Mike’s Blog
Strategies, Ideas and Insights for Teachers and Leaders
Category: Talk, Discussion and Oracy
-
Why you should use the ‘examination committee’ discussion strategy in your classroom to get learners talking, thinking and debating
Examination Committee Discussion Strategy: Explanation For this activity, you’ll need several pieces of work produced by learners, based on the topic of study. This could be work produced by your…
-
Discover how to develop your learners’ oracy skills by utilising the set-up of a job interview
Job Interview Discussion Strategy: Explanation This activity is best used towards the end of a unit of work. Explain to your class that several learners will be applying for jobs…
-
Socratic Dialogue is over 2500 years old, yet still retains the power to create wonderful discussion opportunities today
Socratic Dialogue Discussion Strategy: Explanation Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher. He is known to us through the writings of his pupil, Plato. In Plato’s books, Socrates discusses ideas with…
-
Why using ‘What If…?’ discussions is a secret shortcut to creative thinking in your classroom
What If … ? Discussion Strategy: Explanation This activity is all about speculation. It encourages learners to discuss possibilities and to imagine what might be the case. It challenges them…
-
Unlock the potential of one of the UK’s longest running TV programmes to create engaging discussion activities for your learners
Question Time Discussion Strategy: Explanation This activity is based on the long-running BBC television programme of the same name. It is best used when there are a series of different…
-
Use the method of cross-examination that keeps government ministers in check to supercharge discussion in your classroom
Select Committee Discussion Strategy: Explanation Select Committees are made up of groups of MPs or members of the House of Lords. The House of Commons has Select Committees for each…
-
Create a discussion scenario using the time-honoured set-up of the psychiatrist’s consulting room
Analyst’s Couch Discussion Strategy: Explanation This activity mimics the set-up of a consulting room without making direct use of the methods of psychoanalysis. Learners are invited to analyse opinions, arguments…
-
Channel the power of continental café culture to create wonderful discussion opportunities for your learners
Café Culture Discussion Strategy: Explanation This activity takes its inspiration from café-style culture. The room is set-up in a series of pods. These are made up of one or two…
-
A discussion technique that involves total silence, yet which lets you draw out ideas from everyone in your class
Silent Debate Discussion Strategy: Explanation This is a non-verbal, whole-class discussion. You can add an oral element at the end, if you choose. It works as follows: In advance, prepare…
-
The interview-style discussion activity that uses three steps to generate engagement, excitement and high-quality classroom talk
Three-Step Interview Discussion Strategy: Explanation The teacher introduces a question, a statement or some stimulus material. Learners are divided into groups of four. In each group, pupils are labelled A,…