THE PARTICIPATION BALANCING ACT
Truth be told — one of the biggest hurdles for teachers is the task of finding optimum productivity within each student. While some members of the class are going to be naturally faster learners — and more vocal — in lecture activities than others, it’s important to keep the brains of even the most silent students in class firing on all cylinders. One effective way to do this is to monitor and balance classroom participation.
By establishing a participation system, everybody is pushed to stay with the program. That way, instead of a handful of outspoken students dominating each discussion, the wealth can be spread! Start by purchasing a large pack of either wooden clothespins or popsicle sticks. Then, assemble a clothesline or special bulletin board in the room to serve as the “scoreboard.” Give each student two “participation counter” pieces and have them print their names on each.
The teacher’s goal by the end of the school day is to see every “counter” hung on the scoreboard — a sign that all students have participated twice. And for those youngsters who are used to being the “voice of the room,” they’ll benefit from a learning experience in sharing with their classmates. But have those natural gabbers rest assured — the participation balancing act starts all over again in the morning!
By creating structure in this area, members of the class that tend to shy away from speaking up will be challenged to grow — both academically and personally: that can only mean a more productive learning environment for all parties involved.
