Not Your Mother’s Read Aloud
Diana Gobbi
June 13, 2013
Today’s Goal
Explore how a read aloud can
lead into a whole class conversation
Why?
Whole class conversation
• synthesizes group conversations
• encourages higher order thinking
• supports Speaking-Listening standards
and reading comprehension
How does it look?
• Students sit in talk circles.
• The teacher reads aloud a fiction or
informational text (or a portion of a text).
• After the teacher reads, students jot
down questions they have about the text.
• The teacher can provide “growing new
ideas” prompts to aid the conversation –
a great differentiation.
• Then each member of the talk circle
shares his/her question with the group,
and the group briefly discusses it.
• Next, the group chooses one question to
add to the Idea Wall and writes it on a
sticky note.
• The teacher groups similar questions as
needed.
• The class chooses one question from the
Idea Wall to discuss.
• The teacher begins the whole class
conversation, and then students take over.
• They talk when others aren’t talking (don’t
have to raise their hands).
• The teacher acts as a recorder/historian and
scribes the conversation on a chart,
SmartBoard, under a document camera, etc.
• Scribing the conversation also helps
model how to synthesize and build
upon ideas to extend thinking.
• It also creates a Twitter timeline of
ideas shared in the group.
• Once one idea is talked out, prompt students
with, “So far, we have talked about ….now I’m
going to push your thinking even higher and
I’d like you to think about….”
• Students could turn and talk first to begin
thinking in the direction they are being
pushed, and then another student begins the
second bend of the conversation.
• To close, have students tell their talk
circle one idea they’d like to learn more
about.
• The Idea Wall is posted, so the ideas
generated can be carried into another
read aloud, guided reading, inquiry
stations, mini-lectures, independent
reading, content instruction – anywhere!
Share your thoughts…
How could whole class conversation
support your students?
Thank you for coming today!
Enjoy your summer!