Talk Moves

          Before talking this elementary mathematics methods course I had never heard of talk moves. They are beneficial in mathematics when we as teachers are trying to elicit students’ ideas, but I can also see where they are beneficial in other subjects. Throughout this quarter I have been working on using talk moves in the math class as well as in my main placement. I even found myself asking students to revoice what I just said after I gave directions for an assignment. This is very helpful because then I do not get as many questions about what the directions were if I ask a couple of students to tell me what they just heard me say.

          Many talk moves that I have used are focused around revoicing and reasoning. I have said things such as “So you are saying…” and “If I understand correctly…” This is a way to revoice students’ opinions and ideas without them thinking that you are dismissing their idea by saying it wrong to the class when you revoice it without these beginning phrases. I have noticed that students are more likely to say “Actually this is what I meant” after I have tried to revoice and understand what they were trying to say. This is a way for the students to know that the teacher isn’t always right and they have a chance to correct themselves.  

          I am constantly asking students to repeat what so and so just said because I think it is a way to keep students accountable for listening when other students are talking. I also like to use student’s names when asking them to revoice so the student knows who had this idea. For example, I would say something like “What Jenny is saying…” I will also call on a student and ask them if they agree or disagree with what has just been said. I feel that it is great to get students’ opinions about other students’ ideas.