Blog Post 4 - Switching Things Up (sort of)

Many of my conversations have been more supplemental teaching and learning about specific things - whether it be language based or football so this time I tried to switch things up. We didn't have a specific topic that we were discussing so I figured I'd try to do what Lauren suggested and play a get to know you game (basically I asked them what they all wanted to know about each other and we all answered it). And it was okay, but the structure of the 'game' sometimes limited a more fluid conversation. Sure, when they had questions about what others said they asked them, which was wonderful and exciting to watch - but it would eventually die down and we waited for someone to think of a question - in the end, only three of us offered questions (2 participants and me). 

I realized that perhaps instead of asking them to think of them on the fly I should have had them write their questions out on strips of paper at the beginning, put them in the middle and we could have taken turns drawing questions from the middle so they didn't necessarily have to ask their own question - but at least everyone was asking a question - as well as everyone answering it. But it feels like it's too late to try that structure again.

I have been very fortunate with attendance - all 5 of my participants showed up yesterday! But even so I feel as though we lack the fluidity that I envisioned the group having - and feel more like a teacher instead. I'm searching for ways to help bridge that gap if anyone has suggestions of things that went well for their group in order to increase conversation.