Q1: Accountability to the learning community involves talk that has meaning. This allows students to be active listeners and participants in conversations. The goal is for students to be heard and to hear one another, we want them to be able to build on each other’s ideas and ask questions to clarify their thoughts and expand their understanding. Example: Take your time, we’ll wait. I really like this example because even today (as a 27 year old) there are times when I’m talking, I lose my thought and I need that chance to gather myself back.

Q2: Accountability to standards of reasoning is “talk that emphasizes logical connections and the drawing of reasonable conclusions...involves explanation and self-correction.” In other words accountability to standards of reasoning is talk that is supported with reasonable thought. From what I learned from the kindergarten discussion is we want students to be able to have a discussion, and in this discussion there will be disagreements. However, what happens after the disagreement is what matters, can we get the other person to agree with me? And can I use reasonable evidence to get them to understand why this is why it may be better, etc. Example: Student A: I think Robert is happy that Stevie is gone because now he doesn’t need to play with him anymore. Student B: I disagree, I think Robert is sad Stevie is gone, because he was like a little brother to him.

Q3: Accountability to knowledge is based on information that can be shared and accessed with one another which can include facts, written texts or other publicly accessible information. According to the article this is the most complex of the three accountabilities. Example: George Washington is the first president of the United States, we read about it in a book and it’s written down in history.

Q4: Interdependent means that the three dimensions go hand and hand, they work together, or “must co-occur”. I think it is best explained in the article, “Knowledge is most easily identified as agreed-upon facts. Yet disconnected facts are a weak basis for reasoned argument. What makes facts usable is the connection to other facts, tools, and problem-solving situations, that is, the network of concepts, relationships, and the norms of evidence characteristic of reasoned argument taking place within a coherent discipline or practice.” In order for discourse to occur the three dimensions will work side by side for students to fully grasp and be involved in meaningful conversations.

Q5: The main challenge to accountable talk is the different backgrounds students are coming from and how the discourse norms may be available to some but not others. This is a challenge because some students will easily engage in accountable talk while others may struggle and this is the first time for them practicing accountable talk. I agree with this statement and the part of this article where there are challenges to accountable talk, however, because it is school and our job is to educate our students I think it should still be done. One way to help those students who aren't familiar with accountable talk is to pair them up with students who are familiar with it and group them as a team to go against a similar pair and learn that way first. Make it more of an observable lesson before it becomes an active participant lesson.