Balancing Teacher and Student Talk in the Classroom Chris Thompson and Kaye Brockbank Spanish Fork Junior High, Nebo District

Nobody wants to be this guy, or (worse) his students!

 Engage all students  Encourage use of academic and general vocabulary (ELL focus)  Accountability doesn’t have to be written  Create a safe environment Manage (don’t just tolerate) noise Model Expectation Give Guided Response Templates

 Get to know your neighbors! (see handout and ppt.)

Students pair and share a piece of content-based reading twice, then listen carefully to their third partner and teach what they just HEARD in the fourth pairing. This is tough! NOTE: This is the only way to watch Top Gun as the music spares us of any and all 80s corniness. When you hear the music, wander and find a new sharing buddy.

 Read 3 short stories in a unit  Diagram plot (review)  Plot tweaking (just change the setting)  Brainstorm in groups the new plot ideas  Share with the class (vote)  Decide on our own plots and diagram  Share in pairs

Do they have to write to be accountable? Turn taking Listening Safety in Sharing Would this have been as effective had there not been a common text?

Note the excitement and the use of academic vocabulary. Remember, these are 8 th graders who are tweaking well established plotlines in an attempt to outdo one another. A discussion regarding animal cruelty and the politically incorrect use of the word “hobo” ensued.

Finally, We write our own plotlines and share.

 Let’s give it a try! See Book Chat ppts.

 Let’s use student-generated allusions and see how we do! See Allusion ppt.

 IRONY  The audience knows _____________, but ____________ is unaware of it.—dramatic  ________________ says “______________” but means the opposite.—verbal  One would expect _____________ BECAUSE ____________________, but INSTEAD the opposite occurs.—situational

 Theme As humans we often... In life we sometimes... It is human nature to... At some point in life everyone...  Moral People should(n’t)... It is not a good idea to...

Our Students Want to Share! Get Them Talking!