I like to check in with pupils about what they think of different ways of teaching and learning. I recently asked some nine-year-olds how they felt about using a talk-based approach to help them learn. Here are two of the things they said:
"It helps you realise when you've got it wrong!"
“People persuade you with what they say.”
These comments show three things:
They are listening to what their peers are saying.
They are reflecting – and maybe realising that there are other perspectives.
They are reassessing their own thinking and coming to new conclusions.
To sum up – creating opportunities for productive pupil talk in lessons can mean that pupils think about their learning. Bingo!
More on pupil talk
