Chalk Talk – How to Engage Quiet Students

Written by Charlotte Hawkins, BYU ARTS Partnership, writer of Cultures of Thinking and Creativity in Utah Schools & BTS Visual Arts Educator, based on Harvard Graduate School of Education – Project Zero Thinking Routines.

I have three students in every class who want to answer every question. They know all of the answers (or aren’t afraid to be wrong). A common problem in classrooms or in group settings is engaging participation from every person. How do we get socially anxious students, distracted students, or those less inclined to participate in group discussions? How do we tamp down the loudest voices and allow the quiet voices to be heard?

A Silent Discussion Routine

Chalk Talk, a thinking routine from Project Zero, gives everyone a voice. Project Zero, a Harvard Graduate School of Education initiative, creates simple, research-based thinking routines that can be used to educate children to think, engage, and participate. This routine “asks learners to consider ideas, questions, or problems by silently responding in writing both to the prompt and the thoughts of others” (Ritchhart, Church & Morrison, Thinking Made Visible).

• Set up: Write a question or prompt on a large sheet of paper or butcher’s paper and place one prompt per table around the room. Decide if you want students to participate as individuals or as a small group.
• Present the Prompt: Invite students to think and respond both to the prompts and to each other’s comments and responses. Decide how much time each round should take.
• Circulate: Provide enough time for students to circulate around the room and participate in each discussion.
• Facilitate: You may need to demonstrate how learners should respond: by making connections, by elaborating, or just making comments or suggestions.
• Share the Thinking: Allow students to return to their original starting places to read and review what others have written. What patterns emerge? Are there common reactions? What surprised them? Ask students to explain how their thinking developed.
• How to Track Participation: Assign a color to a particular student if you’d like to track answers OR lay out various colors for anonymity. Because this routine has movement, talk, and fidgeting are limited. Time is critical to Chalk Talk. This routine may be quicker for adults and advanced students, while more time may be needed for younger students. If you have dominant voices in your classroom, give Chalk Talk a try

You might find this routine a great way to give all of your students a voice and space to contribute their experiences and unique ideas!

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What is the Cultures of Thinking and Creativity in Utah Schools initiative?

The Cultures of Thinking and Creativity Initiative works to improve student learning and school culture through professional learning activities based on thinking routines, creativity, and problem-solving. Faculty and staff from Brigham Young University, Southern Utah University, Utah Technical University, and the STEM Action Center have partnered to launch this initiative in collaboration with faculty and staff from Westminster University, Weber State University, Utah State University, University of Utah, and the Utah State Board of Education. Backbone support is provided by the BYU ARTS Partnership.