Using classroom discussions to teach good habits of thinking Classroom discussion has a major effect on student learning. In fact, dialogue is one of the best vehicles for learning how to think, make moral decisions, and understand another person's point of view. Research also indicates that most teachers talk too much in the classroom and don't wait long enough for students to respond. How do we improve the quality of classroom discussion? Challenging Learning Through Dialogue transforms the most up-to-date research into practical strategies that work. Readers will learn How to build in more "wait-time" for better quality thinking and questioning from students How to use dialogue to teach reasoning, collaboration, and good habits of thinking The three types of dialogue and how to teach the most effective version: exploratory talk Dozens of practical strategies for exploratory dialogue Global examples of fun ways to teach dialogue An innovative new instructional strategy called Classroom Mysteries Written by an internationally known team of educational innovators, this book is for all educators who aim to use effective classroom dialogue to engage students in learning. "This valuable book is a must for teachers and families who wish to have their children learn to think and communicate with greater precision and clarity." Arthur L. Costa, Ed. D., Professor Emeritus California State University Sacramento and Co-Director, International Institute for Habits of Mind "James Nottingham's work on Challenging Learning is a critical element of creating Visible Learners. This new series will help teachers hone the necessary pedagogical skills of dialogue, feedback, questioning, and mindset." John Hattie, Professor & Director, Melbourne Education Research Institute University of Melbourne

Better questioning for better learning Questioning is a process that sparks discussion and encourages deeper thinking. Effective questioning builds on students' natural curiosity, moving them out of their comfort zone and into the learning zone in a purposeful, accessible way. It also models the process of good thinking and fosters a culture of high expectations. Like any skill, questioning takes practice. With this insightful guide, you'll reframe your thinking and fine-tune the three essential questioning skills-know your intent, plan your responses, and stay purposefully silent-to elicit noticeably improved responses from students. Features include * Questioning sequences that work in any discipline * Techniques for deepening learning through questioning * Organizational strategies for pair, small-group, and whole-class dialogues * Best practices for balancing questioning, thinking tools, and strategic silences * Exercises, activities, and review and reflection sections High-quality questioning supports a culture in which students are not only challenged, but expect to be challenged, and where they flourish intellectually. Through your questioning, you'll give them the tools they need to become thoughtful, confident, and independent learners.