6 Classroom Discussion Strategies for Engaging All Students

Classroom discussions can create engaging learning opportunities where students are able share their perspective and understand one another. Like any classroom activity, discussions involve planning and preparation to ensure that all students get the most out of the learning experience. Before selecting a topic or posing a question, consider the following strategies to facilitate productive classroom dialogue.

Class discussion strategies to channel enthusiasm 

Below are strategies that will encourage every student to contribute to a classroom discussion.

1. Establish clear guidelines

Discussion guidelines set expectations for communication so that students feel respected and heard. Guidelines can outline rules for whole group or small group discussions, such as listen actively, be respectful, wait for a speaker to finish their statement, or raise your hand. Discussion guidelines can also specify how many times students may contribute to the conversation or the maximum time frame for sharing. 

Try to establish discussion guidelines together as a class. Invite students to share what behavior discussion participants should display, both as a listener and as a speaker. The class can then agree on discussion rules and expectations. This provides students with a sense of agency and creates a sense of community. 

Guidelines can be displayed throughout the classroom so students can reference them during any future discussions. Additionally, discussion rules can be modeled and practiced so students can become familiarized with how to effectively communicate. 

2. Identify objectives

Before starting any classroom discussion, consider sharing the objectives of the conversation. The objectives can relate to content-based goals, such as interpreting the theme of a story, or skills-based goals, such as summarizing key points in a discussion. You can post the objectives where all students can see and read them out loud before the discussion. Students can refer to the objectives as needed to keep the conversation on topic.

3. Prepare students for the discussion

When students are familiar with a topic, they feel more confident to participate in a discussion. So before diving into dialogue, gauge students’ background knowledge of the topic at hand. Students can fill out a KWL chart to share what they know about the topic. Then, you can build onto their knowledge and assign students related readings, podcasts, or videos. In addition to providing relevant resources, you can share discussion questions in advance. This way students can formulate their ideas and responses prior to the conversation. 

4. Weave in students’ interests

Tapping into students’ interests can build engagement. Prior to a discussion, you can have students fill out an interest survey where they can share what subject matter piques their interest as well as current events or topics they are curious about. You can later use this information to select discussion topics. 

Also consider incorporating student-led discussions to your lessons. Through student-led discussions, students have the opportunity to propose topics and in turn, have ownership of the conversation. 

5. Affirm, summarize, and redirect as needed

When facilitating a classroom discussion, you serve as a guide and steer the conversation. If a discussion starts to veer off topic, as a facilitator, you can ask questions to redirect the conversation back to the main objective. In addition, if students are having trouble articulating their ideas, you can ask clarifying questions to help students get their point across. Then you can affirm and summarize their stance to ensure they are understood by their peers. Doing so will encourage students to share their perspective and create an environment where all voices feel heard.  

6. Try think-pair-share

Think-pair-share is a collaborative learning strategy that can be used to engage students in small group and whole group discussions. It includes three steps:

1. Think- A question is posed, and students use critical thinking skills to answer the question or find a solution individually. Students can write their response on a piece of paper or dry erase board.
2. Pair – Students are then divided into either pairs or small groups to discuss their responses and build on each other’s ideas.
3. Share – Afterwards, the pairs or small groups will share out their insights to the whole class for a class-wide discussion. 

This strategy encourages all students to participate in discussions and help students feel more at ease to share their thoughts in small group and whole group setting.

The power of classroom discussions

Through classroom discussions, students learn to articulate their thoughts, analyze the points made by their peers, and discuss any new information they acquire. They also learn how to disagree in a healthy and respectful manner and learn how to come to a consensus. By engaging in discussions, students can learn to be confident speakers, active listeners, and curious learners.

This article was adapted from a blog post initially developed by the education technology company Classcraft, which was acquired by HMH in 2023. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.

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