Oracy Improving Discussion https://www.voice21.org/ https://www.school21.org.uk/
Who tends to speak most in your class discussions? How much do most pupils actually say? How is the speaker chosen? How do you track who is speaking? Is the discussion high quality?
Has anything been missed? How well, and openly, do we train our pupils to participate effectively in discussions? Has anything been missed?
At School 21, the guidelines build on the quality and outcomes of the discussion. Clarify, challenge, summarise, shared agreement.
What is your gut reaction? What are the points for and against this statement? Could your mind be changed? How? How could we reach a shared agreement?
Discussions can be developed in many ways.
Chaired Discussion Avoids too much teacher talk. Why use a chair? When and who? What is their job? Avoids too much teacher talk. All children can be a chair - initially most confident. (They can train less confident pupils.) Manage the discussion, ensuring that all get a chance to speak. Chair can keep a record of who speaks and points made.
Protocols Thumbs in if you wish to speak, waggle thumb if you wish to challenge a statement.
Example of chaired discussion ‘It is better to be honest than kind.’ Chair will draw discussion from this statement, ensuring that three things happen. Be thinking about who will chair your group… Turn Taking (red stems) Clarification and Challenge (green stems) Shared Agreement (blue stems)
Chair can draw in those who have not spoken: What do you think about that statement? Do you have anything to add? Chair can clarify or challenge: What did you mean by… Did you mean X or Y? Can you give an example of what you mean? Chair can summarise and lead to shared agreement: Listing main points made to simplify the decision. Encouraging a vote if no consensus reached. Managing a re-vote if needed by taking 2 most voted for views and voting again from those.
Oracy Improving Discussion Thank you for listening… and speaking! https://www.voice21.org/ https://www.school21.org.uk/