3 Quick Ways to Level Up Student Talk

Charles Alexander
May 24
3 min read

Updated: Jun 15

Kia ora, persistent snackers!

If you're like me, you've learned that getting and maintaining silence through a sequence of spoken directions is...challenging. If you've also found this to be true...take heart, because your classroom is pretty normal! Additionally, just because they're quiet and may be looking at you doesn't mean that you have everyone's undivided attention. One of the ways I manage this in my classroom is by limiting the amount of time I ask children to sit quietly and listen. Here are a few things I do regularly that may be useful.

One: Vary delivery of your directions.

90-98% of my classroom directions are written down--either on anchor charts, the assignments themselves, or on presentation slides. In those cases, students enter and I point, or hand out, so I no longer need the whole class' attention. This allows kid brains that are all moving at different speeds and are focused on different things to join the lesson at a point of their choosing. BONUS: by observing this process over time, it becomes easier to meet the needs of your group because you'll have data around who gets started when, who is empowered to ask for help from others without reprimand, who raises hands, etc. ADDITIONAL BONUS: you'll actually have headspace to do that because you won't also need to repeatedly ask students to listen quietly while you're talking.

These other options aren't easy, but they sure are FUN! First, you can make a silly video of yourself giving the directions (dancing and rapping and silly outfits are encouraged, but not required). Your students will also enjoy seeing/hearing older students or other staff members giving directions!

Two: Use protocols.

We all use protocols. If you don't use that language but you've done a turn-and-talk, or a think-pair-share, then you've done a protocol. Protocols are great because they are driven by direct student involvement rather than teacher talk. Secondly, they promote equity because they're not reliant on the fastest or most-frequently raised hands. Third, protocols promote service, compassion, and empathy because they all can feel and experience what their classmates may be going through as they take their turns because the focus isn't on the teacher. Here are two treasure troves for protocols for a wide variety of classroom outcomes. This list is from EL Education. NOTE: this one from National School Reform Faculty (NSRF) used to be free but has become a paid resource. The website offers some freebies, though.

Three: Provide frequent opportunities for students to reflect.

I use written reflections to build metacognitive skills, of course. This week, I felt led to use a reflection activity as a course evaluation...! Essentially, how well did I support your learning and what could I have done differently? Now, turn and check in with your neighbors. I find that very often students will write things that they would never say out loud. Stay tuned!

It makes sense to ask your stakeholders directly if they're getting everything they need. Besides, grades might not tell the whole story. If a child is always needing to mask in my class but is getting a good grade, then I still have work to do.

That's all for this week, snackers! I am grateful for your readership and support!