Finishing year softly. Decon-Recon
Today I'm sharing one of my favourite activities from Activities for Task-Based Learning by Neil Anderson and Neil McCutcheon: an activity that builds fluency, confidence, and active recall. Students deconstruct a reflective text about rest and winter energy (or any text of your choice), then reconstruct it from memory using fact sentences. I've prepared a text for you to use, but feel free to adapt this activity with any text you're currently working on!
About the task: Students break down a cohesive text into simple fact sentences. After a time delay (the authors recommend at least 60 minutes), students reconstruct the original text before comparing their version with the original. The delay is crucial: students shouldn't reconstruct immediately from memory. Instead, they must actively use language to rebuild the text. I'm not sure about the whole hour, though, since many lessons are shorter, but definitely don't rush it!
Goals: develop fluency through text reconstruction and active language use, practice retrieval and reconstruction skills.
Timing: 20-60 minutes. It's also recommended that you take a break (the longer, the better) between activities 3 and 4 and do something unrelated to the task, so it could be even longer.
If you only have 10 minutes: Maybe it's best you plan for this task some other time. It works with any reading text, so you can come to Recon-Decon task some time later.
Goals: develop fluency through text reconstruction and active language use, practice retrieval and reconstruction skills.
Timing: 20-60 minutes. It's also recommended that you take a break (the longer, the better) between activities 3 and 4 and do something unrelated to the task, so it could be even longer.
If you only have 10 minutes: Maybe it's best you plan for this task some other time. It works with any reading text, so you can come to Recon-Decon task some time later.
I've prepared a text for you to use, but feel free to adapt this task with any text you're currently working on! I found an article about being gentle with yourself in winter on a blog. For higher-level students, I shortened it slightly (Decon-Recon works best with short texts). For intermediate and elementary students, I wrote graded versions.
If you use your own text, choose one that is:
- Short (75-120 words)
- Predictably structured (problem/solution, chronological, list-based)
- Focused on one main idea
If you use your own text, choose one that is:
- Short (75-120 words)
- Predictably structured (problem/solution, chronological, list-based)
- Focused on one main idea
Lesson ideas
Ask prediction questions:
- How do you feel in December, mostly energized or tired?
- Do you think winter is a good time to rest or to be busy?
- Upper-Intermediate+: gain momentum, honor the needs, strive for something, a burst of energy, give yourself grace, turning of the wheel
- Intermediate: finish strong, push ourselves, give permission, gather energy
- Elementary: take care of, rest
Deconstruct the text. Ask students to break the text into short sentences with one piece of information each. Model with the first sentence: "It's always interesting to me that December has such a different energy from the rest of winter." ➝ "December’s energy is different from other winter months."
Students continue deconstructing (alone, in pairs, or groups). They should create around 10 short sentences total. Monitor: Each sentence should be clear and contain just one piece of information. If lower-level students struggle, it's okay if they use slightly more sentences than the original.
Students continue deconstructing (alone, in pairs, or groups). They should create around 10 short sentences total. Monitor: Each sentence should be clear and contain just one piece of information. If lower-level students struggle, it's okay if they use slightly more sentences than the original.
When students finish, put their fact sentences aside. Tell them they'll reconstruct the text later in this lesson, next lesson, or even a future lesson (this is up to you!). The authors of Activities for Task-based Learning recommend at least 60 minutes, so that students do not reconstruct immediately from working memory. Instead, they must actively use language to rebuild the text. I'm not sure about the whole hour, though, since many lessons are shorter, but don't rush it! So you just take a break from this task, and do your own thing.
Reconstruct the text. Return the fact sentences to students. Reconstruct the original text using these fact sentences. Work together to create a cohesive paragraph. Use all the information from the fact sentences. Aim for the same number of sentences as the original (or close). Students work alone, in pairs, or small groups to rebuild the text.
Compare with the original.
When finished, return to the original text. Ask students to compare their version and notice:
Compare with the original.
When finished, return to the original text. Ask students to compare their version and notice:
- Where their version is similar or different
- Interesting language choices they made
- Structures or vocabulary from the original they didn't use
a) Repeat the task: Students reconstruct the text again using only key words on the board (e.g., December / energy / society / momentum / nature / rest / spring).
b) Write their own version: Students write reflections using similar structures—about summer, spring, or another season.
c) Discussion questions: There are graded questions for each level!
b) Write their own version: Students write reflections using similar structures—about summer, spring, or another season.
c) Discussion questions: There are graded questions for each level!
- Upper-Intermediate+: How does your culture view rest versus productivity, especially at the end of the year? Do you agree that "winter is a time to gather warmth and wisdom"? What does that mean to you? What would it look like to "give yourself the grace to rest" in your daily life right now?
- Intermediate: How does your culture view rest versus productivity, especially at the end of the year? Do you agree that "winter is a time to gather warmth and wisdom"? What does that mean to you? What would it look like to "give yourself permission to rest" in your daily life right now?
- Elementary: Do you feel pressure to be productive in December? Why? Do you think rest is important in winter? Why or why not? What helps you feel rested and calm?