Fishbowls are especially beneficial when using multicultural literature. Like K/W/L charts, fishbowls allow the teacher to see what misconceptions students have and address them. They also create a safe forum for students to observe how charged a discussion of cultural issues might become. Because there is always a post discussion analysis, fishbowls also allow a group to handle this together.
Students in the outside circle of a fishbowl can observe how specific individuals question, respond to, and make meaning of a text, which can model small-group literature circle discussions.
Fishbowls allow students to practice group discussion skills.
Fishbowls also teach observation, listening, and community-building skills.
Fishbowls provide students with the opportunity to identify small-group discussion habits in an effort to improve upon them.