What is it? A teacher no longer asks for volunteers to answer, instead asks all students to answer and chooses a few students to respond.

Why do it? By calling on only those students who raise their hands, teachers allow students to decide themselves whether or not they will participate in the lesson.

How? The teacher asks a question, allows wait time, and then randomly selects a student to answer the question. No hands are raised unless a student is in need of clarification, has a question themselves, or wants to add to the discussion.

What is it? Partnering where each student has a job. Can be as simple as listening, taking notes, or speaking for a set time.

Why do it? With traditional turn and talk:

- One student can dominate/do all the work

- Students who most need to talk, will talk the least

- Students who least need to talk, will talk the most

How?

- Assign partners

- Designate 1s and 2s/As and Bs

- Give question or discussion topic + think time

- Assign which partner should go first

- Clarify “job” for the listener (paraphrase, agree/disagree, etc)

- Circulate to monitor discussions as needed

What is it? Intentionally selecting, introducing, and giving multiple opportunities for students to engage with key vocabulary within and across content areas.

Why do it?

- Students need 10 encounters with vocabulary to reliably predict increased reading comprehension

- We can’t assume that students understand key vocabulary, we need to see it.

How?

- Introduce a vocabulary word and have every student say it

- Give the definition

- Provide multiple examples (visual, verbal, non-example, etc)

- Check for student understanding