This talk move invites students to ‘repeat back’ or ‘say it in their own words’.

Demonstrating active listening is a kind of talk which moves teachers and students towards clarifying the meanings students are making when they take their turns.

In this, teachers and/or students reframe, revoice or repeat a student’s contribution; this demonstrates students have listened to and considered the ideas, opinions or the facts in evidence of others. Students’ turns are treated as resources for learning and further thinking as both teachers and class members listen to and engage with each other’s contributions. In one way, active listening creates a formative assessment ‘touchstone’ for both the teacher and the students as they hear back their articulated points; they can check for:

• clarity (I heard you saying)
• meaning (Is that what you mean?)
• relevance (How does that relate …?)
• accuracy (Say that again.)

Teacher: Right, what did Charlie find in his survey? Can someone repeat back what he said in their own words? Over to you Jennifer.

Jennifer: Well, Charlie said, he found more children in our class catch the bus to school than walk-

Trent: -and his graph had even less kids ride their bikes and go in cars?

Teacher: Mm-m let me see if I heard you right. Between you, you said that the most number of children in our class catch the bus to school, more than the number of children who walk, ride their bikes or come by car. And the least number of students ride their bikes. Right Charlie? Is that what you found? Did we miss anything?