Class and Individual Dialogue

The activities in this section are designed to enable engagement with the four common types of oral classroom communication: expositions, question and answer exchanges, discussions and listening. 

• How do teachers build on students’ existing skills?
• Talking for a purpose: How can we develop constructive talk in science learning?
• Making talk more effective: how can we get students to say more?
• How do you help your pupils connect ideas in mathematics?
• How can you develop your pupils’ understanding of calculation strategies?
• How can we help pupils who find it difficult to concentrate, stay on-task?
• Do certain types of question suit different subjects?
• How can teachers use classroom talk to promote pupil understanding?
• How do teachers use questions?
• Who talks during whole class teaching?
• How can pupils’ answers help us to help them learn?
• How does the way we talk with our pupils affect their learning?
  

Group Discussion in Classrooms

Collaborative work demands a high level of skill from pupils which we cannot assume that they already have – it is likely that pupils will need to be taught these skills. The following Reflective Activities are designed to investigate pupils’ interactive and collaborative skills. It is important that such skills are made explicit to pupils.

• How good is your pupil's talk?
• What types of task are best for group-work?
• How good are your pupils at listening and responding?