Inquiry Focus Question
This year my inquiry focus question is:
How can I develop the dialogic discourse ability of my children so they can freely engage in discussions about a text and what effect will this have on their vocabulary and comprehension?
It is widely acknowledged that there is a reciprocal relationship between oral language influencing reading development, and reading influencing oral language development. The National Reading Panel’s (2000; p.230) historic report points out: “Vocabulary occupies an important position in learning to read. As a learner begins to read, reading vocabulary encountered in texts is mapped onto the oral vocabulary the learner brings to the task….The reader learns to translate the (relatively) unfamiliar words in print into speech, with the expectation that the speech forms will be easier to comprehend. … When the word is not in the learner’s oral vocabulary, it will not be understood when it occurs in print.” Therefore oral language and vocabulary development is crucial to improving reading comprehension.
The Problem
Generally speaking, many of literacy student's struggle to engage in discourse about a text. I suspect this is due to a potential number of reasons such as:
- Feeling shy, anxious or worried about sharing. Sharing in a group is a vulnerable thing to do even for adults. The unknown responses from others in the group can cause a reluctance to share.
- Having a 'can't be bothered' attitude.
- They don't know how to have a discussion.
- Creating a safe classroom culture where every contribution is valued and respected.
- Getting buy-in from the kids. Demonstrating the importance of being able to share your thinking and opinions.
- Explicitly teaching/modelling how to have a discussion. This includes outlining Rules for Talk.
- Using texts that are engaging and provocations that evoke discussion.
- Easttle reading results
- PAT vocabulary result
- Observe children having a discussion about a text recording what takes place
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