Growing accountable talk During An Interactive read aloud

1. Establish a single focus for as long as possible. Talk, think, jot, reread, and talk more about the focus. 

• Who has a question we can ponder for a while?
• Who can add to that thought?
• Let’s stick with this topic. Who has something else to add to _______’s idea?
• Let’s recap what has been said so far. What else can we say about that?
• Let’s look back into the text and find evidence that supports that idea.
• Let’s stop for a moment and jot down the ideas you have about this theory.
• How would you compare that to what you were thinking earlier?

 
 2. Interpret and use each other’s statements and ideas. Listen and build upon other people’s ideas. 

• _______ presented a theory. Who can talk off of that?
• Does anyone have something to add to _______’s ideas?
• So you are agreeing with _______. Look at him/her and tell him/her.
• So you are adding on to what _______ had to say with additional thoughts. Does anyone else have something to add to what _______ had to say?

 
 
3. Recognize and challenge other people’s ideas. 

• You have a different theory than _______. Look at _______ and tell him/her what you are thinking.
• We have two theories on the table. Does anyone have evidence that supports either theory?
• Does anyone have a different idea?
• So you disagree with _______. Let’s look back in the text and find evidence that supports the differing ideas presented here.
• Where are you going with that idea? How does it connect to what we are thinking?

 
 
4. Ask the speaker to clarify, justify, explain, and provide evidence to support ideas. 

• I don’t understand what you mean. Could you explain?
• Say more about what you’re thinking.
• Why do you think that?
• I had a different idea about that. Could you show us evidence in the text that supports your ideas?
• Can you say it again in a different way?

If we expect young readers to take on this language and hold themselves accountable for deep talk about their reading, then we must use these phrases consistently, in supportive and enthusiastic ways!