2. Literacy Across the Curriculum 2 Managing Small Group Talk

3. Literacy Across the Curriculum 2 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

4. Literacy Across the Curriculum 2 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 … However, research evidence suggests that very little of it naturally occurs in classrooms when children work together in groups. Neil Mercer: Words and Minds

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

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

7. Literacy Across the Curriculum 2 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

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

9. Literacy Across the Curriculum 2 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

10. Literacy Across the Curriculum 2 Group talk dilemmas One or two students are not contributing When you join the groups they get self-conscious and stop talking 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 So what do you do? 3s - with feedback

11. Literacy Across the Curriculum 2 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 2-2-4-2-8 It means more to students than it does to us

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

13. Literacy Across the Curriculum 2 Groupings: the range of possibilities PairsEasy to organise Good for 1:1 feedback Quick-fire rehearsal/reflection Pairs to fours Expands discussion To explain & compare Listening triads Talker, questioner, recorder Builds responsibility Envoys1 student goes to inform another group Avoids tedious reporting back sessions

14. Literacy Across the Curriculum 2 Groupings: the range of possibilities Snowball2 to 8, developing ideas Promotes public discussion and debate Rainbow groups After small-group discussion, students are given colours to re-group JigsawTopic in sections. Start in home group, then move into expert groups, one on each section. Then report back. SpokespersonAs it says

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

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

17. Literacy Across the Curriculum 2 Managing Small Group Talk