全部 标题 作者
关键词 摘要

OALib Journal期刊
ISSN: 2333-9721
费用:99美元

查看量下载量

Can Conducting a Talking Circle about a Sensitive Topic Increase Participation for Elementary Aged Learners?

DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1105594, PP. 1-5

Subject Areas: Education

Keywords: Restorative Justice, Talking Circles, Culturally Responsive Education, Elementary Education, Curriculum and Teaching, Civil Discourse, Catholic Education, Inclusive Education, Student Participation, Teaching Strategies

Full-Text   Cite this paper   Add to My Lib

Abstract

This action research project investigated the effects of talking circles on student participation when engaging in sensitive topics. Researchers used 38-4th and 5th graders from two elementary classrooms. Both classrooms were located in Catholic schools. For the pretest phase, students were taught a series of controversial topics within the curriculum. To deconstruct the lesson themes, a traditional question, answer and discussion was employed. Researchers examined students’ participation, the quality of questions about injustice/justice that was raised and the students’ written statements about how they could make changes towards solutions. The strategy of using talking circles was implemented as a treatment. A second series of lessons concerning a controversial topic was presented. Students were directed to use the talking circle method to deconstruct themes in the lesson. Researchers again examined participation, the quality of questions about injustice/justice and students’ written statements about how they could make changes towards solutions. The researchers as teachers also reflected on their behavior and participation comparing a traditional discussion to the talking circle. The implementation of talking circles increased student participation, and the level of commitment to problem solving increased. The researchers as teachers also found that using the talking circle method was a more effective tool as it alleviated the role of teacher from expert to participant and facilitator. During the talking circle treatment, students communicated their opinions with civility. Researchers concluded that talking circles was an effective method for discussing sensitive topics for the 4th and 5th graders in this study. This corroborates the research on talking circles which has been implemented with older populations as much of the research begins with adolescent students. This research demonstrates that the method can be effective with younger populations and be an essential aid for teachers who may have difficulty presenting sensitive topics such as racism, death, gender differences, disability, immigration and slavery to younger students.

Cite this paper

Lyons, P. , McCormack, K. , Sauer, S. and Chamblin, M. (2019). Can Conducting a Talking Circle about a Sensitive Topic Increase Participation for Elementary Aged Learners?. Open Access Library Journal, 6, e5594. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1105594.

References

[1]  The University of Sheffield (2018) Teaching Sensitive or Controversial Topics.
[2]  Palmer, E.L. and Louis, K.S. (2017) Talking about Race. Journal of School Leader-ship, 27, 581-611. https://doi.org/10.1177/105268461702700405
[3]  Lorde, A. (2018). https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/audre-lorde
[4]  Managing Difficult Classroom Discussions. Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning.
https://citl.indiana.edu/teaching-resources/diversity
-inclusion/managing-difficult-classroom-discussions
[5]  Smith, K. (2017) The Impact of Divorce on School-Aged Children. NYU: Steinhardt. https://counseling.steinhardt.nyu.edu/blog
/impact-of-divorce-on-students
[6]  Spiegler, J. (2014) Teaching about Controversial or Difficult Issues. Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility, New York.
https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment
/lessons/teaching-about-controversial-or-difficult-issues
[7]  Moore, A.L. and Deshaies, M. (2012) Ten Tips for Facilitating Classroom Discussions on Sensitive Topics. PBS.
[8]  Nuffield Foundation (2018) Discussing Sensitive or Controversial Issues.
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/science-society/
discussing-sensitive-or-controversial-issues
[9]  Penn State Extension (2017) Facing Sensitive Topics.
https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/
early-care/tip-pages/all/facing-sensitive-topics
[10]  Boyes-Watson, C. and Pranis, K. (2015) Circle Forward: Building a Restorative School Community. Living Justice Press, St. Paul.
[11]  Umbreit, M. (2003) Talking Circles. Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking, Saint Paul, MN. http://rjp.umn.edu
[12]  International Institute for Restorative Practices (2018) Restoring Community.
https://www.iirp.edu/defining-restorative/5-2-circles
[13]  Jennings, L., Gandarilla, M. and Tan, P.P. (2015) Using the Native American Talking Circle: Experiential Learning on Ethnic and Cultural Diversity of Southern California. Groupwork, 25, 58-77.
[14]  Hammerschlag, C.A. (1997) Healing Ceremonies: Creating Personal Rituals for Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, and Mental Health. Perigee Book Indiana University Bloomington, New York.
[15]  Krull, S. (2007) Teaching Tips for Successful Circle Times. Excelligence Learning Corporation, Monterey.
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood
/article_print.aspx?ArticleId=511
[16]  Rogers, C. (2018) Talking Circles in Fourth Grade.
[17]  Shuster, K. (2018) Civil Discourse in the Classroom. Teaching Tolerance.
https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/publications/
civil-discourse-in-the-classroom
[18]  Wright, J. (2014) Participation in the Classroom: Classification and Assessment Techniques. Teaching Innovation Projects, 4, 1-11.
[19]  Abdullah, M.Y., Bakar, N.R. and Mahbob, M.H. (2012) Student’s Participation in Classroom: What Motivates Them to Speak? Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 51, 516-522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.08.199
[20]  St. Onge, J. and Eitel, K. (2017) In-creasing Active Participation and Engagement of Students in Circle Formations. Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research, 19, Article 7. https://doi.org/10.4148/2470-6353.1014
[21]  Harvard Graduate School of Education, Project Zero (2016).
http://www.pz.harvard.edu

Full-Text


comments powered by Disqus

Contact Us

service@oalib.com

QQ:3279437679

WhatsApp +8615387084133

WeChat 1538708413