Ideas!

Vocabulary Development during Personal and Curriculum-Related Conversations What Makes a Personal Conversation Engaging? • The topic is of real interest to the student • The teacher listens more than she talks • The teacher asks few questions • The teacher focuses on the conversation and is not distracted by other students or activities

Curriculum-based Conversations that Advance Conceptual Development • Introductory or “tilling” conversations • Embedded or “cultivating” conversations • Reflective or “harvesting” conversations

Discussion Questions 1.On what concepts is the teacher focusing? 2.What strategies is the teacher using to encourage consideration of the concepts? 3.What strategies did the teacher use to make the concepts accessible to students? 4. Self-reflection: Are there conversations you could have with your students around concepts in your curriculum?