< 75% or Bust!

    We are working diligently to reduce teacher talk and increase student discourse. This effort allows students to 'chew' on the learning and maximize the opportunity to retain information. You have the ability to make this happen through intentional planning and considering using the moves outlined in this blog. I

Seven Moves You can be the facilitator or teach kids to take on ownership.  

Try them on for size.

 MOVE 1. Revoicing: Teachers and student revoice another student's contribution asking for individual interpretation and agreement. 

Prompts: 

•  So you are saying... 
• So let me clarify... 
• I think I heard you say... 
• Is this what you are saying? 

 Move #2: REPEATING The teacher or student paraphrases similarities or difference from their own thinking.  This move presses students to become active listeners.

Prompts:

•  Can you repeat what _____said in your own words? 
• What is another way that we could say the same thing that _____shared? 
• Is what ______said what you meant? Does it need clarification?

Move #3: REASONING The teacher asks students to apply their own reasoning about someone else’s ideas or argument. This encourages students to think beyond their own personal ideas and build connections between differing ideas and strategies.

Prompts: 

• Do you agree or have a different idea? Why? 
• Were you thinking the same thing or did you have another idea? 
• Thumbs up if you agree with _______idea/strategy. Thumbs sideways if you respectfully have a different idea/strategy. (Call on random kids to share why they agree or disagree)

Move #4: ADDING ON The teacher prompts students to add onto another student’s idea/strategy. This helps get multiple solutions/ideas on the table and can assist students toward making connections of various ideas/strategies. 

Prompts:

• Who can say something more about this? 
• Can you add more to this idea? 
• Who thinks they can explain why this is a good move/idea/strategy? 
• What is our group considering about this idea? 

Move #5: WAIT TIME Wait time has been emphasized for decades and has been shown as one of the valuable teacher discourse talk moves. This move allows ALL students extra time to process information, formulate ideas, arguments and questions. 

Prompts:

• Take your time to think… 
• We will wait… 
• Think in your head silently about this… 
• Let’s take some time to think… 
• Hands down…time to think privately… 
• Let’s ponder on that thought… 

Move #6: PASS IT ON The teacher asks students for refrain from raising their hands and calls on students to share their own idea or an idea shared by their group or partner. Students begin to ask each other about ideas and strategies. 

Prompts: 

• Remember to ask your friends for clarifying questions when they share an idea/strategy. 
• Does anyone have anything to share about my idea? 
• I was wondering what others think of my idea. 
• Our group is curious if other groups thought about the problem like we did. 

Move #7: THINK ALOUDS A teacher models aloud how a good mathematician/reader thinks and talks about problems that are posed. This helps students develop the habits of mind of being a mathematician. 

Prompts:

• As I am reading this problem I am thinking of… 
• This problem reminds me of another problem we solved last week. 
• Can anyone think of which one? 
• I remember _______ solved a problem like this one. 
• What strategy was it that _____ used? 

As you begin to incorporate more Teacher Discourse Moves in your lessons, it can be helpful to actually write down one or two of the questions or statements in your plan book to remind you to use them as you continually develop your skills. 

Remember those who do the talking do the learning! 

So Let the Kids Talk!

I'll be watching for evidence of these behaviors this week and highlighting them in our blog next week.   I guarantee if you use a few of these during the learning walk this week you'll increase student talk.  There is not doubt that you all have the goods!