ABSTRACT
Students are able to express their own ideas with evidence and clarity that are developmentally appropriate. Students are sharing ideas that are topically related and showing evidence of listening to each other, perhaps by linking ideas to previous comments. Some of the lessons in this chapter require conversational and developmental maturity. It often takes some time to learn how to focus on the good of the collective group. Learning to see the shades of gray between opposing ideas is critical as both an academic skill and a life skill. Talk micro-lessons are always about honoring and building on the many ways students express their own thinking and engage with one another’s ideas. Talk micro-lessons are never about “fixing” student talk. Consider highlighting students’ talk and listening moves through micro-lessons codesigned by students.
