Read Write Inc. Signals

Hold both hands pointing forward as if they are two open gates. Close the gates as soon as you have finished asking the question. Show children how they should turn their heads towards their partners, not their whole body or chair.

Practise this signal until children immediately turn to their partners to answer a question. Once children do this automatically, you will no longer need to say the words ‘turn to your partner’.

Run one hand down the outside of your opposite arm, to remind children to sit up straight beside their partner, ready to turn and talk.

Use this silent signal when you want the children to repeat something after you.

Explain to the children that this signal is yours and not theirs! They do not need to join in.

My turn: gesture towards yourself with one or two hands.

Your turn: gesture towards the children with one or two open palms.

When you want to be sure the children are listening, point to your eyes with two fingers. This indicates that their eyes should be on yours and their bodies still.

Move the children silently from carpet to table in under 15 seconds.

• Hold up one finger: children stand.
• Hold up two fingers: children walk and stand behind their chairs.
• Hold up three fingers: children sit down and prepare to read or write.

And in reverse, move the children from table to carpet in under 15 seconds.

• Hold up one finger: children stand behind their chairs.
• Hold up two fingers: children walk to carpet.
• Hold up three fingers: children sit down beside their partners.

Once children are sitting at their tables, hold up a pencil (real or imaginary) in a pencil grip with the non-writing hand flat – holding imaginary paper. This signal indicates how children should sit.

• Their feet flat should be flat on the floor and bottom at the back of the chair.
• Their body should be one fist away from the table and their shoulders down and relaxed.
• Their left or right hand should hold the page while their writing hand holds a pencil - ready in tripod grip.

A signal to quickly stop one activity and focus attention on the speaker (often the facilitator).

Usually used when transitioning into another activity, giving out an instruction or addressing a misconception.

Used to allow the whole group to contribute at once in a controlled way.

The facilitator moves their hand across the audience, the section of the group their hand is pointing to speaks at once.

The idea is that it gives a rapid indication of the understanding of the whole class and it allows all children to participate with little pressure.