I wonder if you will like this post. I like that you might wonder about it. Most of all I like this routine in my classroom and wonder where it might take us next.  

Welcome to two of my favourite classroom phrases-  'I Like...' / 'I Wonder...'. 

I embedded this practice into my day-to-day teaching after attending The PBL Australia Conference. At this event presenters from The Buck Institute introduced us to 'Gallery Walks'. I don't believe this a new technique, nor do I claim it to be ground-breaking; however, it is an effective practice that can be beneficial in all classrooms. (Here is an example of one teacher implementing a 'Gallery Walk' in her language classroom.) During the conference we had to present an idea for a PBL unit in our class. We wrote up our concepts on butcher's paper and pinned them up around the room. This is where the 'Gallery Walk' came into play. We had to view and read each teachers proposal and contribute two thoughts on Post-It notes - one beginning with 'I Like...' and one beginning with 'I Wonder...'. When I collected my proposal I found the 'I Likes...' really affirmed my idea and the 'I Wonders..' challenged me to push it further. So I took this technique back into my classroom and the thinking that results from this simple routine continues to amaze me.

Here are some examples of how I have implemented in my classroom -

1. Gallery Walks - I use Gallery Walks hand-in-hand with these prompts. A Gallery Walk a great starting point for a new unit. One lesson I set up 15 iPads around the classroom with different photographs, video and other media loaded to the screen. Students had to go to each iPad, engage with the content (which was centred around various forms of puppetry) and write an 'I Like...' and an 'I Wonder...' for each station. We then discussed the comments as a whole group. As a teacher it informed me of the material they were engaging with and also alert me to the questions that stimulated their 'want' to learn. (Eg. I like how the puppeteer has made this character's emotions come to life through the physicality of the puppet. I wonder how the puppeteer was able to manipulate the joints of the puppet so that it moved in that manner.) I have also set up online Gallery Walks to maximise time. Students record their performances and I upload them to Edmodo. (Could be used for speeches, photos of work or written work too.) Students then comment under each recording using the terms 'I Like...' and 'I Wonder...' . (Eg. I like how you used your voice to convey emotion and engage the audience. I wonder if your could further enhance the character through their use of physical gesture.) Gallery Walks also work well with essays, visual products such as posters or photographs and audio material.)

2. Daily Feedback - At the end of 99% of my lessons students share and showcase their work, both practical and theoretical, with their peers. As we view this work as a class I ask the students to either provide verbal feedback using the terms 'I Like...' and 'I Wonder...' or provide written feedback (generally in the form of Post-It notes) again using the same terms. This either opens authentic verbal discussion about the work being presented or stimulates detailed written reflections in the individual students logbook. 

3. Teacher Feedback - I also manipulate these terms to guide my feedback to students both during the learning process and at formal assessment time. It reminds me to look for and name the positive in the first instance. It also provides a platform from which I can pose my constructive criticism in a way that is palatable for the student. (Eg. I like how you manipulated the elements of Drama to effectively engage the audience. However, I wonder if you could further refine your character to demonstrate more conviction and therefore extract more empathy from those watching.) By modelling this practice effectively the students further engage with the principals of kind, specific and helpful feedback which I believe these prompts clearly scaffold.

4. Exploring Texts - I often use these prompts as a way to discuss text. At the end of a chapter, stanza or a scene posing these sentence starters can lead to meaningful conversations. The 'I Likes...' open up moments in the chapter or scene that the student connected with. The 'I Wonders...' suggest predictions or pose questions that we as an audience would like the writer to answer as we delve further into the story. At the end of text it can also be a great way to being a review or extend on the lives of the characters after the event.

This language is now embedded in my classroom culture. My students are familiar with the terms and use them comfortably, with and without prompting, in classroom conversations. These two simple prompts have changed the way my students approach and respond to feedback. The feedback they provide each other is kind, specific and helpful as a result. The use of 'I Wonder...' compels them to critically think about their learning rather than feel their peers are critical of them. 'I Wonder...' also generates substantial exchanges in relation to new source material or texts. 

This technique takes literally no preparation in its simplest form and can be an effective tool for generating deeper thinking in the classroom. Using it regularly will also help shape the language of the classroom and the way students approach and respond to new material. I challenge you to use it daily for a week and let me know how you find it. I wonder if it will work as well for you as it has for me!

This character wall is my favourite feature of my physical classroom. Some of the pictures on this wall have been with me for over 10 years now and I feel I am still learning about the people in the photographs. You see, my character wall is a source of inspiration for in-depth characters, playbuilding, compositions and creative writing in my class. Over the years I have seen these images come to life and each time I am able to glimpse briefly into the world in which they live. Occasionally I add different photos to the mix and it surprises me how quickly the kids notice our new visitors.


The photos consist of people of various age, gender, socio-economic status and cultures. You can do it the old school way (cut and laminate) or make a board on Pinterest for the digital classroom. Students love it as it pushes them to think outside teenage stereotypes and assists them in conceiving complex characters. Character wallshave a place in the English classroom, the Geography classroom (an opportunity to write about different cultures), the History or Science classroom (think anthropology) or even a primary school setting.


So get snipping or pinning!

Puppetry is one of the most beautiful forms of theatre and one of the most freeing. It is the art of giving an inanimate object life. When I taught Year 8 Drama I always used puppetry as my first playbuilding unit. It was a safe medium for my kids. They could hide behind their puppet, but still have a voice. They were able to play without the fear of failing. It is less confronting then standing directly in front of an audience and it is a perfect stepping stone to build presentation skills. 

Puppetry is also transformational. It is not limited to realistic characters. You can be anything... a mythical being, talking tree, a beautiful animal. This means the possibilities for creative expression are endless.

For students with special needs puppetry can be an incredible medium for releasing their voices and creative potential. Students with physical disabilities become less vulnerable. Students with Asperger’s syndrome, autism and even anxiety find safety in the puppet and can really excel on stage as a result. ESL or language impaired students could use a silent form of puppetry such as shadow puppetry to voice their ideas without the pressure of performing vocally. It is an all-inclusive, highly accessible form of theatre making it the perfect tool for the classroom.
  
I encourage all teachers to try puppetry in their classes to give their students a creative voice. I am using shadow puppetry in Religion at the moment to bring the Parable of the Sower to life. You could use mechanical puppets in Science to present research on a particular topic or conduct an experiment. Employ hand puppets to have a global summit on climate change or utilise one of the many puppetry apps to interview historical characters about their contribution to society. Puppetry would also be a great unit to introduce the elements of dramatic narrative in English. 

The students in my class are currently using the PuppetPal app to work on their vocal skills in Drama and explore the structure of a narrative. The kids love it and they must work collaboratively to complete the task. Puppet Pals 2 also has a lot of historical characters to choose from. It would be a great tool for English, Languages, History and Cultural Studies.

Comic Life allows students to apply/demonstrate their understanding of content through visuals and text. It is an excellent tool for expanding on visual literacy. In this video students are creating comics which show their understanding of tension as an element of drama. I also use it for storyboarding in my film unit and as an alternative formative assessment tool. It would also be a fantastic resource in Language classes, Religious Education (to pull apart scripture passages), History and English. Most importantly, the kids love creating their own comics!