Hot Seat

Mode of Instruction: Teamwork           Purpose: Individual accountability during teamwork

Objective: To build procedural fluency from conceptual understanding, students use opportunities to develop strategies for similar mathematical problems. Teacher monitors strategies for problems.

Students demonstrate individual accountability by working on a problem individually away from team members. While mastery of a concept is not yet expected when using this strategy, students have worked with similar problems through collaboration in teams. One chair is placed in the front of the classroom for each team. Team Member (1) sits in the chair to work on the same problem as other team members. Team Member (1) remains silent while teams discuss and record strategies. Teacher assesses both Team Member (1)'s work and teamwork. Two points are assigned for Team Member (1) and one point for correct team responses. Team Member (2) rotates to the Hot Seat to continue the strategy.

  • One chair—Hot Seat—is placed in the front of the classroom for each team.

  • Using Numbered Heads, Team Member (1) sits in the Hot Seat.

  • Teacher gives everyone a problem to work on for a specified amount of time.

  • Hot Seat team member (1) remains silent, but teams discuss and record strategies.

  • Teacher assesses individual and team explanations.

  • Hot Seat team member (1) receives two points for correct answers.

  • Teams receive one point for correct answers.

  • Team Member (2) rotates to the Hot Seat to continue the strategy.


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