Research on talk in schools around ten years ago in the UK showed that high quality pupil talk was rare, that pupils’ thinking time was often very limited, and that most teacher questions were closed.
My experience in schools suggests that – sadly – this is often still the case, even in schools with good teachers and even in schools which are broad-minded with regard to their curriculum. I am convinced that developing a culture of productive talk which truly values pupil explanations, questions and reasoning, can change the way pupils view teachers, and the way pupils see themselves. It can completely transform the learning environment.
I carry out Talk Audits in schools, spending a day listening to and transcribing the teacher and pupil talk. I then analyse this, and make recommendations.
Please get in touch for more details.
