Before the Audio: Sort Key Words

Worked classroom example

Geography

Worked example

Sort words for erosion, transport and deposition before hearing a river-process explanation.

Use this example to make the language move visible. Select subject content appropriate to the class’s age and prior knowledge.

Teaching sequence

1. Choose no more than eight words needed to follow the input.
2. Learners sort them by confidence and predict two likely connections.
3. After listening, they revise the sort and explain one new connection.

Try it in your next lesson

Prepare

Use six to eight key words or images. Choose a second example that checks the same language move without repeating the original answer.

Classroom task

Learners sort a few essential words into known, unsure and new, then listen to check how they are used.

Check independent transfer

After listening, they revise the sort and explain one new connection.

Collect a response on fresh content. Note what was achieved without the model, partner or teacher prompt, then choose one next teaching step.

Teacher language

Teacher language

Which word became clearer from the way the speaker used it?

Respond to the learner

Identify one successful meaning or language choice. Ask about one gap, allow thinking time, then invite a revision. Check the revised move again on a fresh example.

Adjust support and challenge

Offer a brief model, useful vocabulary and partner rehearsal where needed. Keep the subject goal; reduce one prompt on fresh content and record what was independent.

Teaching this skill → · Age and language support →

More support

Use shorter chunks, purposeful replay and keyword notes. Retain captions, transcripts or other required access arrangements. Allow familiar-language notes or another response mode when checking subject understanding.

Greater independence

Change the content, evidence or audience. Remove the completed model and ask learners to explain a choice. Increase subject complexity only when it fits the curriculum and prior knowledge.

Choose the next step

If subject meaning is insecure, reteach the concept. If the concept is understood but the English is unclear, model one useful language relationship and invite a fresh response.