At Aldwyn Primary School we encourage students to talk about the current topic and at the same time give them the tools and a chance to research questions that are being asked. More importantly, we encourage them to ask related questions that may have been thrown back via their research.
In primary schools, where the educational content is usually much more straightforward, student discussion inside and outside the classroom is often a powerful tool for developing critical thinking skills.
It is a matter of great urgency that quality discussion in the classroom is encouraged to enhance knowledge and inculcate good learning habits. The need for creating opportunities for students to discuss has been recognised by many experts but still is far from being addressed adequately.
Students need to be active participants, so it is essential to include them in the discussion. The teacher can help with this by giving the students questions that require a two-way dialogue in which they respond back and forth. Teachers should comment on how key points have been made and raise questions based on what has already been said; this is something we encourage students to do at Aldwyn Primary School. Group notes can be taken via apps like Jamboard or Google Keep.
It's a total win, win and helps to get children engaged, excited and thinking about their current topic.