5 Helpful Teacher Tips to Get Timid Students Talking in Literature Class
Is your classroom feeling a little dead? There’s nothing more uncomfortable than looking up at a sea of blank stares or sagging heads. Unfortunately, there’s no magic pill to get students excited about joining a classroom discussion, but there are a few tricks you can use to make your classroom a safe and collaborative place for your students to share.
Try arranging your desks in a circle, square, or horseshoe shape.
My students started talking way more when they weren’t speaking to the back of someone’s head. It makes sense! When students are facing each other, they are naturally more inclined to interact. Read all of my seating-chart hacks in this post.
Post discussion stems in a prominent place in your classroom.
Some students are willing to participate but simply don’t know how to jump in. When we provide them with discussion stems they can use to get started, it helps them feel more confident in sharing their opinions.
Ask your students to share their thoughts with a partner or small group before opening up the floor for discussion.
Talking to an audience of 20+ kids can be scary! Sometimes our students need a chance to run their ideas past 1 or 2 peers before they feel brave enough to put it out there for a whole room to hear. Another option is to let students share with a partner and then let them tell the class what their partner said. Try these out to see what works best for your class.
Set aside time for low-stakes sharing.
At the beginning of the day, I ask my students silly attendance questions. We start with incredibly low-stakes questions, like, “Do you prefer Taco Bell or Chick-fil-A?” This gives everyone a chance to share without putting too much on the line. Once a student has shared an opinion in class once, they’re more likely to speak up again! (I write about my favorite ways to start class in this post.)
Give your students discussion points ahead of time.
This tip would have helped me so much when I was in school. I am unbelievably shy, but if I can plan what I want to say ahead of time, I am much more likely to share. Try giving your students a handout with discussion points a day or two in advance to see if this makes a difference for your introverted students.
It’s true that every class is different, but when we intentionally remove barriers that prevent our students from sharing, our classrooms become more welcoming and collaborative. Feel free to email me at distinguishedenglishteacher@gmail.com to chat about more ways to increase engagement in your classroom!
