Jami’s Post on Discussions Week 3

While reading Janice Almasi’s article A New View of Discussion, I found that she made many wonderful points that I fully agree with and have never even thought of. She discusses the difference between a discussion and a recitation, and how much more beneficial a discussion can be. “Thus discussion supposes cognitive engagement to the extent that the participants are actively involved in a dialogic conversation with one another rather than passively reciting answers to questions that may not be personally meaningful” (31). This is so very true. In field I have noticed that when children are asked questions they give simple one word answers. This does not promote thinking between the students. They just rattle off answers and if they are incorrect than it doesn’t really matter. I think in the classroom we need to get students involved in questioning things on their own and formulating their own discussions between themselves with little help from the teacher. Students are constantly wondering about things so why not prompt them to discuss it among themselves. I have found that my CT does not prompt much discussion between the students. In fact, I have never seen the children have a discussion in the classroom. They are in second grade and should be able to come up with their own ideas and not have to sit in a recitation type setting all the time. Discussion will get the students thinking for themselves and interact with each other. They will begin to see that they can have meaningful conversations with each other. It will give them a chance to act as the teacher in a way by assuming the role as the facilitator, inquisitor, or evaluator. As I have observed children love to play the teacher role and I think my classroom would really enjoy having a discussion with each other about a book or something else they are working on in class.

Veronica's comment: I think you made a very good point that 2nd. graders can carry a discussion. With a little guidance from your CT, they can do it. It would also be important for them to set ground rules on how the discussion should go and what are appropriate behaviors for the discussion. Given the opportunity, 2nd. graders would love to share their opinions with others!