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Common Core ELAKindergartenSpeaking & Listening

SL.K.1: Take Part in Class Conversations

Also written as CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1 · Cluster: Comprehension and Collaboration.

Spin the Name PickerAll 41 Kindergarten ELA Standards

The Official Wording

Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

Common Core State Standards, Kindergarten, Speaking & Listening · Read it at the source · Checked October 14, 2026

What SL.K.1 Means in Plain English

Kindergartners talk about a book or a class topic with classmates and adults, in pairs, small groups or the whole carpet. They follow the talk rules, listening while someone speaks and waiting their turn, and keep one topic going for several turns instead of stopping after one reply.

Part b is where the year goes: a five-year-old’s first partner talks are two speeches and a silence. Adding on and asking back turn them into real exchanges, and 1st grade (SL.1.1) builds on that with replies to a classmate’s comments and questions that clear up confusion.

SL.K.1 I Can Statements

  • I can listen when my friend is talking.
  • I can wait for my turn to talk.
  • I can say something back to keep our talk going.

SL.K.1 Worked Example

One turn-and-talk after Goldilocks and the Three Bears, two pairs of partners, and the difference is whether the talk keeps going.

Prompt

Turn and talk after reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Was Goldilocks a good guest? Talk with your partner until the chime.

Not YetAva: “She was bad.” Sam: “I like the porridge part.” (Both look at the teacher and wait for the chime.)Two children, two separate ideas, and nothing joining them. Sam does not answer Ava, Ava does not answer Sam, and the talk ends after one turn each.
Meets the StandardAva: “She was not a good guest, because she ate Baby Bear’s porridge.” Sam: “Yeah, and she broke his chair too.” Ava: “Would you be mad if somebody broke your chair?” Sam: “I would be so mad. I would tell my mom.”Four turns on one question. Sam adds on to Ava’s idea, Ava asks a question back, and Sam answers it, which is part b: a conversation carried through several exchanges.
Moves to Use
Look at your partner and listen until they stop talking.Take turns: one talks, one listens, then switch.Say something about what your partner just said.Ask your partner a question to keep the talk going.

Common Mistakes with SL.K.1

Two speeches, no conversation

Each partner says one sentence about their own idea, then both wait for the chime

Try this: Teach two add-on starters, “Me too, because…” and “I think something different…”, and expect one in every partner’s second turn.

Talking over each other

Both partners start at once and the louder one wins

Try this: Hand the first speaker a talking object, like a block, and have them pass it across when their sentence is finished.

Drifting off the topic

“Goldilocks went in the house. I have a house. My house has a dog.”

Try this: Hold up the book cover between turns and ask “Is that about our story?” until partners start asking it of each other.

Where SL.K.1 Fits

Comes BeforeSL.K.6Speak loudly and clearly enough to be heard, which every partner talk depends on.
AlongsideSL.K.2Ask and answer questions about a read-aloud, the usual starting point for a book talk.RL.K.10Join in group reading with purpose and understanding, where most book talk begins.
Comes NextSL.1.1Respond to a classmate’s comments through several exchanges, and ask questions to clear up confusion.

Practice SL.K.1

Random Name PickerFree ToolSpin for who shares first after a turn-and-talk, so the same three hands are not carrying every class discussion.Circle timeWho talks firstWhole class
Spin a Name
Classroom TimerFree ToolA two-minute turn-and-talk on the board, so partners can see how long the conversation should keep going.2 minutesTurn and talkOn the board
Start a Timer

Quick Check

  1. In the strong conversation, which sentence keeps the talk going with a question?
  2. How does Sam’s first turn build on what Ava said?
  3. Name two discussion rules SL.K.1 expects kindergartners to follow.

SL.K.1: Other Names

SL.K.1CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1

Common Core State Standards © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved. Official wording from the Common Core State Standards PDFs at corestandards.org, last checked October 14, 2026. The explanation, I can statements, example, mistakes and practice on this page are EMStudio’s own, written beside the official wording. They are not part of the standard.