academic conversations as a gateway to academic literacy · iv. transition improv: two differing...

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JeffZwiersNewYorkTeachersWebinar3

April24,2017jeffzwiers.org/april24

jzwiers@stanford.edu

Downloadslidesrightnowfromhere

AcademicConversationsasaGatewaytoAcademicLiteracy

• Wove conversation activities into lessons and took notes for your partner teachers and us today.

• Used some form or parts of the COAT.

• Gathered audio samples of student conversations to share today. Optionally, transcribed any interesting portions of one or more of them, and sent to me (Thanks!).

• Updated your Inquiry Cycle focus, evidence, and progress

Steps Leading Up Until Today

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Whyareclassroomconversationssoimportant?

1. Contentknowledge2. Academiclanguage(input/output)3. Communication4. Relationship5. ?

Reminders

ThiswasyourTASK

Write/UseModel

Conversations

1.

Pick one or two strategies or tools to become more expert in by the end of the year. Try it out in different ways, with different ways of modeling and scaffolding. Take notes on successes and frustrations, etc. You will share your expertise (and student evidence, if possible) with us in the final webinar.

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PROGRESS:InquiryQuestions

HowcanIdevelopmystudents'abilitiestoprobeandreflectonideasunderdiscussionevidencedbytherelevancetothetopicathandwhileusingacademiclanguage.

Video Analysis with the COAT

JeffZwiers Understanding Language

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Video 1

JeffZwiers Understanding Language

Context• Grade5• Had• Prompt:Are• Lookfor

strengthsandareastoimprovebasedontheCOAT

NEW:CreativityConversations

1. Pickatopicthatrequiresacreativewaytosolveaproblemorexpressacomplexideatoothers.Giveoptions,ifpossible.

2. Modelforstudentsthecollaborativecreativityprocess:• Clarifytheproblem• Brainstormpossiblesolutionstarters• Narrowthemdownwithcriticalthinkingandcriteria• Zoominontwoandthencomparetheirmerits,limits,

rationales,evidence,potentials,relatedhistories…• Choosethebestsolutionanddiscusshowtoimplementit

3. Havestudentscollaboratetocreateorwritetheirideaforarealisticaudience….

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CreativityConversations:YourTurn

Jeff ZwiersJeffZwiersJeffZwiers Understanding Language

Lesson Planning

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SampleLesson(s)Plan:ELA

I. Objectives:Inferandsupportthemesinshortstories.Arguethemostimportantthemeforstudentsyourage.

II. Stronger-ClearerEachTime:Readsamestory,sharetheme,support

III. ModifiedJigsaw:Think-Pair-Square:Readdifferentstories,sharethemeandevidencewithpartner,thenw/otherpair.

IV. TransitionImprov:TwoDifferingThemes(e.g.,‘TwoBrothers’)

V. AcademicConversationModeling:Emphasizeskillsofsupportingandevaluatingevidence.

VI. CreativityConversations:Comeupwithastorywithatheme

Jeff ZwiersJeffZwiersJeffZwiers Understanding Language

SampleLessonPlan:Nonfiction

I. Objectives:Argueaclaimaboutanissue.

II. OpinionFormationCards:Readcardsandshareopinions;readarticle.

III. GalleryWalk:(Readdifferentarticlesonsameissue,sharepostersofopinionandevidence)

IV. TransitionImprov:Pro-Conontopicofsocialmedia

V. AcademicConversationModelingofuseofArgumentBalanceScale:Emphasizeskillsofsupportingandevaluatingevidenceandimportance,andarguingforonethemeoveranother.

VI. Writeafinalparagraphortwo.

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BytheEndoftheYear

Write/UseModel

Conversations

1.

With your inquiry focus in mind, pick one or two strategies or tools to improve by the end of the year. Try it out in different ways, with different ways of modeling and scaffolding. Take notes on successes and challenges, etc.

EvidenceInquiry-based Collaboration Online PD

Communication-Based

Teaching of

Language,Literacy,

Thinking Skills, & Content

to Els and AELs

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CONTACTINFORMATION

Email: jzwiers@stanford.eduWebsites: jeffzwiers.org/april24

ell.stanford.edu

References

Mercer,N.(2000).TheGuidedConstructionofKnowledge:Talkamongstteachersandlearners.Clevedon,UK:MultilingualMatters.

Zwiers,J.&Soto,I.(2016)AcademicLanguageMastery:ConversationalDiscourseinContext.CorwinPress.

Zwiers,O’Hara,&Pritchard(2014)CommonCoreStandardsindiverseclassrooms:Essentialpracticesfordevelopingacademiclanguage&disciplinaryliteracy.Stenhouse.

JeffZwiers Understanding Language/SCALE

Jeff ZwiersJeffZwiersJeffZwiers Understanding Language

ALDevelopment