Helpful Tips for Facilitating an Effective Classroom Discussion

Small group discussions are a great concept, but they can quickly get out of hand if we simply release our students without guidance. I've had visions of a great classroom discussion with meaningful questions and thoughtful comments, only to have the entire lesson bust because I had not set up expectations, or modeled communication skills, and simply assumed my students were good-to-go. If you have ever found yourself in my position, or are getting ready to create small groups for your station activities, discussion groups, or projects, here are some helpful tips.