Discussion Guidelines for High School | Oracy, Classroom Talk & Poster Lesson
A practical, ready-to-use resource for establishing respectful, inclusive and productive classroom discussion.
Students explore what makes a good conversation, why active listening matters and how respectful disagreement supports better classroom talk. They then work collaboratively to create their own class discussion guidelines, vote on the most important ideas and produce a poster that can be displayed and referred to throughout the school year.
The resource includes:
an introduction to discussion guidelines and their benefits
practical teacher guidance and tips
a complete 90-minute lesson plan
collaborative group work
class discussion and voting
a talk-token strategy to support equal participation
assessment ideas
a role-play extension activity
a completed Our Discussion Guidelines poster
a blank poster template for students to personalise
The suggested guidelines encourage students to:
listen without interrupting
use respectful language
give evidence or reasons for their ideas
consider new viewpoints
ask questions to understand others
invite quieter classmates to contribute
Ideal for:
oracy
speaking and listening
classroom discussion
classroom community
establishing discussion routines
ESL / EFL
secondary / high school
Back to School
A useful resource for setting expectations for good talk and creating a shared classroom culture in which students understand how to listen, contribute and disagree constructively.
8-page printable PDF.














