.jpg)
"Notice & Wonder" is a quick (can be done in as little as 5-10 min) and fantastically simple formative assessment to get your students tuned in to your lesson by providing a low-risk opportunity for everyone to engage. It's a way to invite all of your students to share and participate regardless of their starting point. It encourages curiosity and builds community as you acknowledge and validate all student responses, without there being any one correct answer. This win-win strategy promotes equity of voice within your classroom and gives you informal data about your students' background knowledge of the content before you even begin instruction.
If you're not familiar with "Notice & Wonder", the name is about as literal as it gets. You present something to your students- a photo, quick video, a set of data, an example, something that represents what you're about to teach- and you give them a minute or two of silent time to think about what they notice. At the end of the think time, students are welcome to share out their noticings and you jot down and validate ideas. Then, you get students thinking with the wonder piece by having them pose questions about their observations. This can all be done orally or in a journal/notebook. Students can share out in whole group or in small groups first. This can also be done with a class anchor chart as a resource to revisit later. The key to a successful "Notice & Wonder" is to welcome respectful student discourse by letting your class or student groups lead the discussion while you facilitate.
Quick overview of "Notice & Wonder":
"Notice & Wonder" in action:
Creating curious learners is important for real world success. When students want to know something, they are more likely to do the work to find the answer. Allowing students to make their own connections and work through their own reasoning is also key for developing a growth mindset and understanding that we don't always know the answer from the beginning. Give this powerful tool a try in your classroom!
NOTE:
You will have to set clear expectations and guidelines for respectful peer discussion in order to successfully implement something like "Notice & Wonder"; however, don't let fear of your class "getting away from you" or "they can't handle it" as an excuse not to try this. This activity is an easy opportunity to practice what you want discussions to look like and is so low prep that you can use it often, allowing your class to get better at it. When they're able to have quality interactions in a controlled situation like this, you'll eventually be able attempt small group discussion and beyond. You'd be surprised at how something so simple could actually transform your classroom and your lessons.