Cathy O'Connor
Boston University

- Talk moves offer an effective way to support students in developing understanding of the weekly words when going through text.

- Teachers can use talk moves extensively when managing the debates.

- Debating evolves to include more reasoning and reflection.

- Introducing new words can be made a more engaging and relevant task with Acountable Talk.

- Meaningful exposures to the topic and the words throughout the week helps to support students’ writing of "Taking a Stand" essays.

View FULL LIST of Word Generation topics -
many with learning links to WGBH Teachers' Domain

Evelyn Ford-Connors
Boston University

- Talk offers a variety of ways to use the words connected to each unit.

- Students attempt to use the words with mixed success - this provides immediate opportunities for teachers to scaffold further learning.

- Teachers can help students refine the appropriate usage of words for particular situations.

- Word Generation designed to encourage talk moves in all content areas.

- Repeated exposures to the target words through talk allows for growth in reading, writing, and oral usage of academic words.