Discussion Protocols

Name Sticks

• For PreK or Kindergarten. Or as needed depending on class dynamics.Younger kids are learning how to share the speaking floor with others, and it helps when each child gets called on. Otherwise, some kids might monopolize all your attention. A very wise preschool teacher gave me the name sticks and pails for AM and PM classes already made up!
• Write each child's name on a craft stick and keep the them in a little cup or pail marked with the teacher's name.
• Keep the sticks near you during the storytime or lesson and when there are questions to ask or activities to perform, draw out a stick and ask that student. (Regina Hartley)
• All of our teachers assign students a class number, so I painted 1 set of craft sticks to match the colors in our library, and put a number on each one. Handy! -jamie camp

Discussion Helpers

These were devised by the amazing 4/5 team at my school, Monarch Academy. The teachers have large posters of these discussion helpers around the room. I have never posted them in the library (I will next year), but students certainly use the same language during our discussions. (Keisa Williams)

Audience and Performer

Our fine Arts teacher uses this and it has become a school-wide way of encouraging our students to listen to each other. If you are answering a question or helping tell the story you are the "performer" and you do the best you can in your role. If you are watching or listening, you have a role too. You must be a good "audience." It is just as important to be a good audience as a good performer.

To be a good audience in the Library we are 5-Star Listeners. We check five points our eyes, ears, lips, hands and feet. We have a poster to illustrate this. (Donna Bills)