Academic Discussion

What does it look like?

• learners are active not passive
• classroom buzzes with energy
• students take ownership of learning
• intellectual curiosity alive
• kids cannot hide: no ghosts in the classroom
• teaches the art of COMMUNICATION

What do we talk about?

• complex text/documentaries
• equations/experiments
• art/music critique
• health/fitness
• relevance of lesson
• current events
• goals and fears
• A.N.Y.T.H.I.N.G.

Teachers:

• are prepared
• present structures for evaluation
• let go and take risks
• explicitly teach assigned roles
• stay fully engaged throughout
• are a "guide on the side"

Students:

• are highly engaged
• are held accountable
• are using content specific language
• have clear objectives
• clearly understand the structure and HOW to participate
• let go and take risks...

Conversations:

• involve all students
• are rich
• utilize valued language
• seek precision
• yearn to solve problems
• are balanced among stakeholders
• create new levels of understanding

Language:

• is content specific
• is respectful
• allows for disagreement
• unpacks meaning of content
• deepens learning
• is precise and purposeful

Discussion Structures:

• Timed pair/share
• Socratic Seminar
• Philosophical Chairs
• Today's Meet/Padlet
• Round Robin
• Talking Chips
• Blogging/Podcasting
• Structured Debate
• Round Robin

Challenges:

• accountability
• grading
• evaluation
• students hiding
• students dominating
• covering content
• facilitating
• letting go...

Outcomes:

• classroom community building
• student voice=student buy in
• deepens learning
• unpacks meaning
• sense of belonging
• varies your assessments
• brings energy to the room
• students working harder than teacher
• teaches COMMUNICATION SKILLS!

Mission Oak HS
accepts the challenge:
Let the Hawks TALK!