As well as providing talk prompts to help children express their ideas, I’ve noticed it’s also useful to have some that enable them to ask for thinking time or help.
So, I’ve developed some new prompts - examples shown here. Teachers have already fed back to me the difference these make during class discussion, with children now expressing that they need help rather than sitting with that worried “rabbit in the headlights” expression.
Children are realising it’s ok to say I need some help… and are asking for time to think rather than missing out on their opportunity to contribute.
These prompts change pupils’ status from passive to active learners.
