Chapter 11 page 220
Reflecting on Students’ ThinkingAn elementary-school principal has noticed that the teachers in her school who have many discipline
problems lead discussions that are very different from the discussions led by teachers who have few
discipline problems. Below are transcripts of typical discussions led by (1) Krysta, an earnest teacher whose
students are often disorderly and off-task (meaning that they are not engaged in academic school work) and
(2) Maia, whose students are generally well behaved and highly engaged in academic work. Both teachers
teach fourth grade classes.
One day, the principal observes both teachers leading a discussion on a text about wolves. The main
points of the text are as follows: Wolves used to be common throughout the U.S. West. Now there are few
or no wolves in many of these areas. The government is bringing wolves back to some areas, but not all
citizens are happy about this decision. The text goes on to present arguments on both sides of the question.
Here is the beginning of Krysta’s discussion (this segment is representative of the entire discussion):
Krysta: If we look at the title, we can see what this text is about. What is the title? Carl?
Carl: Shall we bring wolves back to the West?
Krysta: Great. From the title, what is this story going to be about? Lane?
Lane: It will be about wolves and the West.
Krysta: Yes, it will be about whether wolves should be brought back into the West, won’t it? How
many wolves used to live in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming? Kaitlynn?
Kaitlynn: More than 50 thousand.
Krysta: Right. More than 50 thousand. You found that on page 74, didn’t you? And how many wolves
are there now? Juan?
Juan: About 1,500.
Krysta: Yes. And what are government officials now doing? Sylvie?
Sylvie: Um... ...
Krysta: Look in the third paragraph on page 75.
Sylvie: [after a pause] They want to bring wolves back to some places.
Krysta: Exactly. And does everybody like that idea? Augusto?
Augusto: Um, no.
Krysta: Why not? What is one reason?
Augusto: Well, because wolves eat baby sheep and stuff.
Here is the beginning of the discussion in Maia’s class (also representative of the class’s entire
discussion):
Maia: Today our question is the same question that we see as the title of the story: Shall we bring
wolves back to the West? You’ve all written at least two arguments on each side after you read
the story. So what do you think? Let’s have a show of hands: How many think that the wolves
should be brought back? [Eight students raise their hands.] How many think that they should
not be brought back? [Ten students raise their hands.] How many are not sure right now?
[Seven students raise their hands.] Brendon, you said you’re not sure. Tell us why.
Brendon: Well, I can see both sides. The ranchers have a good worry. They are worried that the wolves
will kill their livestock—the babies, especially. So they would lose a lot of money. But on the
other hand, wolves are needed in the mountains, or there gets to be too many deer and other
animals like that. And that’s bad, too.
Maia: Maddie. Please respond to what Brendon said.
Maddie: It says.... It says that the wolves killed about 500 sheep and cows last year. That’s a lot. But if
the government pays the ranchers for the animals killed, I think that would be OK. The
government can pay for that many. It’s not that expensive.
Brendon: How do they know that wolves killed less than 500? [Maia points to Shayla to speak next.]
Shayla: I think that the farmers, I mean the ranchers, will know how many livestock they have lost. I’m