Chapter 18 - Monologic and Dialogic Talk
Monologic talk is when someone is just speaking to give information. Dialogic talk is when the listener and speaker engage in conversation. Most classrooms should have dialogic talk and questions that are asked so it's not a one sided conversation or lecture like monologic talk. There is a chart figure 18.1 that describes the differences in monologic and dialogic talk.
In my classroom I'm going to try to use more dialogic talk and enhance those conversations with students.
Chapter 19 - The Power of a Book
This chapter talks about how a book can support a student and allow them the information they need to gain even if they can't physically visit a place. A book can give them lots of information to learn about. It stresses the importance of the library and for students to visit the library often to get books. It talks about giving the students a few choices of books and helping them not be so overwhelmed with the amount of books that there are.
I feel like this chapter really impacted me in the fact that most of our students won't be able to experience the world like some students can. A lot of our students haven't even been to a beach. A book can help them learn about places they may never go or see but they can still feel like they know things about a place, because they have access to a book. I will try to remember this throughout my years as a teacher and encourage students to read about places they'd like to visit but may not be able to due to family finances and hardships.
Chapter 20 - The Role of Relevance
"Relevance is what motivates, and what motivates is what engages." I think this quote is powerful. We want students to be engaged so that they can learn - but in order for them to be engaged they need to know why the information they are learning about is important which is ever the relevance piece comes in. We need students to know why things are relevant to their life, so they want to learn and apply that information. There is figure 20.1 which says that relevance is linked by association, usefulness, and identity.
I think it is important for students to know the relevance of the information they are learning and how it applies to their life. I always start my lessons off by explaining to my students why they need to know the information and how it relates to their life.