Participants will experience a dynamic session in which they will learn five core skills (recommended by Jeff Zwiers) that help students extend and enrich academic conversations with their peers. We will explore opportunities for incorporating these structures at different points during instruction to support students as they strive to sustain and deepen their academic conversations. Session Objectives ● Explore the benefits of academic discussion as students move from listening and reading, to speaking and writing. ● Use language frames and hand signals to sustain academic discussion. ● Provide formative assessment tools for student self and peer evaluation. ● Engage the audience in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and thinking. ● Participate in a thoughtful, evidence-based, and well-reasoned exchange of ideas in order to strengthen writing.