Creating Discourse-Friendly Classrooms

Some great simple things to create a discourse-friendly classroom from
"Literacy Strategies for Improving Mathematics Instruction" (2005)

• Arrange desks so that students can easily turn to see each other.
• Encourage students to direct questions and explanations to the class, rather than the teacher.
• When recording ideas, use the students' words as much as possible.
• Try not to repeat or paraphrase everything students say.  This teaches the other students that they can simply listen to you.  Ask the student to repeat louder if need be.
• Remind students that a conversation has both listening and speaking skills.
• Stand in a variety of spots in the classroom.
• Remember, students listen harder when a peer speaks than when an adult does!
• Give students time to think.
• Arrange lessons so that students have a product to share as they explain their thinking.  

Even better is if the student takes the lead in the class.  This is done by 

• Asking open questions to stimulate thinking.  "Is this logical?" "What do you wonder about?"
• Honor ideas even if they are incorrect.
• Encourage arguments between students.
• Confusion is ok!  Make sure students know that you want them to be confused, and that you will let them be this way.
• Tangents are great teachable moments.
• When a student brings up an idea ask the rest of the class if they have any questions or ideas.
• Counter questions with questions not explanations. 
• Even with a correct answer, ask if there is any another way this can be done, or if there are improvements to be made.

A great reminder!