Sophomores at Spencer High School started their World History experience with Substantive Conversation (SC) the first week of school. In cooperation with the classroom teachers, we two local AIW coaches guided students to activate and modify their prior knowledge about SC, then construct new knowledge while working through a task around the five Themes of World History. This was not the kids’ first foray into SC. Students first learned SC in their 8th science class, then experienced it again in 9th Language Arts class.
This 10th grade SC kickoff began when we adults role played a NON-SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION: poor body language, lack of effort, off-task conversation and a feeble attempt to at least address the task when “the teacher” was nearby. The students identified the behaviors that derailed the conversation. We then role played a TRUE SUBSTANTIVE CONVERSATION after which students identified behaviors that make SC happen, including staying on task and topic, using the vocabulary of the discipline, asking good questions, building on each other’s responses, making connections and drawing conclusions together. The students then identified how the two conversations differed and how the learning changed within the group.
After this discussion, the students continued the World History task in small groups of 3-4 students, employing the components of substantive conversation. After 10-15 minutes, the classroom teacher stopped the groups for a quick reflection, asking each student to list positives about their roles in the conversation and what they could individually do to promote SC among the group members. Groups resumed work on the World History task after sharing within their groups.
We local coaches will check in weekly with the World History classes to help students evaluate the quality of their SC, helping them continue to construct their knowledge about how SC improves their learning in World History and all their classes.
We know our learning is ongoing. What experiences have you had with introducing, teaching and/or experiencing SC with students and staff? How do you make SC a lasting part of the classroom experience?
Pat Briese and Elli Wiemers, Instructional Coaches, with Hope Bumgarner and Angela Merchant, Social Studies Teachers
Spencer Community Schools, Spencer, Iowa