Chalk it up!

During my Introduction to Language Arts class, we explored the concept of a Chalk Talk, or Magic Talk, as we preferred. In a Chalk Talk, a word or phrase is written on the board; students respond to the word/phrase by writing or drawing. Students may “tag” their responses to other students, raise questions, or answer questions. Through these tags and connections, a web of ideas forms. The only rule? No talking!

Before this class, I had never experienced a Chalk Talk. As I quickly learned, Chalk Talks offer students a valuable form of communication. Although this activity is non-verbal, it is still incredibly interactive. Students respond to their peers and teachers and make connections. Chalk Talks are also a great way to differentiate for a variety of learners. The teacher can increase depth and complexity by having the students ask/answer higher-level questions and comments.

Just as a football coach amps up his players with a Chalk Talk of game play, Chalk Talks are incredibly beneficial in the classroom. Teachers can use Chalk Talks for brainstorming, introducing new topics, and/or closing a unit. Chalk Talks are a great way for students to state what they already know, what questions they still have, and how they see connections.