Have you ever heard the idiom, children should be seen, not heard? My mother was a firm believer that children were to be seen and not heard. If I had a nickel for every time I heard that come out of my mother's mouth, I would be a millionaire! In today's classroom, students need to be seen and heard. Students should not be forced to sit quietly throughout a lesson. We need them to think out loud and explain their thought process. By doing so, teachers foster a classroom environment where students learn from each other using accountable talk stems. Accountable talk allows students to explain their thinking and learn from their peers. Accountable talk helps students become thinkers by reinforcing their ability to use and formulate knowledge.
Accountable talk is not something that can be explained in five minutes. Teachers set norms for how and when accountable talk is used, and model appropriate forms of leading classroom discussions, peer discussions, and through questioning and probing. Teachers must also establish norms and practices to guarantee that students allow their peers to speak without interruption, ridicule, or attack another students contribution to the classroom discussion. Students have to be taught how to use accountable talk in a classroom setting, and how to use accountable talk during peer discussions. Accountable talk stems are visible throughout my classroom. I have them in group baskets, they are posted on the wall, and students are asked to respond to questions and responses by using accountable talk. For example: John responds to a question and he is wrong, Sally knows the answer. Sally can't shout out the answer. A correct response using accountable talk would go like this: I disagree with John because when you multiply or divide by a negative when solving two-step inequalities, you must flip the inequality symbol. By responding using accountable talk, John is learning from Sally's response, and the teacher can use this as a means to formatively assess both students. Remind students daily of the norms and practices that are associated with accountable talk. By doing so, you will foster a classroom environment where students can engage in meaningful classroom discussions that promote thinking and learning. Let your students talk, and teach them how to conduct meaningful discussions without them getting off topic!
Here is a great article my previous school system provided for us during a District Learning Day last year. This will give you an insight into the world of Accountable Talk.
http://www.scsk12.org/uf/ci/files/2013/modules/Science%206-12%20CC%20Study%20Groups/Study%20Group%205%20Science/SettingTheStageForAccountableTalk.pdf
Posted by Joy Greth, Math Teacher at Clark Pleasant Middle School 12.9.14
Accountable talk is not something that can be explained in five minutes. Teachers set norms for how and when accountable talk is used, and model appropriate forms of leading classroom discussions, peer discussions, and through questioning and probing. Teachers must also establish norms and practices to guarantee that students allow their peers to speak without interruption, ridicule, or attack another students contribution to the classroom discussion. Students have to be taught how to use accountable talk in a classroom setting, and how to use accountable talk during peer discussions. Accountable talk stems are visible throughout my classroom. I have them in group baskets, they are posted on the wall, and students are asked to respond to questions and responses by using accountable talk. For example: John responds to a question and he is wrong, Sally knows the answer. Sally can't shout out the answer. A correct response using accountable talk would go like this: I disagree with John because when you multiply or divide by a negative when solving two-step inequalities, you must flip the inequality symbol. By responding using accountable talk, John is learning from Sally's response, and the teacher can use this as a means to formatively assess both students. Remind students daily of the norms and practices that are associated with accountable talk. By doing so, you will foster a classroom environment where students can engage in meaningful classroom discussions that promote thinking and learning. Let your students talk, and teach them how to conduct meaningful discussions without them getting off topic!
Here is a great article my previous school system provided for us during a District Learning Day last year. This will give you an insight into the world of Accountable Talk.
http://www.scsk12.org/uf/ci/files/2013/modules/Science%206-12%20CC%20Study%20Groups/Study%20Group%205%20Science/SettingTheStageForAccountableTalk.pdf
Posted by Joy Greth, Math Teacher at Clark Pleasant Middle School 12.9.14