Across the Curriculum

Accountable Talk –
What?
• Teach students to process content more
deeply.
• Create effective readers, writers, listeners
and speakers.
• Teach respect for others’ opinions and promote
successful social interactions.
• Prepare students for the FSA as well as the
demands of college and the workforce.
 Think About It…Think-
Pair-Share

Now which picture do you think shows a class using Accountable Talk?
ACCOUNTABILITY and
ACCOUNTABLE TALK

Learning
Community
Knowledge

Rigorous
Thinking
ACCOUNTABILITY and
ACCOUNTABLE TALK
Do they have to talk?!
“As classroom teachers we are really
effective at teaching students how
to monologue, NOT how to dialogue.”

THINK ABOUT IT!

 Accountable Talk

In classrooms where high

levels of student
engagement and
accountable talk is
prevalent:
 Students are able to explain the relationship
between the discussion and the stated learning
objectives The teacher and students ask
questions that require higher order thinking
 Students return to the text and other data
sources to support their positions or challenge
the positions taken by others in the discussion
 All students take an active role in the discussion
using agreed upon norms
 Anchor charts that outline norms for discussion
and specific group discussion strategies are
displayed
 Drive Your Instruction
Students and the teacher use rubrics to
assess the quality of classroom discussions
(content and process).

The teacher observes discussions and uses

observation data to inform instruction
(conference logs).
 Accountable Talk Rubric
4 
Discusses activity at all times
Uses target vocabulary
Gives multiple reasons for answers including strategies used
Includes non-speakers
Creates a respectful learning community

3 
Discusses activity the majority of the time
Uses some target vocabulary
Gives reason(s) for answers including strategies used
Includes some non-speakers
Creates a respectful learning community

2 
Discusses activity some of the time
Uses little target vocabulary
Gives answers without reasons or strategies
Does not include non-speakers
Attempts to create a respectful learning community

1 
Does not discuss activity
Uses no target vocabulary
Gives answers without reasons or strategies
Does not include non-speakers
Does not attempt to create a respectful learning community
 Classroom posters
ILLUSTRATING
STRATEGIES to help
facilitate talk.
 (With a partner)

(Yourself) (Whole class)

Why? Tell me more!
Give an example.
Defend your
reasoning
against a
different
point
of view.
How did you arrive at
your answer?
Redirect a question back
to the person.
 Make one’s thinking public
and demonstrate expert forms
of reasoning through talk.
Restate and make public a
person or group’s
discussion and
understanding.
Ensure that everyone is heard
and understands what a
person says.
Make explicit the relationship
between a new contribution
and what was said before.
Revoice a person’s
contributions.
 Hold everyone
accountable for the
accuracy, credibility,
and clarity of their
contributions.
 Tie a current
contribution back
to knowledge
accumulated by a
person or the class
at a pervious time.
Press for evidence and
understanding of a
person’s statements.
Give extra time and space in
the conversation to expand
reasoning.
Once we get a handle on
Accountable Talk, I am
sure…