“Say Something” – Bringing Readers to Discussion

Strategy Corner

What do teachers do when they get together with books? Do we: a) write out the answers on worksheets; b) fill out bubble sheets; c) write a book report that only one other person will read; d) all of these; or, e) none of these?

“None of these” is correct. What do we do then? We talk. We talk about the storyline, the characters, and the illustrations. We ask each other about “the big ideas” found in the story. We share favorite parts. We compare the book with other books by the same or different authors. We do all of these and more because the book engages us. We are drawn in and the book becomes part of us.

While most of our students are natural talkers, we can help bring them to story discussion with the “Say Something” strategy. Students form small groups of 2, 3, or 4 members.

  1. Look over the chapter.
  2. Your and your group choose a stopping point—page #__.
  3. When you get to the stopping point, take turns saying something about the text.
  4. Continue saying something until two people “pass.”
  5. Choose the next stopping point—page #.
  6. Repeat the steps until you have finished reading the text.

Having one group for the whole class is a good way to get every one into the strategy. This is also an excellent way to guide students to “say something” that highlights key points or big ideas. Good luck, and remember, “Say something.”

By Rick Bartosh, Member of Boone-Story Reading Council
Iowa Reading Association Newsletter, May 2005
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