OPIN
What is OPIN?
OPIN is a meaning-extending vocabulary strategy and stands for opinion and also plays on the term cloze. While the text book states OPIN should be used in a small group setting, I'd like to make the argument that it is just as effective in an entire class setting as a whole as well as individual use to be redirected back to the whole class. OPIN encourages differing opinions about which word should be inserted in a blank space. There shouldn't be a 'right' or 'wrong' answer and the questions should allow for a varity of answers and opinions. It may lead to discussions about words and meanings or about the material/text being used to answer the questions.
Example:
This example can be used in a 1st grade class after reading The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. The teacher should read the book outloud to the class as well as the following questions. The questions may be written on the board so that every student can see and follow along instead of passing out individual papers. The teacher should write down all appropriate answers even though they will be varied.
Questions:
1. The Lorax is _____________. (orange, friendly, caring, environmentally concerned, etc.)
2. The Lorax cares about _________. (trees, birds, bar-ba-loots, stopping the once-ler, etc.)
3. The Once-ler is _______________. (mean, cuts down trees, greedy, etc)
4. Truffula Trees are_____________. (colorful, tall, extinct, etc)
*
I love The Lorax and think it's appropriate for the 1st grade level as long as the book is being read to the students. The OPIN strategy works for this book and grade level because while the questions are basic, the student's answers should reflect thought and understanding of the main parts of the book. The answers will be varied but a teacher can still see which students have grasped the main concepts. It also allows the children to see the multiple answers and understand they're all correct. It also helps build their early vocabulary by answering and listening to the appropriate responses.
OPIN is a meaning-extending vocabulary strategy and stands for opinion and also plays on the term cloze. While the text book states OPIN should be used in a small group setting, I'd like to make the argument that it is just as effective in an entire class setting as a whole as well as individual use to be redirected back to the whole class. OPIN encourages differing opinions about which word should be inserted in a blank space. There shouldn't be a 'right' or 'wrong' answer and the questions should allow for a varity of answers and opinions. It may lead to discussions about words and meanings or about the material/text being used to answer the questions.
Example:
This example can be used in a 1st grade class after reading The Lorax by Dr. Seuss. The teacher should read the book outloud to the class as well as the following questions. The questions may be written on the board so that every student can see and follow along instead of passing out individual papers. The teacher should write down all appropriate answers even though they will be varied.
Questions:
1. The Lorax is _____________. (orange, friendly, caring, environmentally concerned, etc.)
2. The Lorax cares about _________. (trees, birds, bar-ba-loots, stopping the once-ler, etc.)
3. The Once-ler is _______________. (mean, cuts down trees, greedy, etc)
4. Truffula Trees are_____________. (colorful, tall, extinct, etc)
*
I love The Lorax and think it's appropriate for the 1st grade level as long as the book is being read to the students. The OPIN strategy works for this book and grade level because while the questions are basic, the student's answers should reflect thought and understanding of the main parts of the book. The answers will be varied but a teacher can still see which students have grasped the main concepts. It also allows the children to see the multiple answers and understand they're all correct. It also helps build their early vocabulary by answering and listening to the appropriate responses.