In a normal classroom, a small number of students participate frequently, most participate occasionally, and a small number never participate. Habits and rules like hand-raising and addressing all questions to the teacher teach passivity and hinder conversation. But it needn’t be this way.
To address these dynamics, we employ a structured discussion curriculum developed by the Touchstones Discussion Project. Touchstones discussions are “unique, open-ended, and designed to spark curiosity and active thinking. They are part of a structured program designed to build fundamental learning skills, including: improved listening, speaking, reasoning, comprehension, collaborative problem solving, and shared leadership in students of all ages and backgrounds.” The goal is for each student both to lead and participate and to avoid those patterns of passivity and domination that often arise in classrooms. We do Touchstones discussions on the first class of the week to set the tone for the rest of our work.
By the end of the two-year Touchstones curriculum, even the shyest student will have experience leading a group discussion.