Cultivating Thinkers #doctoralpursuit

"Ideal conversation must be an exchange of thought, and not, as many of those who worry most about their shortcomings believe, an eloquent exhibition of wit or oratory." Emily Post 

Many teachers read to children, some daily; as they should. Reading aloud is one good way to begin a conversation about literature. What are we talking about when we read to them? Are we having conversations about what is read? How often do we have conversations with them at all? In today's times I am seeing more and more children who are not good thinkers., because they are not allow to. Students are being taught to sit still and be quiet. Which says to children; "What you think does not matter.'" I see children who are not good at expressing themselves. We still have quiet classrooms with straight rows of children. No student autonomy at all.  Children don't know how to have conversations because they are not allowed to talk to each other. Conversations are not happening at school or at home. We need to change that and one way to do it is to have conversations about what we are reading to them and what they are reading to each other. Completing those think aloud and allowing those "turn and talks" about literature is one way to cultivate that need.  Children should be given the chance to express what they think about what they hear and read in good literature. The classroom needs to be a safe place for students to express themselves and what better way than to have conversations about reading.
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Thank you for reading...