Explanatory and Exploratory Talk

From Ideas to Understanding is a practical guide to embedding purposeful classroom talk using the Structural Learning Toolkit. It outlines simple strategies for promoting exploratory and explanatory talk, including talk tactic role cards, Think-Pair-Share routines, and hands-on modelling with Writer’s Block. The guide demonstrates how structured dialogue supports conceptual understanding, collaborative reasoning, and clearer written outcomes. Graphic organisers and Socratic questioning prompts are used to scaffold thinking and reduce cognitive load. This resource helps teachers transform everyday talk into a tool for deeper learning, ensuring that verbal contributions are thoughtful, visible, and aligned with curriculum goals.