This year we will use Instructional Conversation to deepen understanding across subject areas, strengthen a sense of community, nurture empathy and boost communication skills. According to the Center for Research on Education, Diversity & Excellence (CREDE), "Thinking, and the abilities to form, express, and exchange ideas are best taught through dialogue, through questioning and sharing ideas and knowledge."
What will it look like, you ask? Conversation stems like these will be slowly introduced, then the students will ask each other (and me) questions to increase the level of student talk.
But shouldn't the teacher be doing the talking? Children often discover concepts and fresh ways of thinking from each other, and Instructional Conversation brings an equality to communication lacking in teacher-centered instruction.
Parents often ask how they can extend their child's learning at home. One way is to simply talk to them. While reading to your child, or vice-versa, these questions can heighten comprehension, while getting to know each other's perspective on characters, conflict, setting, etc.
The stems will increase in complexity throughout the year, and I encourage you to make conversation a priority whenever possible.
Click here for more on Instructional Conversation.
