Methods for Whole Class Discussion

            It’s one of every teacher’s biggest fears: you just read this amazing passage and now it’s time to discuss it as a class and there’s no response. You think it’s maybe the question so you move on to the next one…and the next one… and the next one, but still no response. You’re up there at the front of the classroom sweating bullet’s thinking about running away changing your name profession and starting all over. While some days are just bad discussion days it doesn’t have be this bad. Here are some ideas for jumpstarting a whole class discussion and getting those ideas in there.

Not Everyone Read

            Let’s face it not everyone read the book, the article, or even the 5-line haiku you assigned for homework. You know how many of your own friends in high school and college barely read the spark notes let alone the book. I’ve talked to people, who proudly bragged that they made it through high school only reading one or two books. One guy I met said he made it through all of primary and secondary (high) school only having read 3 books. Therefore, maybe the reason the students are sitting there looking at you dumbfounded when you pose the simplest question is that they haven’t read. You can try the old, “quiz them so they are forced to read the book,” but even then most of the kids will still only read summaries. I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it, most of the kids reading summaries and some of the kids reading the book is better than next to nobody reading anything.

            However, another way to get around this “not reading” problem is to have them (re)read the passage that you want to focus your discussion around in class. This helps the people who didn’t read to not have an excuse not to participate and refreshes the minds of those who did read. Maybe some of them finished the book within a day or two of you assigning it and maybe some haven’t touched it since you assigned it. By having them (re)read the passage in class it brings everyone to the same page, literally, and gives them time to think.

Wait Time

            Speaking of having time to think. It could just be that you’re not allowing enough wait time. I know when I get up in front of the class a second or two of silence sounds like an eternity, but if you want the students will have time to think and give you an answer. If you wait long enough and it actually does drag out into an awkward enough silence, eventually someone will respond. Alternatively, the kids who weren’t paying attention will suddenly notice the extreme silence and ask, “What was the question again?” just to break the silence.

A Really Tough Crowd

            However, sometimes that isn’t even enough. You can wait forever and these kids still just stare at you with sullen looks on their faces. For this tough crowd, have them break off small groups and discuss the questions first, then bring it back together to discuss as a class. Another option, which a particularly obstinate AP class of checked-out seniors forced me into, is to give them the questions a day or two ahead of time. This both makes you more prepared for the discussion because you have to find the questions ahead of time, and allows them to have several days to think about the questions as they are reading. Then they have absolutely no excuse not to participate and you can add a participation grade and dock it if necessary. For the AP class, quizzing them on the material didn’t work. Breaking them off into small groups only had them come back having reached the conclusion that they all didn’t know anything, but they all knew the latest drama now. But giving them the questions ahead of time finally did the trick. It was a good thing to the discussion day prior we had spent at least 70% of the class in silence, because I was determined to wait them out. Giving them the questions ahead of time was my last ditch effort to force them into discussion. Thank goodness it worked.

What About You?

What about you? Do you have any particularly effective tricks up your sleeve for whole class discussion? What about small group discussion? Have you had a class as stubborn as my AP seniors? Have you had any really stimulating discussions? Let me know in the comments! 

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Image Credit: "School of Art Discussion" by JohnRH4