Create four similar-but-different problem sets that address the math concept at hand. Use an icon to differentiate between each of the four sets. This can be something novel (symbols that indicate different types of weather, animals, card suits, etc.) or the icons can address math concepts (use various, relevant math shapes or symbols, as in my example that follows here). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Copy the two Four Corners sheets, one sided, and cut vertically down the middle. Distribute one half-sheet per student such that no two students in a cooperative group receive the same problem set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PRO-TIP: To help with this process, I suggest having TWO copies of each of the two pages. When placing in the photocopier top tray to run copies, stack the pages such that page 1 and page 2 are stacked on top of one another. THEN, stack the SECOND copy of page 1 and page 2, but rotate these two pages 180\u00ba, then place these two sheets under the first two sheets. Set the copier to collate, and voila! Cut the entire stack vertically down the middle, place one half-stack on top of the other, and you\u2019ll have a beautifully mixed stack guaranteeing that groups of 4 or less will NOT have any duplicate sheets within the group! Every kiddo receives a different problem set!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you\u2019ve created, copied, collated, and cut the sheets, it\u2019s time to use them with students!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n First, students work on their own half-sheet silently and individually for a few minutes. When appropriate, consider allowing students to reference any resources they have handy. When students try to collaborate within their group, they\u2019ll soon find that their own paper is different<\/strong> from every other group member\u2019s! The first time one uses this strategy, students are very much caught by surprise that each paper is unique! Once this strategy becomes a regular occurrence, students know their papers differ from the start, and simply get right to work independently. {NOTE: Just as with Numberless Word Problems..<\/a>. students who attempt to collaborate are placed in a position to discuss big ideas and relationships, rather than specific ‘answers’… which I LOVE and did not anticipate when I first started doing this…}<\/em> Meanwhile, I walk around and peek over shoulders, but I say nothing\u2026 I just observe what they\u2019re trying, and how they\u2019re progressing. MANY MANY times, students say to me as I pass by comments like, “Oh! I know what to do!” or… they look at me longingly and say, “I totally forget how to do this…” <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2245 <\/strong>~ <\/strong>\u2248 <\/strong>\u2260<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After some time has passed, and some students have completed the task (it\u2019s also okay if some haven\u2019t fully finished) allow students whose papers contain the same icon\/symbol to meet in each of the four corners of the classroom. I verbally and on-the-fly assign an icon to a classroom area\/corner so students know where to meet and talk with the folks who had the same problem set from the get-go. Students take their papers and writing utensils to the new location to collaborate with their group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NOTE: This is a neat-o opportunity to assess students\u2019 knowledge of whatever math symbol\/icon was used to create four unique groups. On my example here, I\u2019m wondering whether students will know the difference between congruent, similar, approximately equal to, and not equal to\u2026 they will likely ask peers quickly to determine, \u201cWhich symbol do I have? Which one am I? Where should I meet with my group?\u201d Sneak in a review or mini-teach on notation\/symbols\/shapes\/any math visual you use to create the four groups… or just have fun and use icons of four different animals instead, ha!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once all students find their corner of the room, they discuss, compare, and correct their own papers as needed. I never ask students to remain standing, but they just DO! They need to be able to walk around and chat with one another, comparing their papers. Everyone is standing and moving around! This is a great time for me to listen in, and notice if any groups are arguing and justifying their positions on any particular problems. The idea is that ALL students in that group come to an agreement, papers are modified as needed, and that ANY student\u2019s paper within the group could be chosen by me as a \u201csample answer key\u201d for their problem set. I often ask each group to decide upon a paper from their group that they consider to be an \u201canswer key” and bring it to me. After I have an “answer key” from each of the four groups, everyone returns to their own seats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once everyone is seated, I present each of the four “answer keys” using the document camera. Another variation is to have each group send a representative to the document camera to present their group\u2019s agreed-upon “answer key” paper to the class. I have also been the one to randomly choose a paper from each of the four groups\u2026 in theory, if everyone has discussed the problems, and made any necessary corrections, it shouldn\u2019t matter whose paper I use. However, I am careful NOT to reveal the name of the person whose paper is being showcased at the front of the room, unless our class culture has reached the point where anonymity is not a concern. Ideally, though, I\u2019m NOT the one presenting the problem set, but rather, a student (or several) from the GROUP is explaining the problems to the class. During the presentation phase, students at their seats are encouraged to respectfully ask questions of those presenting, and additional conversations and corrections often occur as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ideally, we usually spend 10 minutes or so on this whole process. It’s a great little exercise in retrieval practice, collaboration, movement, and presenting to the class!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Four Corners strategy can literally be used for anything! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A pre-assessment\u2026 a warm-up\u2026 a review\u2026 a lesson closure activity\u2026 a great way to start a Monday morning to see if Friday\u2019s math is still in their brains\u2026 <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n literally ANY TIME.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I love that this sort of activity promotes both MOVEMENT and STUDENT DISCOURSE. It\u2019s a variation on \u201cYOU DO\u2026 Y\u2019ALL DO\u2026 I-DO-or-intervene-as-needed\u201d. Sometimes I make up my own problems from scratch\u2026 other times, I use ancillaries that have versions A, B, etc. of homework or practice problems as my inspiration for the four problem sets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How does “Four Corners” look in your classroom?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Grab the PDF for my circles Four Corners as an example, and share back when you create something awesome!<\/p>\n\n\n\n ANOTHER NOTE: The circle diagrams on my Four Corners example here were created using Apple’s Keynote first. I used shapes and text boxes to create the first circle on a slide, then duplicated and edited it three additional times to create four slides. I tried sneaking in letters on each circle that represent texting lingo or silly words, and I researched common circular objects when I chose each radius measurement. I’ll be curious about the everyday objects students think about! Finally, I exported the four Keynote slides as images, and dragged each image into the two-column Word document, where I added the questions. #KeynoteForMath <\/em><\/p>\n