Using classroom discussion to help students learn. What to do as a teacher, what rules students need to know, and what questions to ask.

1. U S I N G C L A S S D I S C U S S I O N
A S A L E A R N I N G S T R AT E G Y
I N C L A S S A N D O N L I N E
G L E N A N D E R S E N
R E D M O U N TA I N E L E M E N TA RY
@ G A N D E R S E N 0 7
G L E N . A N D E R S E N @ WA S H K 1 2 . O R G
Flipped Classroom

2. W H AT I S M Y B E S T U S E O F
FA C E T O FA C E T I M E I N
M Y C L A S S R O O M ?

3. – A N T H O N Y M U H A M M A D
“Educators have been socialized in
their field since childhood and
adopt the norms. ”

4. I T I S T I M E T O F R E E
S T U D E N T V O I C E

6. D I S C U S S I O N S W I T H K I D S ? R E A L LY ?
➡Teaching students to think and talk like a specialist
➡Develop critical thinking, analyze information, and
find potential problems
➡Develop problem-solving skills through finding
creative solutions
➡Dialogue helps reach higher levels of learning by
examining different viewpoints and opinions

7. – J O B O A L E R
"Silent maths gives students the wrong
idea about mathematics; it is very hard to
reason about mathematics when working
in silence.”

8. C A N S T U D E N T S H AV E
I N - D E P T H D I S C U S S I O N S
A N D L E A R N ?

9. D I S C U S S I O N S
➡Teach discussion
➡Model Discussion
➡Give the rules of discussing topics
➡Don’t be critical
➡Topic, not the individual
➡Promote learning and insight, not conflict

10. O N L I N E D I S C U S S I O N S
➡Get their thoughts down before class
discussion
➡Require more than a yes/no answer.
➡Apply knowledge to a new situation.
➡Require evidence or support
➡More than one correct answer

13. S T U D E N T R U L E S
C L A S S & O N L I N E
Ready, Set, Science! nap.edu
Chapter 5: Making Thinking Visible

14. S P E A K L O U D E N O U G H F O R
A L L T O H E A R
E X P L A I N Y O U R A N S W E R O R
V I E W A N D G I V E E V I D E N C E

15. L I S T E N F O R
U N D E R S TA N D I N G
R E A D F O R
U N D E R S TA N D I N G

16. A G R E E O R D I S A G R E E
( A N D E X P L A I N W H Y )

17. Q U E S T I O N S

19. S A M P L E Q U E S T I O N S
➡What is the cause/effect…?
➡What is the impact…?
➡What is the relationship…?
➡What if…?
➡What would/could happen…?
➡What do you feel, think, believe…?

20. A G O O D Q U E S T I O N I S B O T H A
Q U E S T I O N S T U D E N T S C A N A N S W E R
A N D A Q U E S T I O N T H AT
R E Q U I R E S A N A LY S I S , S Y N T H E S I S ,
I N T E R P R E TAT I O N , A N D C R I T I C A L
T H I N K I N G I N O R D E R T O A N S W E R I T.

21. A D E A D E N D Q U E S T I O N I S A
Q U E S T I O N T H AT P R O D U C E S
L I T T L E D I S C U S S I O N , G U E S S I N G ,
I S T O VA G U E , O R C O N V E Y S A N
E X P E C T E D A N S W E R .

22. I N I T I AT E E VA L U AT E
R E S P O N S E

23. R U L E S O F I M P R O V
1) Say Yes-and!
2) Don't Block.
3) Avoid Yes or No Questions
4) Be Specific- Provide Details!
5) Change, Change, Change!
6) Commit and take choices to the nth degree or focus
on actions/objects.
7) There are no mistakes, only opportunities

24. I S A T E A C H E R S J O B T O T E L L
S T U D E N T S T H E Y A R E R I G H T
O R W R O N G ?

25. – B I L L G AT E S
"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces
smart people into thinking they can't
lose.”

26. T E A C H E R

27. L I S T E N .
N O , R E A L LY L I S T E N

28. S T O P TA L K I N G

29. C L A R I F Y W H AT
S T U D E N T S M E A N

30. T I M E

31. L E T T H E G R O U P TA L K

32. A P P R E C I AT E S T U D E N T I D E A S
D O N ' T TA K E I T P E R S O N A L LY

33. I N E E D C L O S U R E !

34. A N S W E R Q U E S T I O N S ,
B U T
D O N ’ T G I V E A N S W E R S .

35. S T I R U P C O N T R O V E R S Y

36. P R O V I D E A LT E R N AT I V E S

37. I F Y O U C O U L D O N LY T E A C H
1 0 P O I N T S , W H AT W O U L D
Y O U T E A C H ?