There’s a thin line between mockery and endorsement.
—Dawn Foster
Turn and Talk
I once sat in a staff meeting where the principal used a turn-and-talk video as an opener. At first I was excited about digging into this instructional strategy, but within moments I sensed the video’s sarcasm. By the end, it was clear that the video was a spoof of the strategy, making it seem that no one with any sense would ask students to turn and talk.
As I’ve curated the content for this newsletter, this is the experience that keeps replaying in my mind. No one wants to be the laughingstock, and I think the same would be true for instructional strategies (if they had feelings).
As I’ve lived with this memory, I’ve also conjured up other turn-and-talk memories. They are copious. Turn-and-talk is a strategy that works with all ages of students, in all content areas, and in nearly all situations. In fact, it is one of my go-to strategies supporting learners.
That’s why I’m excited to share new content about turn-and-talk. Whether you are like me and use turn-and-talk as a lifeline to support learners, someone who has snickered about the strategy in the back of the teachers’ lounge, or someone new to using turn-and-talk, this week’s content is for you.
This week we share articles about strengthening turn-and-talk—plus more, as always.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
Melanie Meehan shares questions and reflection prompts to make the turn-and-talk strategy more effective. This article was first published in 2018.
Tara Barnett and Kate Mills find that struggling readers in the early grades benefit from scaffolds and repeated practice in small groups. They share some of their favorite tools, including key ring prompts and anchor charts. This article was first published in 2019.
The Children’s Literacy Initiative offers six ways to improve turn-and-talk for student language development.
The Lead Learners is reading Leading Like a C.O.A.C.H. by Matt Renwick. This is a virtual study group that includes a book club plan, information about facilitating a book club in your school, and resources to support reflective practice for those reading alone. Grab a copy of the book and join us!
(The Lead Learners provides workshops, mentoring, and a supportive community for grassroots teacher leaders.)
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Vivian Chen offers useful tips for seasoned and new teachers when it comes to helping students engage in a turn-and-talk.
Ruth Ayres suggests three ways to help students intentionally listen during conversations such as a turn-and-talk.
Mallory Messenger shares a process for students to engage and solve a type of intriguing question called Fermi Questions. Download a Fermi Question Recording Sheet to try this in your classroom.
In this encore article, Julie Johnson reminds us of important mindsets to adopt to allow students the space and permission to talk while composing. When students talk as writers, they have opportunities to create new understandings, build relationships, and validate each other.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Heather Fisher cracks open some of her secrets to developing and maintaining an inquiry stance as an instructional coach. If you’re looking to strengthen your listening and feedback, this is a great place to begin.
In a Coaching Minute, Ruth Ayres offers a useful tip when planning your coaching calendar: Create groups of teachers.
In a PD2Go we focus on considering and uplifting student talk in our classrooms. This highly reflective session pairs an article by Stella Villalba with a video of a minilesson by Gigi McAllister.
Quote It:
If you want to be truly great you have to work as hard to be a great teammate as you do to be a great player.
—Jon Gordon
That’s all for this week!
