Have you ever asked your kindergarten students to turn and talk, only to have everyone talking at once? Or maybe one student does all the talking while the other just listens? You are not alone! Turn and talk is a great way to get students thinking, sharing, and learning together, but kindergarteners need practice learning how to be good partners. The good news is that teaching partner conversations does not have to be complicated. With a few simple routines and plenty of practice, students can learn to listen, take turns, and share their ideas.
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How to Teach Turn and Talk in Kindergarten
Before jumping into partner activities, teach students what a successful conversation looks and sounds like.
1. Assign Partners
Start by assigning partners instead of letting students choose their own. You might assign rug partners, create a partner chart, or number students as Partner 1 and Partner 2.
2. Model What Good Partners Do
Show students what a good partner looks like.
Teach them to:
- Turn their bodies toward their partner.
- Use a quiet classroom voice.
- Take turns talking.
- Listen while their partner shares.
- Keep their hands and bodies calm.
3. Practice Taking Turns
Give each student a job.
- Partner 1 shares first.
- Partner 2 listens.
- Switch!
Practice with easy questions like, “What is your favorite color?” Remind students that being a good partner means listening, not just waiting for their turn to talk.
4. Use Sentence Stems
Some students need help knowing what to say. Sentence stems give them an easy place to start.
Try these:
- I think…
- I noticed…
- I agree because…
- My favorite part was…
- I wonder…
- I learned…
Display sentence stems with pictures to help students who need extra support.
5. Give Think Time
After asking a question, pause for five to ten seconds before telling students to talk.
This gives everyone time to think about an answer. You can even have students give a thumbs up when they are ready to share.
6. Keep Practice Short
Start with 15 to 30 seconds of talking time. Gradually increase the time as students become more comfortable.
Easy Turn and Talk Activities for Kindergarten Literacy
Add partner conversations to your literacy block with activities you are already teaching!
- Picture Predictions: Show a book cover and ask students what they think the story will be about.
- Retell a Story: Have partners take turns sharing what happened at the beginning, middle, and end.
- Partner Plays: Partners practice phonics skills thru scripted plays and play accessories.
- Favorite Part: After a read aloud, have students share their favorite part and explain why.
Sentence stems like “I think…” and “My favorite part was…” help students get started.
Easy Turn and Talk Activities for Kindergarten Math
Partner conversations are a great way to help students explain their math thinking.
- Build and Compare: Use linking cubes or counters to build numbers and compare amounts.
- Create a Pattern: Have one partner make a pattern and the other explain what comes next.
- Ten Frame Talk: Ask students to share how many dots they see and explain how they counted.
- Sort and Explain: Have partners sort shapes or objects and explain how they grouped them.
How to Support Students During Partner Activities
Some students may need extra help participating in partner conversations. Try these simple adjustments:
- Shy students: Start with a familiar partner and allow whispering.
- English language learners: Use picture cues, gestures, and sentence stems.
- Students needing extra support: Offer two answer choices or let them point before explaining.
- Students needing more think time: Pause longer and repeat or simplify questions.
- Students who struggle to stay focused: Keep conversations short and assign clear partner roles.
Remember, the goal is participation and communication, not perfect sentences!
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Practice Turn and Talk During Morning Meeting
Morning meeting is a perfect time to practice partner conversations. Students are already gathered together, and a quick question gives everyone a chance to share.
Simply Kinder’s Morning Meeting Slides make it easy to add discussion prompts and daily opportunities for students to practice speaking and listening without having to plan another activity.
Make Partner Conversations Part of Your Daily Routine
The best way to teach turn and talk in kindergarten is to practice it often. Start with simple questions, familiar partners, and short conversations. Model what good listening looks like and celebrate students when they take turns and share their ideas. A simple partner conversation can make a big difference in helping every student find their voice!
