Sentence, Phrase, Word

A Visible Thinking Protocol

As a frequent presenter, I use the SENTENCE-PHRASE-WORD protocol for helping guide participants through a common text.

It is a discussion group tool to review text and then select:

• Sentence that was meaningful to you, that you felt captures the core idea of the text.

• Phrase that moved, engaged, or provoked you.

• Word that captured your attention or struck you as powerful.

After individual work time the participants then share as a small group to discuss the choices and reasoning behind it. To begin they share the 3 choices.

It is interesting to what themes or patterns emerge. Some find in the small group they like the other readers choices better than their own.

At one session, I had opened with a quote walk. Quotes about equity were placed around the room. When entering they milled around and read the quotes deciding on a favorite. When time was called people gravitated to the quote they were most drawn to and discussed what it meant for them. There were certain quotes that came up repeatedly for people. They were starting to pay attention to the pattern.

Here are a couple examples of what people marked:

“Education is not preparation for life:education is life itself.” X2

“They crave collaboration with their peers and engagement in their learning through play, story and games.”

Phrase — “All block” — I just loved what it encompasses.

Word — “Structured” and “equity”

As you read today, think of what word, phrase, and sentence pop out for you.