Mike’s Blog
Strategies, Ideas and Insights for Teachers and Leaders
Tag: discussion techniques
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What happens when expert teachers identify the purpose of discussion as part of their oracy planning?
It is important to identify the purpose behind a discussion as this allows the teacher to direct matters and to judge whether an activity has been successful. If you cannot…
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How to use stimulus material to create discussions your learners can’t help but engage with
There are many different ways to begin a classroom discussion. The most common is to present learners with a question or statement related to the topic. There is also the…
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The number one simplest strategy any teacher can use to improve the quality of discussion in their classroom
Discussions often stall at the first stages. This is frequently because learners either do not want to say anything or do not feel they have anything worth contributing. We will…
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What different roles do expert teachers take on when using discussion to develop oracy?
There are many roles the teacher can take during a discussion. Here are eight useful ones, the first four of which stem from the character of Socrates as depicted in…
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How can following up writing with discussion help improve outcomes and develop learner oracy?
Where discussion succeeds writing, both tasks should be seen as ends in themselves. Successful planning involves two activities that are closely connected. The connection should be easy for learners to…
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How can you quickly improve the quality of your learners’ writing by harnessing the power of discussion?
Discussion is a great way to help learners develop their ideas about a topic before they start doing any writing. It gives an opportunity to think at length and to…
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What happens to oracy in your classroom when you prioritise reasoning?
Reasoning forms an integral part of discussion. Identifying and following up on assertions means you can help learners get into the habit of giving reasons, evidence and examples to support…
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What are some of the best ways skilled teachers scaffold paired discussion, group discussion and whole-class discussion?
Scaffolding involves: Here are six examples of scaffolding strategies, two each for paired discussion, group discussion and whole-class discussion. Paired Discussion Scaffolding Strategies Strategy One – Question Sequence Provide each…
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How can you effectively model discussion for your learners, immediately improving the quality of their speaking and listening?
As the teacher, learners are watching you and analysing how you behave. They act in accordance with what they observe. If you model excellent discussion, you set an example for…
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Why is bouncing the simplest and yet potentially most powerful tool teachers can use to develop oracy in their classrooms?
Most classrooms have the following structure: This structure commonly results in the teacher spending some of their time standing at the front of the room, conveying information to their learners.…