Thinking faces

Two boys with hands on chins, thinking

Four-year-olds thinking

We all know that thinking time is important. When working with young children, one way of familiarising them with the idea of thinking time is to draw attention to it for a few seconds. I like to say Show me your thinking faces.

By doing this frequently, even our very youngest students start to realise that having time to think is an essential part of learning; that it’s good to really think about a question before we start talking about the answer.

 
More on thinking time
100 Ideas - Oracy - Topsy Page.jpg
My forthcoming Oracy book

Now available to pre-order from Bloomsbury

thinking faces.jpg
Thinking faces

Let’s think before we talk

Pair talk - good listening.jpg
What makes a good talk partner?

Why not ask?

Children jotting.png
Why not jot?

How making notes positively impacts on thinking, talking and writing

Zoom interaction - green object.jpg
Tips to make Zoom sessions interactive (Part 3)

More ideas to encourage participation

teaching-4784914_1920.jpg
Do you repeat pupil responses? Why?

Teachers’ reasons, and why it might be better not to

Philosophy Bear talking toy
What about the quiet children?

Three simple ways to increase participation

The importance of thinking time.jpg
Sorry, Mum!

Reflecting on how our talk can sometimes interrupt learners' thinking

Teachers with talking toys online.png
Try using structured talk to start your Zoom sessions

Invest time in connection before content.

High quality talk online.png
How is the quality of talk in your online meetings?

Creating the conditions for productive dialogue online, just as we would in the classroom.

High Quality Talk in Nursery - pair talk and talking toy.png
Video: High Quality Talk in Nursery

Simple-yet-effective techniques to get three year olds talking and keep them focused.

Time+to+Think+-+Nancy+Kline.jpg
‘Time to Think’ by Nancy Kline

A book which will deepen your understanding of the power of listening.

P4C Ten Steps planning grid - Topsy Page - thumbnail.png
P4C Ten Steps planning grid
IMG_20190718_093908.jpg
I will... the impact of pupil voice

Examples of what staff decided to do differently, after reading pupil voice about talk in their classrooms.

Stuck prompt 2.PNG
Talk prompts which enable children to express they're stuck

I’ve noticed it’s useful to provide Pupil Talk Prompts that enable them to ask for thinking time or help.

Lolly sticks
Tips for using lolly sticks

Lolly sticks are a really simple way to randomly select children, but like anything they need to be used properly.

P4C makes teachers better teachers!

Over the past few months I’ve been asking teachers whether they think P4C has changed them.

What do children think of Hands Up?

Pupil Voice is an important part of my Talk Audits; here are some recent responses when I asked Key Stage 2 children their opinions about Hands Up…

Talk Audits

Introducing my Talk Audits.

Curiosity

My provocation at Challenge Partners Conference, Blackpool, October 2016: What is more important: developing curiosity or measurable academic progress?