October 2024 Protocol of the Month: Laura Candler's Recharge and Write!

Let's give students opportunities to work through mathematical word problems in a collaborative and meaningful way!! Share with math colleagues if you can't use this in your classroom.   

LAURA CANDLER’S RECHARGE AND WRITE! (Collaboration, Writing, Discussion, Feedback)
 
Description: This activity promotes the ideas of meaningful collaboration, active listening, and personal accountability while students solve mathematical problems. It combines “team discussions with independent written responses” in a fun and systematic manner.  
 
Application: This protocol may be used in any subject that contains mathematical problems to solve, but it is especially useful in solving math word problems. (Can be adapted for other subjects.) 
 
Process: With a particular concept in mind, create/provide a minimum of four math word problems on a document with ample solving space, printing one for each student.  Before class meets, determine team members and gather as many pencil cups as groups. Try to place like-ability students together in groups and differentiate word problems as necessary. On class day, group students, hand out word problem documents, and place a pencil cup in the center of each group. Give groups a moment to select a leader who is willing to lead the discussion.  Display and discuss the following guidelines: 

1. Keep paper face down until signaled to turn it over.
2. Select a leader for the team who will guide discussion time. 
3. Before starting the activity, put all pencils in the cup. Remember: NO WRITING!
4. At signal, turn papers over. Team leader reads word problem one and starts discussion.  
5. All members verbally contribute to how the problem could be solved.  
6. Do NOT solve the problem during discussion time, but about the approach to the solution. 
7. At signal, stop talking, take pencils out of the cup and SILENTLY solve the problem, showing ALL work in space provided. Remember: NO TALKING!
8. Working ahead is not allowed. 
9. At signal, put pencils back into cup. Go to the next problem and repeat procedure. 
10.  Golden rule: “Pencils In = Talk It Over. Pencils Out = Write Without Talking.”

Monitor groups during both talking and writing phases. Decide ahead of time if calculators can be used but emphasize all work must be shown. Collect and grade work as usual, adding possible points for participation and/or effort. 

Resources and for more information
​Laura Candler's Recharge and Write!
Based on Laura Candler’s Blog post, "How to Recharge Mathematical Thinking" (lauracandler.com)