Summarizing in Silence: Using “Chalk Talk” as a Tool

Toni Enloe
Aug 18, 2008

We often struggle with ways to summarize in our classrooms so we tend to fall back on the old standbys. "Chalk Talk" offers a different approach to summarizing. It is a silent conversation that can be used to check for student understanding. Middle school students love it because it gives them an opportunity to write notes to each other "legally" and it creates a safe environment for reflection.

Format

For summarizing purposes, the conversation should only last about five to ten minutes. The only materials you will need are a chalkboard, large whiteboard, or some butcher paper and either markers or chalk for written responses.

Guidelines for the Teacher

1. Decide on the question or statement that you would like to pose to the students and write it on the board or butcher paper. This can be your essential question if you are finished with your lesson.

      Examples:
      a. How do integers impact our everyday life?
      b. If an alien came to Earth, what would you tell them  
         about the three authors we have just studied?
      c. What have we learned about today?

2. Decide how long the activity will take. The first time, it may take a while for them to respond. Long waits are ok. As with any new strategy, you might teach them how to do the activity with a fun topic that is unrelated to your content.

3. Decide how many students you will allow at the board at one time by only making available that number of markers.

4. Decided how you will facilitate the activity. Perhaps you could stand back and watch. It is always fun to see how the conversation goes. If a student gets off track, peers will reel him back in. As the facilitator you can challenge their thinking by:

      a. writing your own questions in response to the students' 
         statements
      b. add your own ideas
      c. circle key points that come out of the conversation.

5. When it's done, it's done." Understand that when the activity is over, it is over and requires nothing else. As the facilitator, you have already made observations about whether the students "got it".

As with many other summarizers, this activity may also be used as an activating strategy to find out what prior knowledge students bring to a topic.


Procedure for the Students

1. "Chalk Talk" is a silent activity and they will be given the opportunity to carry on a conversation with their classmates. Emphasize that no one talks at all, and anyone can add to the chalk talk.

2. Students may comment on other students' thoughts by drawing an arrow between the two.

3. Students should respond to the question or phrase that has been posted.

4. Students may only write if there is a piece of chalk or a marker available.

5. Students should write when the spirit moves them. They may be reluctant to participate, but the more often you do the activity the more likely they are to see that no one really pays attention to who wrote the comments. It creates a safe environment for their responses.

As the conversation unfolds, you will notice that students will stop to read what their peers have written before they respond. The more often the students do this activity the more reflective they will become.