Why is it important to take a closer look at the patterns of language, or discourse, in the conversations in Reading Recovery teachers' lessons? Conversations occur throughout the lesson as teachers communicate with children and are not limited to a procedural component of the lesson related to composing. Teachers' theories of the world, literacy…

To improve oral communication skills of their students, teachers should provide opportunities for students to talk in class. Teachers are advised to: begin early, be sensitive to the individuality of students' speech patterns, and stress that there are different kinds of speech patterns for different situations. (JDD)

Describes five videotapes drawn from a conference on teacher education. The tapes discuss alternative ways of viewing current problems in reading and language development, the "Breakthrough to Literacy" program developed in Great Britain, language codes, language as a resource, and language as a part of human behavior. (FL)