Activities for classroom talk

Jamlick Bosire

What makes a good classroom talk activity?

A good talk activity is one which is purposeful.

What considerations do you think help in planning a good

classroom talk activity?

Whenever you decide on a talk activity you need to have some factors in mind. These considerations are presented in diagrammatic form below.

Talk activity

Teacher role

Introduction

Goals

Assessment

Nature of the task

Goals:You need to think about what the purpose of the activity is.Nature of the task:You need to think at the task it self and how it will support your goals. Introduction:Think how you will introduce the activity.

Teacher’s role:You need to think about the actual performance by the pupils during the activity. How will you ensure that the activity flow?Assessment: Now think of how you will monitor the activity. During the activity, and even after it, you need to monitor and assess how your pupils are doing.

Mrs. Karomon wanted the pupils to learn about capacity. She brought to KG3 classroom the following items.a.Three 2 litre containersb.Three 3 litre containersc.A debe full of waterd.Three empty plastic basins

She then asked the pupils to measure seven litres of water and put them in the plastic basin

How could Mrs. Karomon have planned this lesson according to the talk cycle.

Activity 1.

Answer Goals:The goals of the lesson would be:To involve the pupils in a talkTo encourage all to participateTo learn out practical activityTo encourage the pupils to collaborate.

Nature of task:The task was that the pupils work in groups and find a way to measure the water.Teacher’s role:Mrs. Karomon planned that she would•Ask the pupils to discuss the possible ways of measuring the amount of water.•Ask them to work in groups of six and actually measure the water.•Ask them to explain what they were doing•Ask for feedback at the end of the lesson

Assessment:Mrs. Karomon wanted to see if:The pupils talked freely among themselvesThey worked collaborativelyThey enjoyed the activityThey had the appropriate vocabulary

N/B: the starting point is always the pupils’ interest.

Why do we need to increase interaction and pupils

engagement? Makes our pupils accountable pupils retain more with greater depth when they

interact with the content in meaningful ways Allows pupils the opportunity to explore content and

language on their own Provides opportunities for pupils to pupils interaction

to help pupils develop language skills Promotes an environment of academic risk taking Teaches pupils structure, responsibility, and

deadlines

How can you assess your classroom talk activities?

1. Observation As the children work ask yourself:i.Are the children talking?ii.Are there children who contribute?iii.Do the children appear interested?iv.What are they saying to each other?

Interaction in my classroom

2. Questioning You can ask the pupils questions to:1.Check their understanding2.Prompt correct response3.Probe into further thought4.Find out how the activity went5.See their language development

Pupils Engagement Misconceptions

I have too much to get through. I don’t have time for my pupils to interact with each other.

Pupils never stay on topic when they are talking to each other. It becomes chaotic.

I am dummying down my content if I have the students talk about it.

I don’t teach language in my class. In my class they “do.”

When I have pupils talk or call on them randomly, it causes them anxiety. I can’t do that to them.

Groups just don’t work. Interaction means I have to do silly games.

End