreviating the debrief/wrap-up, this structure can be used regularly as a standard piece of a morning meeting or start-of-class icebreaker.
GRADE LEVELS:
K-8
PROMPT INTRO (<1 min)
Teacher/facilitator asks students a question that can be answered in one sentence. For example:
- How was your weekend?
- What is your favorite thing you keep in your bedroom?
- In your opinion, what is the worst breakfast food?
- How are you feeling right now?
