Card
Talk to the Hand
This collaborative strategy has a pair of students working together to answer questions or solve problems. One student, the brain, explains the answer or articulates the steps while the other student, the hand, writes down the information shared.
Talk to the Hand
Summary
In this strategy, students work in pairs and are each assigned a role. One student is the “brain,” who has the responsibility of explaining the answer to a question or articulating steps. The other role is the “hand,” who listens to their partner and writes down what they hear. Once the pair has completed one question, they switch roles. This strategy has students sharing a pencil. Initially, only the “hand” will use the pencil. When roles are switched, the pencil is passed to the new “hand.” This continues until they have completed the assigned questions.
Procedure
Create or choose a set of questions or problems you would like students to answer or solve.
Have students get into pairs.
Provide each pair with one handout with questions and one pencil.
Assign one student the role of the “brain” and the other student assign the role of the “hand.”
The “brain” reads the question and explains the answer to their partner. The “hand” picks up the pencil and writes down what their partner has shared.
Once the question has been answered or the problem has been solved, have the students switch roles and work on the next question.
This pattern continues until all the questions are answered.
If a student appears to struggle with a concept, consider first assigning them the role of the “hand” to provide them time to learn from their partner.
Discourse strategy cheat sheet - richland county school district one. (n.d.). https://www.richlandone.org/cms/lib/SC02209149/Centricity/Domain/120/Discourse%20Strategy%20Cheat%20Sheet.pdf
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Placement In Lesson
- Engage/Opening
- Evaluate/Assessment
- Explain/Closing
- Explore/Learning Activity
- Extend/Additional Learning Activity
Intention/Purpose
- Active Engagement
- Collaborate
- Critical Thinking
- Elaborate
- Interpret
- Speak & Listen
- Summarize
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