Encouraging Academic Conversations With Talk Moves

Conversation Techniques in Education

Importance of Participation

• Catherine emphasizes the keys to fully participating in conversations, highlighting that everyone needs encouragement to contribute.

• Pamela notes that children may struggle with speaking up in class, and teachers aim to make every student feel valued.

Building a Community of Respect

• Catherine discusses creating a community of caring and respect through conversation, using "talk moves" as tools for students.

• Talk moves are sentence starters designed to help students engage in discussions and encourage others to join.

Tracking Engagement

• Students are encouraged to track their use of talk moves by marking checks on sticky notes during discussions.

• If peers lack check marks, students should invite them into the conversation using prompts like “What do you think?”

Cognitive Skills Activation

• Pamela explains that activating cognitive skills begins with social connectedness; verbalizing thoughts fosters brain development.

• Philip shares his approach of asking clarifying questions to deepen understanding during discussions.

Supporting Diverse Learners

• Catherine highlights how talk moves benefit language learners by providing a framework for participation while challenging independent learners to collaborate more effectively.

• The goal is for all students to feel included and valued, bridging gaps between peers who might not typically interact.