Discussion and Participation Supports

• Accountable Talk Sourcebook

  Use teacher talk moves such as marking and revoicing, plus formats for partner talk, small groups, and fishbowl.

  Institute for LearningStrategy guidePlan togetherWhole class

  Open resource

• Think, Pair, Share Classroom Video

  Watch a teacher run think, pair, share with journal time first, then partner talk, then whole class.

  Facing History and OurselvesVideoTry tomorrowWhole class

  Open resource

• Fishbowl Discussion

  Run a discussion where an inner circle talks and an outer circle listens. Built for grades 6 to 12.

  Facing History and OurselvesStrategy guideTry tomorrowWhole class

  Open resource

• Socratic Seminar

  Get steps, norms, sample prompts, and reflection questions for a text-based seminar.

  Facing History and OurselvesStrategy guidePlan togetherWhole class

  Open resource

• Student Talk Flowchart and Protocols

  Pick from ten talk protocols by purpose, such as Three Stay, One Stray or Write and Pass.

  STEM Teaching Tools, University of WashingtonStrategy guideTry tomorrowWhole class

  Open resource

• Developing Students' Discussion Skills

  Build discussion norms with students and post sentence frames for agreeing, disagreeing, and asking questions.

  Colorin ColoradoQuick readTry tomorrowWhole class

  Open resource

• Turn and Talk in the Inclusive Classroom (TIP 15)

  Remove barriers so students with significant cognitive disabilities can take part in turn and talk.

  TIES CenterQuick readUse with a studentOne student

  Open resource

• How to Have an Equitable Class Discussion

  Check who gets called on, use wait time, and plan ways to bring in students who speak less.

  Harvard Graduate School of EducationQuick readLearn moreWhole class

  Open resource

• Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices

  See Recommendation 3 for how to plan extended discussion of text meaning in any content class.

  What Works ClearinghouseResearch summaryLearn moreWhole class

  Open resource

• Scaffolding Discussion Skills With a Socratic Circle

  Students in a grades 6 to 12 school run a Socratic circle with clear supports for listening and responding. Transcript included.

  EdutopiaVideoPlan togetherWhole class

  Open resource

• The Big List of Class Discussion Strategies

  A quick tour of discussion formats sorted by prep time, from fishbowl to think-pair-share. Choose one to try.

  Cult of PedagogyPodcast38 minPlan togetherWhole class

  Open resource

These resources are shared for professional learning and planning. They are meant to inform your professional judgment, not replace it. Each student's IEP and your district, state and federal requirements always come first. Listing a resource here is not an endorsement by Layered Education. This is educational information only, not legal advice.