5th Grade English

Name: _________________________
Date: __________________
Advisory: _________________

Habits of Discussion
Key Understanding: In academic situations, we use strong
habits of discussion to listen to and participate in the discussion
productively and professionally.

When Speaking to Each Other, We …

 Always track the speaker.
 Wait for a pause instead of interrupting someone.
 Speak in a loud, clear voice.
 Speak to the group, not just one person or the teacher.
 Show that we are listening with our body language (nod, lean in, turn our bodies toward the
speaker).
 Ask questions to clear up confusion, understand each other better, and move the conversation
forward.

Adding to the Conversation

Agree: State who you agree with and paraphrase what they stated.
Then share new evidence and explanation to strengthen the answer.

 I agree with ________ about ____________________ because ______________.

Name paraphrase what was stated new evidence

o I am in agreement with …

o I concur with …

 I understand ________’s comment that ___________________, and I would like to add [new evidence]
Name paraphrase what was stated

 ________, what you said about ____________________ makes sense because . . . [new evidence]
Name paraphrase what was stated

 ________, I want to add to what you said about ___________________ because … [new evidence]
Name paraphrase what was stated

 [Name], your evidence that [paraphrase what was stated] is compelling, but I’d like to prove my point
further by citing the part of the text when [new evidence].
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 5th Grade English
Disagree: State who you disagree with and paraphrase what they
stated. Then share a different answer and support it with new
evidence and explanation.

 I disagree with ________ about ____________________ because _________________.

Name paraphrase what was stated new answer & evidence

o I differ from …
o I’d like to challenge …

 I don’t think it’s true that ___________________ because _________________.

paraphrase what was stated new answer & evidence

 [Name], I understand what you’re saying about [paraphrase what was stated], but I have a different
opinion/point of view … [new answer & evidence]

 [Name], I think you make an interesting point when you say [paraphrase what was stated], but I disagree
based on the part of the text when [new evidence, then new answer].

 [Name], while I see where you are coming from when you say [paraphrase what was stated], I’d like to
point out that in the text [new evidence, then new answer].

 [Name], your evidence that [paraphrase what was stated] is compelling, but I’d like to counter/refute your
opinion/position by citing the part of the text when [new evidence, then new answer].

Push the Conversation Further: Ask your peers questions to take the
conversation to a deeper level.

 Clarify: So what you’re saying is . . . [paraphrase what was stated]

 Elaborate/ Add On:
o Can you say more about that?
o Why do you think that?
 Prove It:
o Is there evidence of that in the text?
o What in the text tells you that?
o What evidence do you have to support your idea?
 Reach a Consensus after a Disagreement:
o What do you think about what I just said?
o So (after disagreement) what are you thinking now?

Teach, Don’t Tell: Guide your peer to find the answer themselves
 Give a hint to a peer to find the answer but don’t tell the answer.
 Point to a part of the book “Read this paragraph again.”
 Prompt your peer to use a comprehension strategy.
 Tie in another lesson: “Remember what we talked about this morning/what we did when ...? How can
you tie that in/use that here?”

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