ABSTRACT
The skills needed for quality dialogue can also be developed through discrete ‘skills-building’ activities. Offering children a choice can be a simple and effective way into dialogue. The choice might be between different coloured materials, picture postcards, magic objects, statements about stories or even definitions of concepts. A second group of children are asked to think together to generate reasons that oppose the statement. The opportunity to rehearse and refine ideas and to share responsibility for a response also takes the stress out of speaking in front of a group. If the pairs of children are encouraged to listen to and respond to each other’s ideas appropriately, this is a great way to develop caring and collaborative thinking. The children can work in groups of two or three to arrange the reasons in the shape of a diamond.
