CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1

ELA6th GradeComprehension and Collaboration

The Standard

Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Speaking and Listening Standards

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do: Students prepare for discussions by reading, gathering evidence, and bringing notes. They share ideas clearly, listen closely, ask relevant questions, and build on comments from different classmates.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students arrive with notes or evidence and follow agreed discussion rules. They state ideas clearly, connect comments to earlier points, ask useful questions, and respond respectfully to different views.
Common Misconceptions: Students may treat discussion as taking turns giving separate opinions. They may interrupt, repeat a point without adding to it, or make claims without text evidence.
How to Assess It: In groups of four, have students discuss, “Which character made the best choice, and why?” Check whether each student gives evidence, responds to a peer, and asks one relevant question.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

Have groups build a linking-cube chain, adding one cube after each comment that cites evidence or connects to a classmate’s idea.
After reading a shared text, ask, “Which idea from a classmate changed or strengthened your thinking, and how?”
Play discussion relay, where each student must summarize the previous speaker before adding a new point or question.
Hold a mock town meeting where students use source cards to discuss a proposed change to a local park.

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