Conversational Abilities

Worksheet Description

This Discussion Stems worksheet is a practical educational resource designed to enhance students’ conversational abilities during classroom discussions. It includes a variety of response options that students can use to engage constructively with their peers, whether they are agreeing, questioning, adding information, or seeking clarification. The worksheet is divided into sections with visual cues—such as check marks for agreement, a crossed circle for disagreement, a question mark for inquiries, and a plus sign for additions—which guide students in selecting appropriate conversation starters or follow-up responses.

For example, to express agreement, students might begin with “I agree, I also think that…” or “That’s a valid point, it explains…”, fostering a positive and affirming discussion atmosphere. If they disagree, they can use stems like “I disagree, I think that…” or “That’s an interesting point, but have you thought of…”, which allows them to present a differing viewpoint respectfully. The worksheet encourages students to deepen discussions by asking for more information with prompts such as “Can you tell me more?” or “Can you explain why…?”. Moreover, it helps them to elaborate on their thoughts or others’ ideas with phrases like “Additionally, I think…” or “To build on that, I would add…”. These structured stems are essential for creating a classroom environment where students feel confident to participate, voice diverse perspectives, and build on the dialogue in a constructive manner.