Thinking Together, Working Together

"We conveniently forget that children's ability to use language as a tool for thinking on their own has its origins in thinking together."  There are times as teachers when we focus too much on what we need to say and teach to our students.  With a demanding curriculum and standards to accomplish within a short amount of time, we are constantly thinking about how we need to provide the information to our students and they need to take that information in and process it.  Have we ever thought to take a step back and allow our students to take over our conversations and discussions?  From large group instruction to small reading groups, the power of allowing students to take lead in questions, comments, answers, etc. can be very powerful.  While it is still important that you provide "talking points" that allow students to remain on the subject of discussion, we will allow that gradual release of responsibility onto our students.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the idea of an "instructional conversation," it provides a consistent dialogue between the teacher and classmates in which the teacher provides talking points but allows students to challenge, question, comment, answer, etc., in hope that it provides a conversation between the students.  This may seem like a difficult idea to grasp, or even allow in your classroom, but the benefits and results that this type of teaching provides more of an impact when it is done correctly.

One of the most important ideas to grasp from this type of dialogue is that "the collective intelligence of a group is not particularly related to the average, or maximum, intelligence of individuals' in the group," as discussed in Johnston's Opening Minds.  Many teachers find it very difficult to allow their students to take over a conversation based on a variety of reasons.  One of the main reasons is that your students will not be able to provide the type of information and reasoning that you want your students to understand.  Although it is nearly impossible to have all of your students on the same academic level as one another, the intelligence of the group is not based on who the particular individuals are its based on the conversations that your students can produce.  "Individual minds are nurtured in the conversations-the interactive thinking-of the community" (Johnston).  There are many instances in which the students can provide information and talking that the teacher can not create and that is when this type of teaching becomes powerful.  It not only provides constant engagement from all of your students, but it allows for  students, who may not always talk in class, a way to contribute without being called on by a teacher.  "Studies also show a an increase in: comprehension, reasoning ability, expressive language, creative thinking, etc" (Johnston).

There are many important benefits that come with releasing more responsibility upon the students, and one of the greatest accomplishments is seeing the lightbulb light up in your students mind when they are  really engaged within a discussion.  From performing my own instructional conversation within a small reading group, I saw many important comments and questions that arose from a group of 1st graders.  Yes I said 1st graders.  Even though it seems as if conversations and dialogues are only possible with later grades and with a more engaging text, I have realized that a younger elementary classroom also has the capability of performing an instructional conversation, as long as you adapt to the appropriate age group.  By providing important talking points about a specific reading that you are working on, it allows for the students to express their opinions, make a connection with their own life, and even ask questions about things that they may not understand.  It was empowering to allow the students to talk over the group and really lead their own discussions about a topic.  It is important to realize that as long as you are able to differentiate your lesson to the appropriate subject and age level, an instructional conversation can really provide many learning moments.

I have provided a link to Johnston's Opening Minds book that provides many examples and also ideas for leading instructional conversations within the classroom.

http://www.amazon.com/Opening-Minds-Using-Language-Change/dp/1571108165