To see how this conversation protocol puts students’ artistic work at the center of classroom conversations, check out the NDA visual arts page, where it is fully described and visualized.
NDA is also explained and incorporated in every activity page in our resource library.
Describing expression specifically helps students see their choices with greater clarity. When artists hear their own work described, they get ideas of what to do next. Hearing their peers’ work described gives them new ideas, opening a wider palette of choices to explore.
The rich language environment that is created empowers child agency- giving them words they can use in naming their choices and work process. It builds new vocabulary and motivates children to use it, in speaking about things they care about. And it builds community, giving children time to talk to each other, and language for conversing about their work.
Focused attention to noticing gives children a foundation for inferencing- a crucial skill in reading, writing, science & social studies. Taking in all the details, without jumping to an immediate conclusion, allows them to be thoughtful in their inferencing and fully grounded in the evidence. Careful noticing among peers expands social emotional awareness.
