Lets Have A Close Talk

lets
have a
close
talk
BY: LYNDSEY KUSTER
note
JUST A
The following resources are

free for you to use to help you
kick off close reading in your
class!
You can read more about how

I introduced close reading to
my students over at my blog.
Click HERE to read.
Enjoy!
If you need additional resources,

check out my close reading packet:
Click HERE
to grab this
176 page
resource.
This packet explains the following:
-What is Close Reading?

-Key Details About Close Reading
-What Is the Teacher's Job?
-How To Ask Text Dependent Questions
-How to Introduce Close Reading to Your Primary Students
(this includes a great introductory lesson)
-Text-Dependent Question Suggestions (fiction and non-fiction
questions)
what is a
close talk?
A close talk is a purposeful,
focused discussion about a brief
text(s) with the goal of deepening
student understanding of the
content as well as increasing the
ability to participate in academic
discussions. The discussion only
occurs after a close reading
lesson and is designed as a
natural progression to scaffold
student cognition.
- Diana Sisson and Betsy Sisson
Sisson, Diana, and Betsy Sisson. Close Reading in Elementary School Bringing Readers and Texts
Together.. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis, 2014. Print.
close tal k tips

You must carefully plan for a close talk with a purpose
in mind. Develop questions that will encourage your
students to think beyond the factual recall of the text.
Literal level questions will lead you on the path of a
rapid fire question-answer volley between you and
your students. The power of a close talk is its potential
to engage students in sustained, layered thinking about
text within the environment of a classroom discussion.
Carefully select an appropriate text for a close talk
that is challenging and thought-provoking.
For close talks that are 20-30 minutes long, prepare
three to five questions to guide the discussion. Avoid
questions that only have ONE answer. The questions you
develop should build off the thoughts and ideas of
others. Questions should require students to refer back
to the text to search for evidence that supports their
thinking.
close tal k
procedures
1. Read text prior to participating in close talk.
Have students bring their text with them to
discussion.
2. Teacher poses an opening discussion
question to begin class dialogue.
3. Students respond to question, sharing their

own insights, citing textual evidence, and
linking their ideas to their classmates ideas.
4. Teacher enters the discussion to elicit more
rigorous thinking, clarify misconceptions,
encourage the citing of text support, or to refocus the group.
5. Teacher poses two or more additional
questions that encourage deeper analysis.
6. The small group summarizes their learning.
close tal k
questions
Prepare your students for participating in a close
talk. The posters you see below hang in my small
group area. You can find these posters in my Close
Reading packet HERE.
5 guidelines
close talk
1.
Be respectful to others when

listening and speaking.
2.
Refer back to the text to support

your responses.
3.
Connect your ideas and thoughts

to what you have heard in the
discussion.
4.
Stay focused on the topic.
5.
Be prepared to share what you

have learned at the end of the
close talk.
5 guidelines
close talk
1.
Be respectful to others when

listening and speaking.
2.
Refer back to the text to support

your responses.
3.
Connect your ideas and thoughts

to what you have heard in the
discussion.
4.
Stay focused on the topic.
5.
Be prepared to share what you

have learned at the end of the
close talk.
Be an ACTIVE
PARTICIPANT
1
2
3
4
Ignores discussion
Distracts others
Shows little understanding of the text
Does not ask or answer any
questions
Listens respectfully
Follows discussion
Shows some understanding of the
text
Asks and answers some questions
Engages in discussion
Shows understanding of the text
Asks and answers questions and
provides evidence to support
response
Moves discussion forward
Asks and answers questions and provides
evidence to support response
Connects responses to others comments
Be an ACTIVE
PARTICIPANT
1
2
3
4
Ignores discussion
Distracts others
questions
Follows discussion
text
response
Be an
Ignores discussion
Distracts others
questions
Follows discussion
text
response
Be an active
PARTICIPANT
Ignores discussion
Distracts others
questions
Follows discussion
text
response
participation data
Students
Name

Lets Have A Close Talk

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BY: LYNDSEY KUSTER

The following resources are

You can read more about how

If you need additional resources,

-What is Close Reading?

close tal k tips

3. Students respond to question, sharing their

Be respectful to others when

Refer back to the text to support

Connect your ideas and thoughts

Stay focused on the topic.

Be prepared to share what you

Be respectful to others when

Refer back to the text to support

Connect your ideas and thoughts

Stay focused on the topic.

Be prepared to share what you

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