Featuring vivid examples and lesson plans, this book helps K-8 teachers reflect on and improve the ways talk is used in their classrooms. The authors explain the important role of skillful "teacher talk" in effective, motivating literacy instruction geared to the Common Core standards. Presented are clear-cut ways to help students set explicit goals for their learning; explain and model key strategies; and provide ongoing feedback. Over a dozen easy-to-implement lessons in vocabulary, comprehension, and writing are complete with how-to-do-it instructions, classroom vignettes, text suggestions, and reproducible worksheets. The large-size format facilitates photocopying. Purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials.