One tiny tweak for teachers. A huge change for learners.
Often, pupil talk during whole-class learning is directed to and managed by the teacher:
A child responds to a teacher question; they look at the teacher; they talk only to the teacher.
The other children are passively waiting, looking either at the teacher or at nothing. They’re not giving their attention to the child speaking.
Why? Because the child speaking is not speaking to them.
This is something I see in so many classrooms, and it is inadvertently encouraged by teacher talk such as: Can you say that again for ME, please? Who can tell ME what might happen next? Find ME a phrase which describes how he is feeling.
Try saying Tell us or Tell everyone instead.
You are now sending the message that pupil comments are for everyone’s benefit. You are creating the conditions for others to consider the response, and to build on or challenge it. You are giving the rest of the class a reason to listen. You are helping to deliver the benefits of pupil-to-pupil dialogue.
Why not try this every day for a week until it becomes a habit?
