In order to deepen understanding while reading, Wilhelm uses a series of enactments called hotseat. Hotseat is described as, "enactment techniques that intensifies role playing by putting students on the spot so they can be addressed, advised, questioned, and so forth. This strategy invites students to hone their ability to analyze characters, infer, elaborate, and think on their feet" (p.82). There was so many variations to the hotseat activity that changes things up and keeps students interested. They can interact as pairs or in a large group. They take turns asking questions and being in the hot seat. All students are engaged and involved the whole time. Before entering into a hotseat activity it is obvious that time and effort have been taken in the classroom to build relationships among the students and the teacher to ensure that kids feel safe enough to improvise. Wilhelm also focuses on stopping to reflect with students often throughout the activity (p. 83).
Hotseating provides an opportunity for students to dig deep and use higher level thinking skills. As one teacher puts it, "I want no 'right there' questions". Teachers shouldn't simply expect students to restate the literal understanding of the text, but to dig deep into the characters. Not only are students, role playing other characters while doing hot seat, but they are also relating it back to their own lives. While role playing they have the freedom to use their own life and experiences to improvise and respond for the character. The specifically like the idea of having another student being the inner voice for the character in the hot seat. This leads to a great class discussion about why we don't always say what we are actually thinking.
A final variation of the hot seat is called personification. This activity is different and interesting for all content areas. In personification, students play the role of concepts or ideas (freedom, force, electricity) instead of characters. This lends itself to being a very interactive way to learn in all content areas.
I like the idea of this hot seat idea, however I have one concern. What about the students who are shy? I was a very shy child and the idea of having to think on my feet was terrifying. I was definitely smart enough and I knew the answer to most questions my teachers ever asked however I was just way too shy to respond. For students in the same situation, might this menthod limit them?
ReplyDeleteThat is the cool part. Not everyone has to have the same role. Some can be in the hotseat, while others are asking questions, being the innervoice, or the fears of the character in the hot seat. All the variations give ways for every kind of student to be involved.
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