Drawing Out Students’ Critical Perspectives on Text through Modified Discourse Routines

Francine Falk-Ross, Northern Illinois University ffalkross@niu.edu

Symposium Presentation for the International Reading Association’s52nd Annual Convention, Toronto, CanadaMay 14, 2007 Handouts Online at: www.reading.org/association/meetings/annual_program.htm

The Role of Classroom Discourse in Literacy Activities

Students' learning in the classroom is tied to the instructional language routines that are set by the teacher and used by peers to question and respond to new information (Bernstein, 1990; Cazden, 2001; Wells, 1999; Wilkinson & Silliman, 2000).

These instructional language patterns provide a context

that influences learning and literacy development (Catts & Kamhi, 1999; Christie, Enz, & Vukelich, 1997, Gutierrez, 1995).

Language through social interaction plays the key role in construction of new knowledge and mediation of learning (Vygotsky, 1978).

The Role of Classroom Discourse in Literacy Activities Often, students with language difficulties or language

differences are at a disadvantage in classroom discussions and become marginalized in the classroom community (Lipsky & Gartner, 1997).

Varying traditional questioning strategies to include more expanded forms motivates students to voice personal connections and draws students into literacy discussions with their class peers and the teacher (Almasi, 1994; Falk-Ross, 2002).

The nature of language in the classroom, the need for more talk, and the vocabulary for talking require careful learning in order to draw out and support critical questions that extend students’ thinking.

Critical Literacy Theory

Critical literacy theory derives from the work of Paulo Freire (1970), who described the importance of ‘reading the world.” All the theory and work in this area are focused on 4 main applications (Lewison, Flint, & Van Sluys, 2002): disrupting a common understanding to gain perspective; examining multiple viewpoints (different characters, different

interest groups) thinking about power relationships between people, such as

who stands to gain from this viewpoint. promoting social justice…reflecting and acting to change an

inappropriate action or relationship.

Critical Talk in the Classroom

Students need models and support to encourage and share their critical views of the texts they read through appropriate dialogue, led and guided by teachers (Dozier, Johnston, & Rogers, 2006; McLaughlin & DeVoogd, 2004).

Students and teachers need to investigate deeply the situated context of text (Freire, 1970; Gee, 2001; Luke, 2000): the author’s perspectives, the history of the text, the nature of the language and the message, the power ‘moves’ that underlie text

The Nature of Language in the Classroom

Traditional DiscourseTeacher-Directed IRE/F

CharacteristicsMonologicTransmission

ModelQuestions with

prespecified responses

Expanded Discourse FormsStudent-Directed Inquiry-BasedDialogic DiscussionsSmall Group

ConferencesCritical AnalysisCo-construction of

Knowledge throughNegotiation

SCIENCE/MATH TALK

Vocabulary Definitions In your own words, how would you describe the meaning

of the term chlorophyll ? What else do you know about that term? How do you know that? Would someone else please add more information. So, let’s sum up. Do we agree that the term refers to……? How will this term apply to what we and our families know? (negotiated meaning, uptake).

Problem-solving and Decision-making What steps did you follow to determine that result? How

else could you have come to that decision? What information that you knew before helped lead you through that thinking process? How is this similar to the way you solve other problems? (higher level responses, personal analysis).

READING/LANGUAGE ARTS TALK

Word Identification/Language Arts We know to use context to help us figure out words that

are long or difficult. Tell us what phrases or sentences before or after this word help you to identify it? Where have you heard this word before? (scaffolding).

What rules of language use do you observe in that word/sentence? When have you used that language form or word in your own conversations? (higher level response, connections).

Comprehension What do you think the author was trying to tell us in that

passage? Do you agree or disagree with the message? What do you think the different characters are thinking…let’s consider their perspectives. What information in the text supports/substantiates your answer? Anyone else have an idea to add to that response? What if I told you that…..? (question uptake, negotiated meaning, additional information).

Research Study: One School

The research study addresses developing a language- and vocabulary-building approach to support reading activities for marginalized students in a school district with a population that is ~90% Hispanic and bilingual.

Reading and content area teachers were supported in their development of language/literacy knowledge and strategy suggestions for both remedial and classroom-based reading programs.

Marginalized middle level students included classroom members who had language differences and language difficulties.

Implications

Understanding the nature of pedagogic discourse and the effects of changes in language routines for students within educational interactions is an important endeavor for teacher educators and for preservice and practicing teachers.

This practice has implications for teacher education preparation and professional development programs in the form of models for future placements and matching of professionals for program development.

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