Classroom Instruction part of the Education Reform Network

Facilitating Discourse

Discourse - the ways of representing, thinking, talking, agreeing and disagreeing - is central to what students learn. The teacher's role is to initiate and orchestrate discourse and to use it skillfully to foster student learning (NCTM) Under this link are articles related to strategies teacher can use to facilitate discussion - skills for listening, responding and questioning to promote student learning.

• Interaction Skills
  Effective communication skills are the building blocks for the development of positive interactions in the classroom. This article discusses the impact of the physical setting, instructor attitude, hints for encouraging student participation, wait-time for questioning, handling student responses to questions, and responding to students' questions.