Discursive Strategies:
Think About… Talk About…

These words are found repeatedly throughout the inquiries. The same words are used but they act as a signal to teachers that a period of reflection is needed for a variety of reasons.

Think about… Talk about… gives students and teachers an opportunity to:

• surface current thinking
• check for understanding
• uncover difficult vocabulary
• do some critical thinking
• apply new learning
• try a conversational discursive strategy to support student discussion
• reflect on past thinking to note changes and incorporate new learning
• conduct a formative assessment
• decide on next learning directions

Teachers are the best judges of what the period of reflection should entail. The ideas listed are a starting point to support their professional decision making.