Modeling the Sounds of Learning

From the desk of Leigh Ann . . .

One of my favorite classroom signs reads, “Pardon our noise.  It’s the sound of learning.”  A class of enthusiastic learners is not silent, but filled with meaningful conversations about all aspects of the curriculum.  Classroom talk is a powerful tool and is critical to teaching and learning, so we need to deliberately model effective ways to reason, discuss, and extend learning for our students.  If children have the chance to delve into the content they are studying and have meaningful discussions, they become more actively engaged and we can see what they do and do not understand more clearly.  This discourse provides deeper meaning for our students and an authentic means of formative assessment for us.

Learning to reason and explain takes time and practice and students need us to model the logic needed to think through a process to be a real-life problem solver.  Young learners often think they should just automatically know the answer or that it is enough to just memorize that 1 + 1 = 2.  Our students need to know why and be able to show how this is true.  By modeling our reasoning with students, we show them the importance of the process as well as the product.  When we talk through the steps taken to create a strong topic sentence, figure out a tricky word in our reading, or talk through a math problem, we provide them with the tools they can use (or modify) to meet their needs.

We can model and give students practice by using talk in strategic ways:

• Think out loud.  Share the step-by-step process you used to find an answer.
• Write your own example on the board.  Demonstrate how to write a quality topic sentence and supporting details, so students see the process unfold.
• Demonstrate how to infer or cite information from a text to answer a question.
• Walk through the steps of solving a math problem.  Use manipulatives, so students can see and feel the process.
• Ask if someone has a different strategy for solving the same problem.  Invite students to share their thinking.
• Walk students through how you would begin to research a topic of interest.
• Share a rubric that outlines the steps you want your students to take to reach a specific goal.  Discuss the process and expected outcome.
• Provide time for strategic talk about specific concepts.  Have children support their answers during discussions.
• Create and guide student teams for cooperative work opportunities to extend speaking and listening skills.  Establish guidelines for discussions and the sharing of information.

Talk is a rich source of information and helps boost lasting understanding.  When we talk together and analyze concepts intentionally, we support deeper reasoning and lasting understanding for our students.  Our goal is not a quiet classroom, but one that is filled with the quality sounds of learning.

“While we were learning, others were watching.  The best teachers are those that teach while they learn.”   – Rosanna Jones