It takes courage to open up your professional life to scrutiny, but that's exactly what Linda Rief did when she allowed Doug Kaufman to observe her classroom over the course of a school year. His goal was to discover what exactly Linda does that makes her such an extraordinary teacher - specifically, how she converses with students and promotes their conversations among one another. Conferences & Conversationsis a record of what Kaufman learned, presenting insights into Linda's teaching that even she hadn't seen. Conferences & Conversationsprovides an inside look at Linda in action as she establishes goals, teaches, learns, triumphs, and occasionally stumbles in her efforts to extend her students' literacy. Through Linda's actions, you will discover how a teacher can: offer students more freedom to think, talk, and create and at the same time create a classroom that is organized, efficient, and in control set up your classroom and procedures in ways that promote better, more effective conversations among students move beyond formulaic practices and routines that inhibit individualized and productive conferences become a better listener and encourage more student talk in conferences encourage students to work productively on their own, while you confer with other students.