KS3 Music

Thinking together – exploratory talk

A vital strategy for improving the quality of pupils’ talk in paired or group activity is to encourage the class to compile and agree a set of ground rules for talking together. These rules will ensure that everyone knows what is expected in discussions, and will support the kind of productive, exploratory discussion that both teachers and pupils will value. Typically, rules will expect pupils to:

• be actively encouraged to contribute;
• offer opinions and ideas;
• provide reasons for their opinions and ideas;
• share all relevant information;
• feel free to disagree if they have a good reason;
• ask other people for information and reasons;
• treat other people’s ideas with respect;
• try to come to an agreement;
• change their mind if they are persuaded by good reasoning.

Research tells us that children appreciate the ability to engage with their peers in rational debate, particularly where they can apply the rules for talk in their group work. However, we also know that such talk rarely occurs naturally in classrooms; the teacher needs to set the expectations.

In exploratory talk:

• pupils and teachers engage critically but constructively with each other’s ideas;
• contributions build on previous comments;
• relevant information is offered for joint consideration;
• there is speculation;
• pupils give reasons for their views and seek them from others;
• reasoning is apparent in the talk.

Task 13: Lesson planning, observation and review (30 minutes)
With a colleague, plan a lesson. Ask the colleague to observe your teaching with a specific brief to focus on the impact of opportunities within the lesson for pupils to engage in exploratory talk. Ensure that you have time to review the outcomes with your colleague. Development: You can read more about the use of talk in Section 1 (Speaking and listening) of Literacy in music (DCSF 0054-2004G)