From Communication to Curriculum

by Douglas Barnes

In From Communication to Curriculum , Douglas Barnes argues that the kind of personal and conversational interaction that exists between teacher and pupil is a crucial aspect of the learning process. Using transcribed conversations from the classroom, he analyzes the different styles of discourse in use, showing the importance of relatively unstructured conversations in the work of schooling. Barnes rejects the view that some children fail in school because they have difficulty with language, emphasizing instead the inhibiting effects of rigid and formalized methods of teaching which are often in opposition to the natural patterns of inquiry which children develop outside school.

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 1976

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was first written in 1975, but I feel it is still relevent for today's teachers. Allowing small group "exploratory" talk in a classroom is difficult because the students themselves try to make sense of what they are learning. The teacher is more of a "guide" than the "expert." Barnes' book helps teachers feel more comfortable providing for this type of talk in their classrooms and figure out what their individual roles in this way of teaching are.