Is this you?

“I find myself lobbing questions that land on the room like a wet tennis ball and realize my lesson plan has just been shot.”

Is THIS you? Do you find yourself asking questions that you think

are great but that no one wants to answer?

YES!

Do you hear your students complain that there aren’t enough “activities” in your class?

YES! Do you want to learn how to harness that gift of gab?

YES!

Gilmore Discussion MethodsSpeaking Volumes

Method #1: Lines

Line exercises require: Controversial statements Students to make decisions (i.e., THINK!)

Surveys Students rate controversial statements from 1-5 criteria

Get Off the Fence Students must choose a yes/no type answer on an issue

The Grids Students choose between four possible positions in response to a

question (you are asking them to think about an issue on two different planes at once)

Get Off the Fence! So…let’s play!

• Everyone will line up in the middle of the room

• I’ll say a statement• You have to choose a side, and NO—you

can’t stay on the fence! (That’s why it’s called get OFF the fence)

• When everyone has picked a side, we’ll take a look around and hear some opinions

• Remember to keep things cordial—you can criticize the beliefs, but not the person who holds them

Okay, everybody line up!

Ready?

Statement #1

Love is worth dying for.

Statement #2

Stem cell research is ethical and necessary to save future lives.

Statement #3

The square root of 400 is an even number.

Statement #4

The good of society is more important than the rights of any one

citizen.

Method #2: Circles Circle exercises require:

Controversial statements Students to collaborate

Fishbowl Students sit in two concentric circles—only those in the inner circle may

speak. Students tap in to sit in the inner circle.

Brainstorming Groups Students participate in groups to brainstorm ideas.

Idea Pass-Arounds Students think of a single aspect of the topic that they think is important. They write the topic on top of a sheet of paper and pass it to the next person. Each person adds a thought or two on each paper.

Method #3: Big Paper Big Paper exercises require:

Big sheets of paper

Jigsaw Students divide into groups—each group makes a poster and other

groups travel around to see the work.

Points of the Compass Students divide into 4 groups (NSEW). Each sheet is a diff. category

and students write to fit each category.

Advertisements Students make creative responses to the topic—can be movie

posters, fliers, warning labels, etc.

Ta-Da!

For more ideas (and there are many more), see the book itself!