The Speaking and Listening Standards are the fuel that give the ELA Common Core standards their oomph. In fact, without the SL standards, our kids will NEVER be able to master the full standards. Why? Because the very nature of the standards is that students will PRODUCE something – not just recite, regurgitate or remember facts and information. A HUGE part of that production is speaking. Yep! Just talking! (I think I’ve mastered those standards really, really well, considering how much I like to talk!)
Here’s a quick outline for you to try. Seriously? The key is in the modeling – – and giving kids enough time to really LEARN how to discuss. No child is discuss-proof!
