Interactive Peer-to Peer Oral Techniques (IPOTS)

IPOTs named by Dr. Susan Spezzini, University of Alabama Birmingham

IPOTS 1

1. Turn and Tell
Procedure
Assign/identify a partner for each student
Have partners explain to each other what
they just learned or any other targeted focus
for interaction
Possible Applications
Explain main points of lesson (mini-lecture)
Define and use new vocabulary

2. Favorite Numbers
Procedure
Write down a one-digit number, a two-digit
number, and a four-digit number
Tell partner why you selected each number
Demonstration
Use Turn & Tell to do above

3. All of Your Names
Procedure
Write down all of the names and nicknames to
which you respond (examples: Christina,
Christie, Chris, Sissy, Sport, Honey, Mommie,
Mom, Hey you, )
Sign your name
Explain your names, nicknames, and signature
to your partner
Demonstration
Do the above by using Turn & Tell

4. Favorite Room
Procedure
Identify your favorite room or space
Sketch this room and its contents
Describe it to your partner
Demonstration
Do the above by using Turn & Tell

5. Imaginary Photo Album
Procedure
Draw 3 simple geometric shapes (e.g., square,
rectangle, triangle, and/or circle)
Each shape represents a photo in an album
Describe the imaginary photos to partner
Demonstration
One set of photos from the past
A second set of photos from present
A third set of photos from an imagined
future (5 years from now, and also 10 and 20
years)

6. Adding to the Circle
Procedure
Teacher writes targeted sentence structures
on the board
Everyone says what was said before, and adds
own information
Demonstration
Getting to know one another
Practicing subject pronouns & contractions
(Im, hes, shes)
A) Im Tom, and Im from Mobile.
B) Hes Tom, and hes from M. Im
Sue, and Im from Atlanta.
C) Hes Tom, . Shes Sue, . Im
Bill, and Im from Miami.
D) Continue adding around the circle
or room

7. Creating Own Folk Tale
Procedure
Students write short answers to each
question.
Students share answers with class.
After telling stories in groups, they write
their stories.
Demonstration
Where did the boy meet the old man?
What did the old man give the boy?
How long was the boy away from home?
What had changed when the boy returned
home?

8. Puppets
Procedure
Buy wooden clothespins in the Dollar Store
Students make puppets by drawing faces on
clothespins
Possible Applications
Overcome shyness and build self-esteem
Practice new grammar structures
Share content knowledge
Interactive Peer-to Peer Oral Techniques (IPOTS)
IPOTs named by Dr. Susan Spezzini, University of Alabama Birmingham
IPOTS 2

9. Starting at the End
Procedure
Each group is given the final sentence for a
story.
On a strip of paper, each person writes what
he/she thinks will be the second-to-the-last
sentence for that story.
The group members share their sentence
strips and discuss the order of their
sentences to create the final paragraph of
the story. (A few words can be added or
eliminated.) The strips are taped together.
Individually, each student writes a story that
ends with the same paragraph.

10. Concentric Circle
Procedure
Explain and demonstrate how concentric
circles work.
Put half of Ss in the inside circle and half in
the outside circle.
Write prompts on board and/or have students
carry an index card or a completed graphic
organizer.
Outside circle moves to the right; inside
circle does not move.

11. Parallel Lines
Procedure
Half stand in one line against the wall, and the
other half stand in a second line at a
conversational distance.
Write prompts on board and/or have students
carry an index card or a completed graphic
organizer.
Everyone in the second line moves down one
person, and new conversation dyads are
formed. The person at the top of the line
rotates to the end of the line.







12. Roaming Reporters
Procedure
Students write questions on an index card
about a topic of interest or else they are
given prompts.
Students become roving reporters as they
roam around room and find new people to
interview.
Responses are usually written on a response
sheet.
Possible Applications
Checking new knowledge and/or exploring
more.
Connecting lesson to student backgrounds.

13. Carousel Charts
Procedure
Charts #1, #2, #3 are on one wall.
Groups #1, #2, #3 respond to charts 1-3.
Charts#4, #5, #6 are on the other wall.
Groups #4, #5, #6 respond to charts 4-6.
Every two minutes, groups proceed to the
next chart.

14. Numbered Card Impromptus
Procedure
All students select a numbered card from the
stack.
Student with #1 draws an impromptu topic
and thinks for 30 seconds sitting in hot seat
while #2 waits.
#1 places numbered card in view of others.
#1 talks for 30 seconds while #2 thinks in
hot seat and #3 waits.
Each student places their number on top of
the previous.
Rotation proceeds smoothly without much
urging.








Interactive Peer-to Peer Oral Techniques (IPOTS)
IPOTs named by Dr. Susan Spezzini, University of Alabama Birmingham
IPOTS 3

15. Discovery Channel
Procedure
Tape cards under desks or chairs before
students enter
Tell students to look for and find mystery
item.
Students talk with partner to determine
classification.
Each pair walks to board
Possible Applications
Animal classifications in science
Map locations in social studies

16. Cloze Activity with Peer
Procedure
Type introductory paragraph(s) of new
chapter.
Leave a space for every 7
th
or 8
th
word.
Have students work in pairs to fill in missing
words.
Students compare responses to original text.

17. Gap-Filling Tango
Procedure
Type targeted information on numbered lines.
Partner A receives page with gaps on even
lines.
Partner B receives page with gaps on odd
lines.
They sit shoulder-to-shoulder facing opposite
directions.
Students take turns reading for partner to
fill in gaps.

18. Matching with Manipulatives
Procedure
Convert list or chart from textbook into
IPOT.
Print game board and strips on card stock.
Give game board to one partner and strips
to other.
Students work in pairs to match items.
Check own responses with an answer sheet.

19. Classifying & Sequencing
Procedure
Convert list or chart from textbook into
IPOT.
Print game board and strips on card stock.
Give game board to one partner and strips
to other.
Students work in pairs to match items.
Check own responses with an answer sheet.

20. Creating Poetry
Procedure
Create scaffolded template for targeted
poem.
ELLs complete the template.
ELLs copy their poem (just like others do).
Poems are displayed for Open House.
Demonstration
I used to I wish I were
Spring is Two-word poems

21. Chants, Rap, and Songs
Procedure
Create chant, rap or song with new content

22. Hot Onion Review
Procedure
Type main topics in 48 font (centered, 3 per
page).
Cut into strips, one-third page per strip
Crumple strip-by-strip into a big paper ball.
Students stand in circles, about 6 to 8 per
circle.
Each circle has its own hot onion.
Students toss hot onion, read strip, and
explain topic.
Establish rules (e.g., others can also help in
explaining)