The Teacher:

• arranges the classroom to accommodate conversation between the teacher and a small group of students on a regular and frequent basis.
• has a clear academic goal that guides conversation with students.
• ensures that student talk occurs at higher rates than teacher talk.
• guides conversation to include students’ views, judgments, and rationales using text evidence and other substantive support.
• ensures that all students are included in the conversation according to their preferences.
• listens carefully to assess levels of students’ understanding.
• assists students’ learning throughout the conversation by questioning, restating, praising, encouraging, etc.
• guides the students to prepare a product that indicates the Instructional Conversation’s goal was achieved.