Better Conversations
Coaching Ourselves and Each Other to Be More Credible, Caring, and Connected
- Jim Knight - University of Kansas, USA
Because conversation is the lifeblood of any school
You don’t want this book—you need this book. Why this confident claim? Think about how many times you’ve walked away from school conversations, sensing they could be more productive, but at a loss for how to improve them.
Enter instructional coaching expert Jim Knight, who in Better Conversations honors our capacity for improving our schools by improving our communication. Asserting that our schools are only as good as the conversations within them, Jim shows us how to adopt the habits essential to transforming the quality of our dialogues.
As coaches, as administrators, as teachers, it’s time to thrive. Learn how to:
- Coach ourselves and each other to become better communicators
- Listen with empathy
- Find common ground
- Build Trust
Our students’ academic, social, and emotional growth depends upon our doing this hard work. It’s time to roll up our sleeves, open our minds, and dare to change for the better of the students we serve. You can get started now with Better Conversations and the accompanying Reflection Guide to Better Conversations.
Supplements
Changes in Standards and need to further review for link to new standards.
Sample Materials & Chapters
Looking Back: Fostering Dialogue Worksheet
Looking At: Fostering Dialogue Worksheet, Part 1
Looking At: Fostering Dialogue Worksheet, Part 2
The Power of Clear Explanations Blog Post, Radical Learners
The Power of Listening Blog Post, Radical Learners
Lesson 1: Responding to Reading
Lesson 2: Writing Fiction for Readers
Chapter 2: Cultural Proficiency: The Conceptual Framework and Tools
Chapter 1: Are You a Change Agent?
Chapter 2: Assembling Your Crew
Chapter 1: Disrupting Pedagogy
Chapter 1: Becoming Expert Educators
Chapter 2: Partnerships with and for Learners
Chapter 1. The Selection of a Research Approach
Chapter 2. Review of the Literature
Chapter 1. Develop a Relationship With Your Child
Chapter 2. Hug, Rock, and Love Your Child
Chapter 1: Starting With Our Students and Ourselves
Chapter 2: Integrating the Regulations and Principles
Chapter 2: Foundations of Dual Language Programs
Chapter 1: On the Teaching of Souls Toward Long-Term Flourishing
Chapter 2: The Five Key Beliefs: How They Work
Chapter 1: Wisdom Helps You Grow
Chapter 2: Getting Started ~ Create A Community Of Learners
Chapter 1: Success Starts With Understanding Needs
Chapter 2: What’s Going on Here: Barriers and Strengths
Chapter 1: How Students Learn Languages
Chapter 2: Apprenticeship Experiences in Small Groups
Module 1. Engagement—From Disrupting to Driving Learning
Module 2. Learners Know Their Current Level of Understanding
Chapter 1: Demographics and Determinants
Chapter 2: Instructional Framework For Experienced Multilinguals
Principle 1: Create a Culture That Engages Every Family
Principle 2: Communicate Effectively and Develop Relationships
Chapter 2: Feedback From the Perspective of the Learner
Chapter 2: Constructive-Developmental Theory: A New Lens on Social Justice Capac
Chapter 1: Introducing a Developmental Model for Justice-Centering Educational L
Chapter 1: What Does It Mean to Be Good at Math?
Chapter 2: Beyond Numbers and Equations
Chapter 1: The Foundations of Scaffolding
Chapter 2: The Origins of Scaffolding
Principle 1: Gather Information
Principle 2: Control What You Can
Chapter 1: What Is Critical Comprehension?
Chapter 2: Exploring Identities
Chapter 1: The Case for Teaching Critical Reading and Fighting Fake News
Chapter 2: Fake News: What It Is, Why It Works, and What We Can Start Doing Abou
Chapter 1: Learning About Multilingual Learners
Chapter 2: Climate for Learning
Pillar 1. The Journey to Self-Mastery
Chapter 1: Element 1: Understand the Components of Research-Informed Project-Bas
Chapter 2: Element 2: Understand the Basics of the CASEL 5 (for SEL) and Emotion
Chapter 1: Personal Considerations
Chapter 2: The Dissertation Terrain
Chapter 1: What Makes Grading So Difficult to Talk About (and Even Harder to Cha
Chapter 2: A Brief History of Grading
Chapter 1: The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat
Chapter 2: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith
Chapter 1: Purpose: Why Am I Writing This?
Chapter 2: Audience: Who Am I Writing This For?
Chapter 2: Alignment and Assessment
Chapter 1: From Subtractive Schooling Models to Dual Language Models That Lead t
Chapter 2: From Culturally and Linguistically Subtractive to Culturally and Ling
Chapter 1: Starting With Ourselves: We Teach Who We Are
Chapter 2: Creating Brave Spaces: Community First
Chapter 1: To Be, or Not to Be
Chapter 2: The Developing Self
Chapter 2: Issues in Assessment for Multilingual Learners
Chapter 1: Empowering Multilingual Learners and Teachers Through Assessment
Chapter 1: Starting With Ourselves: We Teach Who We Are
Chapter 2: Creating Brave Spaces: Community First
Chapter 1: The Living Constitution
Chapter 2: Understanding the U.S. Supreme Court
Chapter 1: STEM Across the Disciplines as Mutually Supportive
Chapter 2: ISP 1: Use Critical and Creative Thinking to Seek Solutions
Chapter 1: Why You Need This Book to Support MLs
Chapter 2: Using a Culturally Responsive Framework to Leverage the Strengths and
Chapter 1: Stem Across The Disciplines As Mutually Supportive
Chapter 2: Isp 1: Use Critical And Creative Thinking To Seek Solutions
Part 2. Forming Positive Relationships With Your Students
Chapter 1: Why Introducing All Students to Grade-Level Content Is Key (and Commo
Chapter 2: What Is Differentiated Phonics Instruction? (and Why It Lifts Even St
