Genuine academic discourse is relatively rare in classrooms.

Asking students to provide an answer to a closed question (one that has a single right answer [IRE]) is not academic discourse.

IRE has a place in the classroom when teachers are reviewing details that students need to recall, or consolidating understanding after students have engaged in academic discourse.

Academic discourse has many benefits, including revealing students’ understanding, developing students' academic language skills and critical reasoning skills, and supporting equity and a sense of belonging.

Academic discourse includes any interactions in which the student is asked a question by a teacher or another student.