Talk, Read, Talk, Write

by Nancy Motley

Talk, Read, Talk, Write (TRTW) is a practical approach to classroom instruction that helps students meet and exceed the state standards for learning in the core classes while also developing the literacy skills needed for success in the 21st century. During the training, participants will experience the TRTW approach as learners themselves, and receive step-by-step instructions for how to implement the approach using actual classroom examples. Other training topics include: how to facilitate structured conversations, how to hold students accountable for active participation, how to move students toward successful independent reading and writing, and how to troubleshoot common roadblocks to reading, writing and talking in secondary classrooms. Participants will leave knowing how to give students consistent opportunities to orally process what they are learning, to make meaning in the company of their peers, and to read and write for an authentic purposes, all while mastering academic content.

Genres: Education, Teaching

103 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Abigail H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know it’s a niche education book when it doesn’t even have a cover on Goodreads. I don’t feel like it’s worth a real review for my followers because none of you care, but…I loved it. Practical, applicable. Yay. Gonna make some magic in my classroom and make my students hate me because I’m going to force them to…wait for it…talk!!!!!!! ACADEMICALLY!!!!! 🤪🤯🫣🫢🫨

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for me as a new teacher, especially since I did not have any formal training in education. I very much appreciated the insight into classroom routines and how to utilize them to start creating a student-driven classroom.
I love examples. I love when someone introduces a concept and provides examples that you can use in your classroom. This book had plenty of them, and I'm excited to use them in my own room.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides a simple yet important strategy for incorporating literacy into all content area classes. Recommended to all my teacher friends.

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Structured idea of talking, reading, talking, and then writing. Gives different examples of how each steps can be done. Agree it is important. Still struggling with the read in Math, even with the examples in the book.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, practical advice for helping students take ownership of their learning and build reading stamina.

[Margaret Grabowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple, clear, and impactful. Motley makes a strong case that writing can only be great when students have fully gone through the thinking process before they write. She includes practical routines for each step of talk, read, talk, and write, provides many classroom scenarios, and suggests a variety of scaffolds to support ELs and struggling students. Even though I have read about the connections between speaking, reading, and writing before and implemented strategies to support these connections, I learned a ton from all of the suggestions on addressing common challenges. Great resource!

[Laura-Jane Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 65 of 2025
Talk Read Talk Write, A practical routine for learning in all content areas (K-12)
By Nancy Motley
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received extensive training on this years ago, and have used this method as it was built into the curriculum where I taught.

But, I’m so glad I read this book because it has so many different options for the 4 parts that I forgot about. It seems my school district had a couple of favorites and repeated those for every TRTW activity. It made it kind of boring.

Now, I can’t wait to use this and have more fun creating the various elements.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives quality instruction on how to help shape academical vocabulary awareness in students. Many students, especially ELLs and SPED, struggle with how to form sentences that construct meaning in an academic situation whether that is orally done or written expression. It also helps struggling readers by chunking reading and showing that asking questions of a text is valuable.

[Sarah Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing tool for teachers of all content areas and grade levels! I found Nancy Motley’s lesson plans to be genius. The story behind how she created the lesson plan outline (while doing her taxes with her husband) really hit home! They are a simple outline and just plain make sense. PRACTICAL TEACHERS MUST READ!

[J. S. Seebauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best professional books I've read as it discusses how to use in a variety of content areas, while honoring not all content area teachers are comfortable with reading, writing and speaking activities within their classroom. It shares out the possible pitfalls and how to address them prior and post. Definitely recommended reading!

[I Contain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource to remind us of the components of a great lesson, simplified and with new resources.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and see how this strategy can easily be applied to an elementary classroom.

[Cullen McDowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fundamentally great teaching. All new teachers should read this book.

[Allison Haehnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

ESL and Gen Ed techniques for utilizing Reading, Thinking, Talking, Writing, and Speaking skills in ELAR classroom

[Nancy]

Great book to understand this strategy and using it with students at elementary as well as middle and high school.

[Kate O'Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how practical this book is. I can’t wait to give it a go in the fall and will be teaching it to my college students as well.

[Mariya Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very well-written practical handbook for implementation of the Talk Read Talk Write model for instruction. The idea is to place responsibility for learning in the hands of the learner, creating learner-centered as opposed to teacher-centered classrooms. Many times I see professional resources for elementary classrooms, but this text really demonstrates the how and why independent learning is so vital for our secondary students. Quick read full of practical strategies.

[Emily Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical! Excellent approach to support language learners on developing all language domain. Love the CAN DO approach that with the appropriate scaffolding ALL students, no matter the language proficiency, CAN and SHOULD be able to access grade level content.
A lot of great tip to maintain engagement during the Talking, Reading, and Writing expectations.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for all modern educators. Motley gives a concrete routine that can be followed as strictly or as loosely as necessary for your content to ensure that all teachers are teachers of literacy. Easy, readable style.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So practical! Love it!

[Hannah Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

For all my teachers- this one is worth it. Practical structures on how to keep students talking and interacting with the text for all subjects. It's especially helpful for me with ELLs.

[Breanna Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, very applicable for my classroom (High School English)