Research indicates that the instructional conversation (IC), a dialogue between teacher and learner in which prior knowledge and experiences are woven together with new material to build higher understanding, can be an effective method for raising the low academic achievement levels of various groups of Native American students. The IC contrasts with the "recitation script" of traditional western schooling, which is routinized and dominated by the teacher. In order for ICs to be a truly effective method, however, educators must take into account the following factors concerning the indigenous cultures of their students: (1) sociolinguistics; (2) cognition; (3) motivation; and (4) social organization. A description of each of these factors and their effect on the implementation of ICs among Native American populations is included in this digest. Contains 13 references. (VWL)