Embracing Literacy 2024

In this hands-on session, teachers will explore proven strategies to orchestrate classroom discussions in ways that will improve comprehension. Classroom discussions are essential for all students, as it helps to develop critical thinking and language skills that are requirements in the classroom and in life. Using specific disciplinary language to address authentic disciplinary concepts in academic discourse helps students develop strong communication skills and the ability to effectively convey their ideas to others, setting the groundwork for effective writing. It can also help them to evaluate and analyze information as they develop their critical thinking skills. Finally, academic discourse can help to create a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. In this session we will unpack the strengths and challenges of facilitating peer-to-peer discussions and scrutinize effective strategies to help our students benefit from these discussions to amplify their understanding of important disciplinary concepts. 

Link to presentation:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Viei6e7e544BWZtpyeFJItBk-TmdfVHxrMpO5VS1kMs/edit?usp=sharing

Learning Objectives:
Describe the ways in which discussion promotes reading comprehension
* Identify the key elements of productive academic talk that promotes reading comprehension
* Create at least one peer-peer discussion lesson that can be used in the classroom to promote productive academic talk that promotes reading comprehension
*Apply tools to continue to investigate ways to support productive academic talk that promotes reading comprehension.

Questions:
1) What is the difference between unproductive talk, talk to teach students to participate in productive academic talk, and productive academic talk?
2) What tools did you gather today that you are excited about leveraging to encourage deeper comprehension through deeper discussion?
3) What do you still want to learn about facilitating deeper discussion?