Thinking and planning.

Before learners read, write or speak - thinking opportunities. 

- Mind mapping.
- Linear planning.  Ask students to create a flow chart of the process they are about to undertake , use colour and shape so that they can visualise what they have to do and break it down into small, manageable steps.
-Sorting exercises.  It's easier to move individual bits of paper around than it is to move ideas on a single piece of paper.
- Snowball exercises.  one minute for a learner to think about something on his or her own; two minutes to compare ideas and add more in a pair; four minutes to work in groups of four.  Followed by a whole group feedback.
-Writing frames and scaffolds.
-Using post-it notes to generate ideas.
-Cue cards with questions or half completed statements.