Literacy Across the Curriculum

1. Literacy Across the Curriculum Managing Small Group Talk 2

2. Literacy Across the Curriculum What do we know about student talk in the classroom? • It is dominated by teacher talk (75% of classroom talk) • Mostly consists of Q&A • 60% of students never have a conversation with adults in school • We massively waste students’ potential, by not using talk more systematically 2

3. Literacy Across the Curriculum As the NLS puts it: Exploratory talk is that in which partners engage critically but constructively with each other’s ideas … it is an effective way of using language to think … the process of education should ensure that every child is aware of its value and able to use it effectively … 2 However, research evidence suggests that very little of it naturally occurs in classrooms when children work together in groups. Neil Mercer: Words and Minds

4. Literacy Across the Curriculum 1 Purposes of group talk 2 Organising groups in different ways 2 3 Making things happen in your school “productive talk behaviours”

5. Literacy Across the Curriculum THINK TANK! Challenging ideas Analysing & evaluating Making suggestions Purposes of talk 2 Summarising Justifying ideas Building on, clarifying, modifying others’ ideas Asking questions 7 We have to teach and model these

6. Literacy Across the Curriculum • Conditions that promote productive talk: • Thoughtful groupings • Presentations within groups • Specific roles within groups • Planning as carefully as you would other tasks • Clear outcomes • Specific time-limits • Modelling the required language and behaviour 2

7. Literacy Across the Curriculum When would you recommend: Friendship groups Ability groups Structured mix Random mix Single sex? Individual work Pair work Small group (3/4) Large group (7) Whole class? 2

8. Literacy Across the Curriculum What size grouping would you recommend for these tasks? • Generating discussion of a social issue • Getting feedback on the draft of an assignment • Collaborating to create a class display • Two-minute discussion of an example, prior to whole-class discussion • Targeted feedback on written performance in a test 2

9. Literacy Across the Curriculum Group talk dilemmas 3s - with feedback One or two students are not contributing When you join the groups they get self-conscious and stop talking So what do you do? 2 You allowed 15 minutes for a discussion, but they’re run out of steam after 15 minutes The group has enjoyed their group discussions, but no one wants to contribute to the plenary session

10. Literacy Across the Curriculum 2-2-4-2-8 • 5 golden rules of group talk? • Plan it • Aim for a variety of groups / activities • Model the language you expect • Make yourself be detached • Feedback on the process, not just the content • Praise endlessly 2 • It means more to students than it does to us

11. Literacy Across the Curriculum Get people at your school thinking about groupings and group talk 2

12. Literacy Across the Curriculum Groupings: the range of possibilities 2

13. Literacy Across the Curriculum Groupings: the range of possibilities 2

14. Literacy Across the Curriculum So what will you do next back at school? Staff meeting demonstration of groupings on a controversial topic Student survey of talk / groupings 2 Target one team and aim for critical mass Display of grouping possibilities People need to see it in action - so DO something

15. Literacy Across the Curriculum Talking Point What have you done with group talk in your own school which has made most impact? 2

16. Literacy Across the Curriculum Managing Small Group Talk 2