Invite an informative guest speaker to class (or ask a student to speak to classmates about an area of expertise). Before the visit, have students plan the questions they will ask; during the visit, encourage students to ask follow-up questions. Read More Guest Speaker

Students choose a question (from a list such as opens in a new window this one ) to discuss in order to become more comfortable talking in a discussion format. Instructional focus should be on learners speaking one at a time and listening to respond or add to the topic. Read More Conversational Fishbowl

Teacher models identifying key words in a nonfiction reading and sorting them into categories; students read another short passage and apply their categorization skills. Read More Categorizing Activity

Teacher models a simple “how to” speech. Then, students prepare and deliver their own speeches. Read More “How To” Speeches

Students learn about and practice making inferences; they read and/or listen to a passage about the national Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Read More In Memory of Dr. King