English // Speaking & Listening
Preparing for and Explaining in Discussions
Come to discussions prepared, draw on preparation and known information, and explain ideas in light of the discussion
Quick check
If the learner knows they're going to discuss a topic in class, do they think about it beforehand and come ready with ideas or facts to share?
Ask this to see whether the topic is secure.
Topic // Mastery
What mastery looks like
- Read assigned material and prepare three discussion points or questions before a group conversation
- During discussion, refer explicitly to the text or preparation notes to support a point
- After a group exchange, explain how one's own thinking changed or was confirmed by others' contributions
Topic // Map
Where this fits
- RequiredMust come first
- HelpfulHelps, but not essential
Before this
2 topics- Group discussionsRequired
Speaking & Listening // Ages 4 to 11
Coming to discussions prepared extends active collaborative conversation skills
Speaking & Listening // Ages 7 to 8
Prepared discussion builds on gaining/maintaining listener interest and evaluating viewpoints
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Preparing for and Explaining in Discussions
Ages 8 to 11 // Method
Leads to
1 topicSpeaking & Listening // Ages 10 to 11
Drawing conclusions builds on prepared discussion
Topic // Standards
Curriculum standards
- Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects
- SL.3.1.aSL.3.1.dSL.4.1SL.4.1.aSL.4.1.bSL.4.1.cSL.4.1.dSL.5.1.a
English // Speaking & Listening
More in Speaking & Listening
- Reporting & RecountingAges 8 to 11MethodReport on a topic or recount an experience with organised facts and descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace
- Identifying Reasons Behind a Speaker's PointsAges 9 to 10MethodIdentify the reasons and evidence a speaker provides to support particular points, evaluating whether the reasoning is logical and the evidence is relevant
- Evaluating a Speaker's ArgumentAges 10 to 11MethodSummarise the points a speaker makes and explain how each claim is supported by reasons and evidence, evaluating the logic and relevance of the support
- Paraphrasing What You HearAges 9 to 10MethodParaphrase portions of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, capturing the key ideas accurately in one's own words
- Summarising Spoken and Media PresentationsAges 10 to 11MethodSummarise a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats including visually, quantitatively, and orally
- Adapting Speech to ContextAges 10 to 11MethodAdapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, using formal English when appropriate to task and situation while adjusting tone, vocabulary, and style for…
- Multimedia PresentationsAges 10 to 11MethodInclude multimedia components and visual displays in presentations when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or themes
- Building on Others in DiscussionsAges 10 to 11MethodPose and respond to specific questions in discussions, making comments that contribute to the discussion and elaborate on the remarks of others