Setting and Developing Ground Rules

The teacher defines 'ground rules' as 'the conventions which language users employ to carry on particular kinds of conversations' (2000). Teachers sometimes assume that pupils will know how to operate in different talk contexts such as small group discussions or interviews. However, it is usually best to assume that they don't and to explain and devise a set of ground rules for particular speaking and listening contexts and activities. Below are examples of posters displaying ground rules for talk and listening in the classroom.

pdf file Rules for listening poster (24 KB)

Rules for talk poster (24 KB)

Activities

1 With a colleague discuss how you could use one of these posters with one of the classes you teach.

2 Look at the video clips, where the teachers review the ground rules for effective speaking and listening, and jot down how that may have helped pupils in the rest of the lesson. You may wish to view the longer version of the lessons to compare your views.

flv file School B, Year 9 - Setting and Developing Ground Rules (00:43)

You can watch the video via 56k modem or slow (100kbps) / medium (256 kbps) / fast (400kbps) / very fast (800kbps) broadband connections. Alternative format Flash video. You do need to have the flash plugin.

Transcript (21 KB)

flv file School A, Year 7 - Setting and Developing Ground Rules (02:14)

Transcript (24 KB)

flv file School A, Year 10 - Setting and Developing Ground Rules (00:46)

Transcript (21 KB)

3 With a colleague, discuss ways in which you establish the ground rules for certain speaking and listening activities (for example, a debate or interviewing a guest to the school), perhaps through engaging pupils in their creation.