Teachers’ Facilitation of Classroom Science Discussions:
Grade 4 Science Discussions 2010-2011
Introduction
In the second year of our research (2010–2011), we audiotaped pre– and post–concept cartoon discussions from nine teachers in Grade 4, who were teaching the Inquiry Project curriculum for the first time. As part of the Talk Science professional development, teachers were introduced to a set of academically productive talk moves (APT moves). The APT moves were designed to promote students’ scientific reasoning and co–construction of scientific understandings with peers. Our analysis focused on the extent to which teachers utilized APT moves to guide discussions; the extent to which students explicated their thinking by offering reasons and evidence, and responded to the ideas of their peers.
