...New Discussion Strategies. 

 Fat/Skinny Questions:  After students have read or discussed a topic, have them develop five fat and five skinny questions to be used as review. A fat question is an open-ended one that requires an extended response. In other words, it can‘t be answered with a yes or no. A skinny question is one that can be answered in one word or with one fact. Pair up the students to ask each other their questions.

Final Word: Divide class into groups of three and number the students in each group, #1, #2, or #3. Pose a controversial subject. Conduct three rounds of discussion:

First Round: 1=expresses their opinion 2=paraphrases #1‘s comments 3=adds anything left out of #2‘s comments

Reverse until all have been assumed each role.

Have the students evaluate the process by answering the following questions: What do I need to know to deepen my opinion? What did I hear that I want to explore?