Classroom Talk by Rupert Knight

Classroom Talk by Rupert Knight

A concise summary of the theoretical principles behind talk in school and brief mapping of the research tradition in this field.  

It examines the evidence relating to a variety of forms of classroom talk, including;

• whole school culture and oracy;
• classroom environments conducive to talk;
• whole class teacher-pupil talk and
• pupil-pupil peer talk.

Up-to-date issues and influences relating to talk are also explored, such as mastery learning, informed by international comparisons. Firmly grounded in evidence and the latest thinking, the book also offers practical advice for everyday implementation and evaluation of these principles.

Evidence-based teaching is fast becoming a new orthodoxy.  There are many strong voices, including policy voices, advocating its adoption. Understanding the underlying principles allows you to better evaluate the benefits of different approaches to evidence-based teaching and how they relate to your own school context.

At its heart, this book presents a resolute and modelled commitment to criticality as being central to any professional development and progress in practice...The strongest and potentially most provocative moments in this book come when the relationship between theory, practice and (vitally) impact on pupils is made direct: the summaries of and signposts to further reading would support any teacher to take their thinking in this direction.

This book is an invaluable guide to understanding the big ideas that shape current conversations about the role of talk in the classroom. Expertly distilling research and theory into an accessible and thought-provoking text and aided with real case studies and examples, Knight orientates the reader in key debates and explores their implications for practice in depth. 

Whether you're a teacher exploring classroom talk for the first time, an oracy enthusiast already or a school leader wanting to develop a culture of talk across your school, this book is guaranteed to prompt new insights, practices and conversations which will enable you to use classroom talk with greater confidence and skill. 

Val Poultney is an experienced teacher educator who has worked in partnership with a number of schools, specialising in evidence-based teaching. She is particularly interested in school leadership and school governance, with a focus on how to develop leadership to support teachers as researchers. Currently a senior lecturer at the University of Derby, she teaches on both initial teacher education and postgraduate programmes. 

Rupert Knight was a primary school teacher in London and Nottingham before moving into higher education. He is now Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham, working with student teachers and practicing teachers in England and overseas. His research interests include the relationship between theory and practice in learning to teach.