Exploring Talk in School
Inspired by the Work of Douglas Barnes
- Neil Mercer - University of Cambridge, UK, The Open University
- Steve Hodgkinson - Brighton University, UK
Classroom talk, by which children make sense of what their peers and teachers mean, is the most important educational tool for guiding the development of understanding and for jointly constructing knowledge. So what practical steps can teachers take to develop effective classroom interaction?
Bringing together leading international researchers and drawing on the pioneering work of Douglas Barnes, this book considers ways of improving classroom talk. Chapters cover:
- classroom communication and managing social relations;
- talk in science classrooms;
- using critical conversations in studying literature;
- exploratory talk and thinking skills;
- talking to learn and learning to talk in the mathematics classroom;
- the 'emerging pedagogy' of the spoken word.
With an accessible blend of theory, research and practice, the book will be a valuable resource for teachers, teacher-trainers, policy makers, researchers and students.
"The necessity of educating teachers about more effective techniques is made obvious in this excellent, thought-provoking book."
Will be adding this to essential reading list.
This book could be seen as an essential text for undergraduate teachers. There are many practical suggestions which are firmly rooted in theory and research.
