Mini Lecture

The word lecture carries with it a boat load of connotations for me, and probably for you as well. First thing that comes to mind is being in trouble. Don't know if you can believe it, but I got myself in trouble often as a young one. Pushing limits, testing my parents, bossing the world around, saying potty words...You name it, i tried it. As a result, I regularly landed myself in the blue chair in the living room for a time out which was usual bookended with a well deserved lectures about my choices.

Additionally I think of my high school history teacher. Lecture was his style, and although I disliked the format of the class at times, I did learn quite a bit about how to organize, retain and use information. Both memories for me are bittersweet because I tend to learn better by talking than listening. The truth is though, there are times when we just need to be told something. Life isn't always a dialogue, sometime it requires a monologue. 

This week as I learned about the instructional strategy called "mini lecture" I could imagine the times when it would be appropriate, particularly in social studies and science for us as educators to give a monologue on a topic. It's a bit lit downloading information to your students so that they can draw on it later. Below are some details and tips about mini lecturing. As you will see, it's nothing like a behavior lecture in the blue chair or outlining my history teacher's main points in my mind. 

The purpose:

• To give student information related to your topic of study, particularly one event, theory, example, person or point of view under  he umbrella of your unit work (ex: March on Washington during civil rights study, Henry "Box" Brown during a study of slavery in the US, the decision to remove  Pluto from the list of planets during a solar system unit, or the the process of mitosis in biology) 
• To show students visuals, prompt thinking, make connections and model content area vocabulary use

The method:

• 5-10 min, launched with a listening prompt during intro, "today I'm going to talk to you about the March on Washington, I want you to listen for the various opinions that were represented in the crowd in this day."
• Prompt students to take notes, especially in regards to you're starting prompt. If students have been introduced to thinking maps, this is a brilliant use of them. Boxes and bullets or outlines can be hard to manage if you're not controlling the speed that you are getting the info (students can't go back and "re-listening") 
• As the teacher speaks (the pre planned explanation and think-alouds) visuals are shown, either from texts or electronically. Maps, photographs, primary source documents, music lyrics, diagrams are all great options. Some teachers may chose to use text features from the course textbook as a way of preteaching and exposing students to what they will read.
• When the lecture is complete, the most logical and important part is the opportunity for students to discuss what they heard (focusing on the listening prompt that was provided.) Beginning with individual reflection and continued note taking, followed by partner or small group sharing and then eventually whole group discussion, scaffolds students thinking in a way that prepares them to talk about their new knowledge. 
• Questions generated during this time should be charted for further discussion and exploration throughout the unit. 

TIPS

• As  Kathleen Tolan and Maggie.Beattie Roberts taught us this week, "the most important part of the mini lecture is the mini" Keeping your monologue limited increases focus for students and honors their learning by maximizing their time to write and talk. 
• Be prepared! Know what you are going to say and have your visuals in order
• Condsider posting the listening prompt on a chart paper and adding students responses & questions after discussion