Language tools

Dawes (2008, p.5-6) has identified some ‘language tools’ that help children to use language to think together.

• To ask questions that support one another’s thinking:
  • ‘what do you think?’
  • ‘why do you think that?'
  • ‘Let’s think again …’

• To encourage one another to elaborate or add detail:
  • ‘Can you say a bit more?’
  • ‘What else do we know?’
  • ‘I can tell you about …’
  • ‘Can you explain ...?’
  • ‘I hadn’t thought of that until you said it ...’
  • ‘[name] pointed out to me that …’

• To challenge one another’s thinking, with respect and interest:
  • ‘I disagree because …’
  • ‘But …’
  • ‘I agree but …’
  • ‘You’re right in my opinion …’
  • ‘I believe that …’
  • ‘I think …’
  • ‘Another point of view is …’
  • ‘So-and-so said  - and I can’t see how your view fits with …’

• To justify what they assert:
  • ‘My reason for saying that is …’
  • ‘Because …’
  • ‘I have noticed that …’
  • ‘I have found out that …’
  • ‘I see it differently …’

• To speculate:
  • ‘If …’
  • ‘What if …’
  • ‘Why …’
  • ‘Maybe we could …’
  • ‘I have a suggestion …’

• To be able to negotiate and change their mind:
  • ‘I see what you mean …’
  • ‘I am beginning to understand …’
  • ‘That’s a good way to look at it …’
  • ‘When you put it that way …’
  • ‘You have convinced me …’
  • ‘Your reason sounds right because …’

Reference

Dawes, L. (2008) The Essential Speaking and Listening: Talk for learning at KS2. London: Routledge.