4. Use the Comparison Table Routinely

We were able to implement the Comparison Table in multiple classes for different content lessons. We have a small elective English 11 class made up of students who need more practice for the SOLs, and we have larger classes: each with approximately 27 students, some with IEPs and 504s, and also some ESL students. In our co-taught classes, sometimes my co-teacher with lead the lesson while I model filling in the boxes, and for the next lesson, we will reverse roles.

My co-teacher and I have used the The Concept Comparison Table with both small group and who class instruction in English 11.  When students are struggling in an area, the Concept Comparison Table is beneficial in breaking down concepts to fill gaps or gain better understanding. For instance, fiction vs. nonfiction and figurative vs. literal language.   In whole group instruction, we have used the Concept Comparison table when introducing literature.  We taught a Concept comparison table for The McCarthy Trials and The Crucible and one for the American Dream during the Great Depression and Modern Times.  We will continue to use the Comparison table in class.  

My co-teacher and I have used the Concept Comparison Routine in various lessons this year including "The Landlady," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," and A Night to Remember. After reading "The Landlady," we watched two different movie versions of the short story. We then used the Multi-Concept Comparison Table to distinguish the similarities and differences among the movies and short story. Our seventh graders took a field trip to see the movie, The Grinch. A couple of weeks later, we read the story in class and used the Concept Comparison Routine to determine the similarities and differences between the two. With A Night to Remember, we had our students completing background research about the Titanic in preparation for reading the book. We used the Multi-Concept Comparison Routine to review their findings regarding the social classes on board the ship. All in all, the students have done a great job in working with this routine.

My co-teacher and I have used the Concept Comparison Routine in various lessons thus far this school year, including How the Grinch Stole Christmas, "The Landlady," and A Night to Remember.  It was used to compare and contrast the book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and the most recent version of the movie.  After reading "The Landlady," the class watched two different movie versions of the short story.  We then used the Multi-Concept Comparison Table to distinguish the similarities and differences among the three versions of the story.  For A Night to Remember, students used the Multi-Concept Comparison Table to compare and contrast the three different social classes of passengers on the Titanic in order to build background knowledge prior to reading the book.

We will continue to use this routine for review for the SOL test.  We already have one in the works for mean, median and mode. It is also in the drive attached in another section.  The students enjoy picking out the likes and unlikes.  The table breaks it down easily.

We used the concept comparison routine as a review of vocabulary.  We had already taught equations and inequalities and their components.  This was a great review tool.  The students did a great job with it.

We have completed several of these for vocabulary review.  Especially when we need to look at similarities and differences between two terms.

My Co-teacher Dana Cooper and I have used the CCR several times per quarter and have gotten to the point where the students need little to no reminders of how to fill out the CCR and what its purpose is.