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Discussion sentence starters poster (free printable)

Eight ticked sentence starters for talking together about an idea, from I agree with, because to I changed my mind because. Edit the list and post it where students discuss.

Printed on the sheet. Leave it empty to write by hand.
Starter | detail
Colour
Let's Talk About It, page 1Let's Talk About ItI agree with ___ because…I disagree with ___ because…I would like to add that…Can you say more about…?I noticed that…I wonder if…My evidence is…I changed my mind because…

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About this sheet

A good class discussion needs students to respond to each other and not only to the teacher, and many students do not know how to start. Sentence starters give them the first words. This poster lists eight, chosen to cover the moves of a discussion: agreeing, disagreeing, adding, asking, noticing, wondering, giving evidence and changing one's mind. The blanks are for a name or a point, so a student can speak to a classmate by name. Teach two or three at a time and add more as students use them. Edit any line to suit the subject: a science lab, a read-aloud or a debate may each want slightly different prompts.

Grades: 2 to 12. Best in: August, September, January.

How to use it

  1. Edit the eight starters in the box, one per line, with an optional detail after a bar. Keep the blanks as underscores.
  2. Print and post it where discussion happens, and teach two starters at a time with an example on the board.
  3. During a discussion, point to a starter when a student is stuck, and praise students who respond to each other by name.

Five ideas for class

  1. Introduce one move a week: this week we practice adding on, using I would like to add that…, and notice how it sounds in a conversation.
  2. Make a tally of how many times students use a starter during a discussion and set a class goal for the next one.
  3. Model the starters yourself, and be exact about naming a classmate's idea: building on Maya's point, I think…
  4. Print a smaller copy for a table, so a group can check the starters without looking up at the wall.
  5. Add a subject-specific starter, such as My data shows… for science or The author wants us to feel… for reading.

Related

Questions

What grades is it for?

From about second grade through high school. Younger students use two or three starters; older ones use the full list and add their own.

Will students sound scripted?

At first, a little. With practice the starters become habits, and students start to vary them. The scaffold is meant to be removed.

Can I change the starters?

Yes. Every line is editable. Keep a blank, written as underscores, wherever a name or a point goes.

How do I save it as a PDF?

Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.

Can I print it in black and white?

Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.

Is what I type saved or sent anywhere?

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