Conversation is a wonderful tool for learning, sharing and debating.
In my experience in high school, I found more conversations to come about in grades 11 and 12, that were brought upon by the teacher at least.
I feel like it is assumed that grade 9 and 10 students maybe aren't versed enough or aren't as likely to have an individual opinion to state. But this is completely incorrect.
I peer tutor a grade 10 foods class, which also has a few grade 9 students. We don't have a lot of class discussions, and many students in the class complain to me that the class is boring or simply they hate it. One day we were having a discussion... which wasn't even really planned, about whether we thought that eating disorders can be blamed on society or if it is the individual. The conversation didn't last very long, but during that time a few students shared their opinions. I could even tell the teacher getting excited by the participation.
This class is filled with many students who value education, as well as those who don't.
But the one thing, the one rule that applies to everyone: Everybody wants an exciting education. They want to all be involved. If they have to sit in that room "against their will" they are going to enjoy it, and so is the teacher, if they are entertained or enthralled.
Conversation is the easiest and one of the most educational ways of doing this.
Some reasons why class discussions are good:
- Opinions are voiced and heard
- Many opinions are new perspectives, which provides more open-mindedness to everyone
- If you make everyone contribute, eventually every student, even the quiet ones, are going to feel more comfortable in the class, and coming to the teacher for help
- It is going to help them learn and understand the lesson or topic you are learning in class
If the class isn't really "into it" and don't feel like sharing opinions or talking, either that topic isn't interesting or they are just too embarrassed or not confident enough to share.
Classmates do need a degree of comfort around each other to be able to share these things, since conversation and speaking can be such an intimate thing. This is why it is also very important to do ice breakers, force people who don't talk to work together.
As a student, I hate working with people who aren't my friends, especially since I am a quiet introvert, but I do appreciate it when it is done. You learn different perspectives, and talk to people you don't know.
I don't like small group discussions too much, where you split up and then share important ideas with the class. Some groups don't work, others do, and then when those points are shared with the class, not everyone in the groups' are.
Ideas for Conversation Games:
1. Tossing around a beach ball. Start a conversation topic and then toss around a beach ball. It gets people moving, and keeps everyone involved. Just make up a rule that says everybody must get the ball once before someone can get it twice. Maybe sit down after you have had the ball, and then once everyone is sitting, for another round, sit back up on top of your desks.
2. Using cards. This can be done in many ways. The teacher can create a stack of conversation cards related to a topic, and then students can draw one and then the class discusses it. The class can create conversation cards related to a topic, maybe in small groups, and the same can happen.
3. Instead of just talking, write down the ideas as well. Make brainstorming bubbles, notes on the board, have the class take down the notes perhaps.
4. Introduce "conversation periods". This can mean that you dedicate a certain amount of time per week that you have opinion discussions about what has been learned. For example, maybe one entire period every other week, 20 minutes on friday, etc.
5. Individual topics. As an assignment, you could give each individual student a friday throughout the year to lead a 5-10 minute with the class on a current event, or even just something being learned in the class. For example: an english class, perhaps you are reading Shakespeare, and a student decides to lead a conversation about death or suicide in society.
So many students will just reply "I don't know" when you ask them, usually just because they've been put on the spot, but sometimes they won't understand the topic.
Cures for the "I don't knows":
- Have them write out a response to read to the class, to give them more time to think about it--- some people can't think quickly on the spot
- If you make a habit out of having "conversations" and perhaps if you institute a "conversation time" just for having class discussions, discourage the use of "I don't know" and perhaps make a game out of it--- the person who says "I don't know" has to lead a discussion sometime, or has to do 10 jumping jacks. Who knows
- Just say you will come back to them, AND actually come back to them! Tell them if they think of something, to write it down, but that you do want to and would like to hear from them later
Go forth and converse!
In my experience in high school, I found more conversations to come about in grades 11 and 12, that were brought upon by the teacher at least.
I feel like it is assumed that grade 9 and 10 students maybe aren't versed enough or aren't as likely to have an individual opinion to state. But this is completely incorrect.
I peer tutor a grade 10 foods class, which also has a few grade 9 students. We don't have a lot of class discussions, and many students in the class complain to me that the class is boring or simply they hate it. One day we were having a discussion... which wasn't even really planned, about whether we thought that eating disorders can be blamed on society or if it is the individual. The conversation didn't last very long, but during that time a few students shared their opinions. I could even tell the teacher getting excited by the participation.
This class is filled with many students who value education, as well as those who don't.
But the one thing, the one rule that applies to everyone: Everybody wants an exciting education. They want to all be involved. If they have to sit in that room "against their will" they are going to enjoy it, and so is the teacher, if they are entertained or enthralled.
Conversation is the easiest and one of the most educational ways of doing this.
Some reasons why class discussions are good:
- Opinions are voiced and heard
- Many opinions are new perspectives, which provides more open-mindedness to everyone
- If you make everyone contribute, eventually every student, even the quiet ones, are going to feel more comfortable in the class, and coming to the teacher for help
- It is going to help them learn and understand the lesson or topic you are learning in class
If the class isn't really "into it" and don't feel like sharing opinions or talking, either that topic isn't interesting or they are just too embarrassed or not confident enough to share.
Classmates do need a degree of comfort around each other to be able to share these things, since conversation and speaking can be such an intimate thing. This is why it is also very important to do ice breakers, force people who don't talk to work together.
As a student, I hate working with people who aren't my friends, especially since I am a quiet introvert, but I do appreciate it when it is done. You learn different perspectives, and talk to people you don't know.
I don't like small group discussions too much, where you split up and then share important ideas with the class. Some groups don't work, others do, and then when those points are shared with the class, not everyone in the groups' are.
Ideas for Conversation Games:
1. Tossing around a beach ball. Start a conversation topic and then toss around a beach ball. It gets people moving, and keeps everyone involved. Just make up a rule that says everybody must get the ball once before someone can get it twice. Maybe sit down after you have had the ball, and then once everyone is sitting, for another round, sit back up on top of your desks.
2. Using cards. This can be done in many ways. The teacher can create a stack of conversation cards related to a topic, and then students can draw one and then the class discusses it. The class can create conversation cards related to a topic, maybe in small groups, and the same can happen.
3. Instead of just talking, write down the ideas as well. Make brainstorming bubbles, notes on the board, have the class take down the notes perhaps.
4. Introduce "conversation periods". This can mean that you dedicate a certain amount of time per week that you have opinion discussions about what has been learned. For example, maybe one entire period every other week, 20 minutes on friday, etc.
5. Individual topics. As an assignment, you could give each individual student a friday throughout the year to lead a 5-10 minute with the class on a current event, or even just something being learned in the class. For example: an english class, perhaps you are reading Shakespeare, and a student decides to lead a conversation about death or suicide in society.
So many students will just reply "I don't know" when you ask them, usually just because they've been put on the spot, but sometimes they won't understand the topic.
Cures for the "I don't knows":
- Have them write out a response to read to the class, to give them more time to think about it--- some people can't think quickly on the spot
- If you make a habit out of having "conversations" and perhaps if you institute a "conversation time" just for having class discussions, discourage the use of "I don't know" and perhaps make a game out of it--- the person who says "I don't know" has to lead a discussion sometime, or has to do 10 jumping jacks. Who knows
- Just say you will come back to them, AND actually come back to them! Tell them if they think of something, to write it down, but that you do want to and would like to hear from them later
Go forth and converse!
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