1. Date and Reflection

Talking Together is a program the provides teachers specific lessons to support social-emotional learning in the classroom through teaching students how to be part of a learning community by participation and discussion, partnering, respect, tolerance, and support. 

I attended the PaTTAN P2G training.  Talking Together will be a helpful component to build a community of learners in the classroom.  It is essential to teach and model for students effective ways for students to communicate with each other in a respectful and cooperative manner.  

Participated in professional development for Talking Together in April 2018 at PaTTAN Harrisburg.

I attended the PaTTan training on April 24, 2018. Since then, I have reviewed the lessons and have planned how I will use them.  In lesson 4, there is a cue card that lists ways we are different.  This card and the lesson associated with it is a great way to teach tolerance.  Students often fail to realize that their prior experiences help to form their opinions and that these experiences are not shared by all people.  I feel the discussions in this lesson would help provide a concrete way for students to understand that people can have different opinions and both be right, based on their experiences. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B82v11uaxIjMdhrdRgfivhRm_3IYj5QX/view?usp=sharing

Talking Together was presented by Patty Graner and Dianne Gilliam at PATTAN Harrisburg. We reviewed the general checklist for both teacher and student behavior as well as examining the steps for the coaching cycle as it applies to Talking Together. 

The Talking Together lesson book starts with the concept of building a learning community.  The partner skill is directly related to tips for talking and listening when working together. The 2 partner skills are SEE (Sound, Expression, Eye Contact) and TELL (Think, Explain your ideas, Link ideas, Let the class know.   as reflected in building a learning community.