Discussion-Rich Schools : Some Resources

I took the picture above in a third grade classroom recently. I asked the teacher why she (and some of her colleagues across the hall) set up the room in this way. She discussed how community and collectivity is just as important as individuality. I look forward to going back for another visit to see how she conducts her class.

A commitment to discussion is the sort of thing we need to see more of in our schools, as I write in “Why Many Middle School Classrooms Are In Crisis,” which names the crucial importance of classroom discussion as a means of engaging young people in their learning: a way for them to express the ideas, questions and emotions they bring to school each day.

A recent article in ASCD magazine provides a good overview of why discussion-rich schooling is important, and includes strategies and resources: Teaching Students to Talk Across Political Difference.

In addition, below is a short compilation of resources I’ve collected related to cultivating discussion for learning in the classroom — and in the meetings of adults in schools.

Discussion norms/agreements

• “Freedom & Unity Discussion Norms,” from “Strong Schools in Polarized Times” by the Upper Valley Educators Institute
• Norms from “Advancing Racial Equity in Schools” project, by the VT NEA

Discussion protocols & strategies

• Discussion Protocols from the School Reform Initiative
• The Big List of Class Discussion Strategies, from The Cult of Pedagogy

The importance of questions

• Videos and other resources — on teaching students to ask effective questions — from The Right Question Institute.

Multi-Lingual Learners — and the importance of discussion

• New standards for teaching multi-lingual learners “reflect decades of research that shows that learning is a social process in which working, conferencing, and engaging in extended oral discourse with peers and teachers are critical in achieving learning.”

Books

Restorative practice often requires discussion skills and protocols.

• A useful resource: Circle Forward: Building a Restorative School Community

My two books have a lot on the importance of discussion in the classroom and in faculty and staff meetings:

• Woke Is Not Enough: School Reform for Leaders with Justice in Mind
• School for the Age of Upheaval: Classrooms that Get Personal, Get Political, and Get to Work

Socratic Seminar

It’s important that students can ask each other questions and learn how to have discussions with each other about topics in the curriculum.

• Resources on Socratic Seminar provided by some thoughtful school support organizations: Facing History and Ourselves; Expeditionary Learning; and Edutopia.

Guides for discussing/confronting racism, white nationalism, conspiracy theories

• Let’s Talk: Facilitating Critical Conversations with Students by Learning for Justice
• How to have difficult conversations in the classroom, by the UVM Tarrant Institute
• Confronting White Nationalism in Schools, by the Western States Center.
• Confronting Conspiracy Theories and Organized Bigotry at Home, by the Western States Center.
• Guide to preventing online youth radicalization, by the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“Talk Moves” & Intentional Talk in Math Classes

• A resource on “talk moves” that students can use for discussion in math classes, and a related resource on “intentional talk” in math classes (source).
• Video: Encouraging Academic Conversations with Talk Moves
• Presentation: A guide for using Socratic Seminar in Math class.
• Video of Socratic Seminar in Math class.

The Common Core Standards

• Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts, see page 23 for “Speaking & Listening” Standards.
• Best Practices for Teaching Discussion as Part of High School Common Core State Standards, by Mitchell Stengel, et al.

What else?

Do you have resources you suggest I share here? Please contact me.