Text Graffiti is an engaging and interactive strategy that helps students activate their prior knowledge, make predictions, and clarify their understanding of a text. This strategy is particularly effective for introducing challenging or complex texts, as it allows students to work collaboratively to generate ideas and questions.

Materials:

• Large sheets of paper or chart paper
• Markers or pens in a variety of colors
• Sticky notes (optional)

Procedure:

1. Select a Text (5 minutes):
   • Choose a text that is relevant to your curriculum and that you believe will benefit from using the Text Graffiti strategy. 
   • The text can be an excerpt from a novel, a poem, a news article, or any other type of written material.
2. Prepare the Space (5 minutes):
   • Arrange the large sheets of paper or chart paper on the walls of your classroom. You may want to create a designated area for the Text Graffiti activity, such as a bulletin board or a section of the whiteboard.
3. Introduce the Activity (5 minutes):
   • Explain to students that they will be working collaboratively to create a “graffiti” wall of their thoughts and ideas about the text. Emphasize that there are no right or wrong answers and that the goal is to generate as many ideas as possible.
4. Divide Students into Groups (3 minutes):
   • Divide students into groups of 2-4. Each group will be responsible for a specific section of the text.
5. Read the Text (15 minutes):
   • Have students read their assigned section of the text silently. 
   • Encourage them to highlight or make notes on any words, phrases, or ideas that stand out to them.
6. Generate Ideas (15 minutes):
   • Once students have finished reading, ask them to work with their group to generate ideas about the text. 
   • These ideas can be predictions about what will happen next in the text, questions about the text, or personal connections that they make to the text.
7. Write On the Wall (10 minutes):
   • Have each group write their ideas on the designated area of the wall. Encourage students to use different colors of markers or pens to make the graffiti visually appealing.
8. Share and Discuss (15 minutes):
   • Once all groups have had a chance to write their ideas on the wall, take some time to share and discuss the graffiti. Ask students to share their favorite ideas, and encourage them to explain why they find those ideas interesting.

Differentiation:

• Quote Choice: Offer a variety of quote complexity and length to cater to different reading levels.
• Response Style: Allow students to choose between written annotations, drawings, Mind Maps, or even short dialogues.
• Group Size: Create partnerships or small groups for discussion and collaboration, or keep individual responses depending on comfort level.
• Starting Point: Let students choose their first quote to engage with, rather than assigning them in order.

Technology Integration:

• Digital Post-it Notes: Use online platforms like Padlet or Mural to create a virtual graffiti wall for student responses.
• Audio Recordings: Encourage students to record their reflections or interpretations of assigned quotes.
• Collaborative Documents: Facilitate group discussion and analysis by co-creating a shared document or slideshow.