Description

To implement the wraparound method, you pose a question or prompt to the class and then have each learner share aloud their quick response. This method provides an efficient way for all learners in a classroom to share their ideas about a question, topic, or content, revealing common themes and concepts in learners’ thinking. Wraparound activities can also be provocative discussion starters.

Implementation

1. Provide a Prompt: Any question could be utilized as a prompt for a wraparound learning activity. Fill-in-the-blank statements such as “Justice is …” are especially useful when utilized with this method. Instructors often utilize the following prompt with the wraparound method as a way to elicit learners’ responses to a particular content they have recently read or viewed: “What words or phrases come to mind after seeing/reading this content?” Learners must be given a minute or two to think about their responses before being asked to share.
2. Learners Share Responses: One at a time, learners share their brief responses. It often works best to have learners respond in the order in which they are sitting. This way, you do not have to call on learners to respond; once their neighbor has had a turn, learners know it is their turn to present. In a wraparound learning activity, all learners typically share their ideas, although it is possible to allow learners to say “pass.” Be sure to tell learners not to say anything except the requested response; otherwise, the learning activity will lose the desired effect.
3. Listen for Common Themes or Surprises: After everyone has shared, you can ask learners to report back on common themes that emerged or on something that surprised them.

Modifications

1. Select-a-Sentence: After reading a long piece of content, instruct learners to select one sentence that resonates with them or seems to be an essential idea. Have learners read that sentence aloud. Be sure to tell learners to listen for common themes. It is okay if the same sentence is read more than one time. This exercise can also be done at the very beginning of a class, utilizing the previous night’s reading assignment. In this way, everyone will be able to have some ideas about the content, even if they did not do the reading.