In his workshops with teachers over the years, Patrick Allen has encountered a long list of "counterfeit beliefs" about the process of conferring with students, including such comments as: "I don't have time. I don't know what questions to ask, It's too hard, I don't know what to write in my notes, I don't even take notes, I don't know how to go deep. . ." In Conferring: The Keystone of Reader's Workshop, Allen argues that the benefits of conferring are well-worth the effort of learning to do it well. And then he sets out to show teachers how to overcome all of their perceived obstacles, and make the somewhat intangible aspect of conferring tangible. Just as the keystone--a symmetrical, wedge-shaped stone at the center of an arch--forms the foundation of a structure, conferring lays the groundwork for effective reading instruction. Allen defines the word confer as a verb "meaning to consult together, compare opinions, or carry on a conversation." Conferences with students are purposeful conversations that scaffold reading comprehension strategies that guide the reader's progress, and ultimately, through the gradual release of responsibility, create independent readers. Allen begins by explaining what conferring is and what it's not, and then unpacks the essential components of the process: intimacy (the social context of conferring); rigor (the cognitive context); and inquiry (the analytical context). He explores the guiding principles of conferring--including goal setting, instruction points, listening, rapport, challenges, and teacher learning--and provides questions that lead teachers through the reader's conference from start to finish.

Hows It Going? is a practical book. Written in a conversational style, its filled with lots of useful advice.

Conferring with Readers shows you how to confer well and demonstrates why a few moments with students every week can put them on the path to becoming better, more independent readers.

Conferring in math supports students' learning How do we support all students' mathematical sense-making and move their thinking forward in the midst of problem solving? Talking to students about their work, while they work, is a powerful way of supporting learning. We often engage in these conversations with our readers and writers, and these interactions are just as needed in mathematics. What does it look like to talk with students about their mathematical thinking so that their thinking grows? Practical, research-based guidance for getting started In the Moment offers research-based guidance for conferring with your students in math. Jen Munson explains how, in just a few minutes, a math conference provides opportunities for supporting productive struggle, helping students grow their ideas, and differentiating instruction. You'll learn about: the process of conferring: eliciting, interpreting, and nudging creating the conditions for conferring in your classroom responding to your students' thinking in the moment of a conference addressing unique challenges teachers face when conferring in math using conferring as formative assessment. Enhanced with online videos showing real math conferences and teacher reflections, this comprehensive, classroom-tested approach to conferring helps you step into your students' mathematical lives to support their learning, communication, and participation. It provides the guidance and support needed to get started with conferring and see it become a crucial part of your teaching.

Anderson offers smart, ready-to-use ideas for assessment.