Let's Taco 'Bout It

 Dear tired teacher...

The end is nigh, but the end-of-year tasks are piling up and the students are getting antsy. It makes for long days. So how can you keep students learning and engaged while cutting yourself some slack? Maybe you could harness their increasing desire to talk.

The Harkness Discussion method was developed in the 1930s and used at Phillips Exeter Academy. It's simple, but not easy. Everyone sits around a large table (or in a classroom, circle up the desks). This includes the teacher. Start by posing a question and from there, students engage with each other through asking and answering other questions. The role of the teacher is facilitator while providing minimal direct instruction. Generally, though, you just support and encourage student engagement without dominating or driving the discussion. The dialogue and thinking are student-centered.

With its emphasis on critical thinking, students have to prepare themselves by reading, generating questions and possible answers, and having ideas about how the content connects to them. Yes, the days of May and this school year are waning, but don't we still want students reading and engaging with the text in a meaningful way? One way to do that is through Harkness. You can "map" who speaks or keep a tally of talk times. This will help you know if some students are elbowing out others who may not jockey for a chance to speak. This method of discussion builds student confidence and capacity for challenging thought while it builds community and mutual respect. And the sense of pride they get when they figure things out for themselves can be a game changer. 

It takes practice to get Harkness to run smoothly, and if students (or other teachers) aren't familiar with it, then you'll have to set the stage for what's going to happen. Over time, students will grow in their ability to think deeply and ask thoughtful questions.

For students who don't speak in our discussion, I have them write about their ideas and how they connect to the discussion they heard. They are still held accountable for reading and thinking deeply. I tell them every day: There are no free rides. Everyone is expected to engage with the text and the discussion. 

The first few times you try Harkness, you'll worry that you're doing it wrong, or the students aren't getting it, or it's a waste of time. But stick with it. There are loads of resources available online to support your work. But good things take work, and it's no different with Harkness Discussion. 

Both you and your students will benefit from giving it a try. They'll get to read, talk, and think deeply, and you'll have the chance to see what they're really thinking when they are leading the discussion.

Hang in there, tired teacher. Harkness might be the lifesaver you need right about now. 

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