Word Generation - Developing Academic Language

An Introduction to Accountable Talk

Observe professional development with Boston teachers.

Students evaluate
each other's comments.


Introduction of Talk Moves	The Revoicing Move

Repeat Another Student's Words	Do You Agree or Disagree?

Multiple Uses of Each Move	Conceptual & General Words

Talk Moves with Conceptually Rich Words	Talk Moves and General Academic Vocabulary

Is This Worth the Time?	Classroom Climate

Cathy O'Connor
Director, Program of Applied Linguistics
&
Evelyn Ford-Connors
Faculty, Literacy Testing and Supplementary Instruction Program
Boston University

- Teachers must understand that extra time is necessary for students to develop thoughtful comments.

- The "why" element of this move is very important. Teachers should press for more than simple "yes or no" responses.

- Another caution is to avoid "ping-pong" -type exchanges in which the teacher simply accepts a series of unrelated responses.

SERP and
Boston Public Schools collaborated on the development of Word Generation

Support for Word Generation
provided by

Carnegie Corporation of New York
Spencer Foundation
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
The Noyce Foundation

This website was made possible by the
Leon Lowenstein
Foundation, Inc.

Who are the people who developed Word Generation? Find out!