The presentation tonight on using DBQ’s in the classroom was interesting, but also a little intimidating. I enjoyed seeing how the kindergartners used the gallery walk and the books to learn more about Native American’s and Pilgrims. I also thought their question was a great question: Would you rather be a Native American or a Pilgrim? Why? I see the numerous benefits of using DBQ’s, such as deeper understanding and higher engagement from the students.
My concern is… when I’m just getting a grasp of teaching, how do I incorporate this into my classroom? I will likely be teaching third-fifth grade high-level learners or identified gifted students and I know they will greatly benefit from the differentiation I can provide them through an activity such as this. But how do I fit this into my day? What if the school I teach at doesn’t use DBQ’s in their curriculum and it is my job to implement this teaching tool from scratch?
I am excited about using this method in my classroom because I think it will be engaging for my students and they will likely learn much more from an activity such as this than from me simply providing the information for them.