Identifying Similaritites and Differences - Marzano Chapter 2

What: I used Venn diagrams in all of my classes for the following purposes:
To compare and contrast characters in Of Mice and Men and Julius Caesar, to compare and contrast different types of phrases, and to compare and contrast good open-ended responses from great open-ended responses.

So What? The strategy worked exceptionally well to allow students to see good from great- a distinction that is difficult to make for most students. It allowed students to visualize similarities between characters that on the surface did not seem so similar, much to the surprise of many students.

Now What? There is no reason to stop using this strategy that proved so useful. It doesn't require any materials, any heavy planning, and it is completely student-driven, not to mention helpful to the students. I will continue to use Venn diagrams on a regular basis.