Talk to Learn

Jigsaw


Divide students into 5 "Research" teams. Each finds out about 1 area of the theme. Reorganise into "jigsaw" groups that contain 1 delegate from each of the research teams. Get students to explain to new colleagues what their old team has found out. Each jigsaw group considers the project as a whole. Whole class discussion on progress. Plenary: what needs to happen next?


Talking trios

• before the lesson, summarise criteria for success for learning question
• in middle of lesson, discuss progress so far
• after the lesson, identify Plus, Minus, Interesting points in terms of their learning

Define objectives

List what the following might be trying to achieve:

• school
• teacher in lesson
• your aims in going to school
• parents/carers at home
• students in your class

Prioritise

Put in order of importance:

• What rules should a school have? Which are most important?
• Who is most to blame for London riots?
• Who has most power in "Of Mice and Men"?

Summarise

...a text, lesson or learning experience.

Note the main points in 100 words, then in 50 words, then in 1 sentence.

Create a game

Take a game you know and change the rules by:

• the way pieces move
• turning pieces into characters in a book
• change playing board and penalties

Now teach it to another group of students...