It’s common to assume that allowing students to talk to whomever they want about whatever they want is a bad thing.
That it wastes time.
That it gets them off track.
That it riles them up and causes misbehavior.
But when you decide when and how it’s done, it’s nothing of the sort.
In fact, giving students a few minutes to stand, stretch their legs, and chat with a friend can be an effective classroom management strategy.
Here’s why:
It releases tension.
When you first give the signal to allow your students to freely move around the room, if you listen closely, you’ll hear an audible and very happy sigh.
Because it effectively releases the natural tension that builds up from sitting and concentrating for long periods of time. It relieves antsiness, restlessness, and excitability, which are major causes of misbehavior.
It’s like letting the air out of an overfilled—and ready-to-burst—balloon.
It focuses.
For most students, talking and sharing with friends is the quickest way to get boredom out of their system. It clears the boards, gets the blood flowing, and frees them to focus on the next lesson.
Even a short break of a minute or two can make a big difference.
Unburdened by the gossip they couldn’t wait to share or the check-in they’re dying to make with their social circle, you’ll find your students more attentive and receptive to instruction.
Note: Talking breaks are especially important for students with ADHD.
It’s appreciated.
A less obvious but no less valid reason for allowing talking breaks is that your students will deeply appreciate them.
It shows them that you know what it’s like to be in their shoes and to sit, listen, and learn for an entire school day. It’s this kind of empathy that makes students want to please you and behave for you.
This is no small thing.
Reciprocity is a key principle of SCM that can have a profound effect on everything from listening to work habits to (intrinsic) motivation.
Sneakily Effective
The key to allowing talking breaks is for you to decide when and how they’re done. It’s to teach and model precisely what is and isn’t okay before putting them into practice.
I recommend using the strategy during transitions or natural breaks in the school day.
If you’re a high school teacher and therefore have less time and fewer opportunities for breaks, then you may want to allow your students to chat a moment or two before class begins.
I realize that allowing students to talk can feel a bit rebellious or sacrilege or almost too simple to make much difference.
But it’s sneakily effective.
Not every student will take advantage of it, and that’s okay. Let them take a few deep breaths if they wish or get up and stretch or just daydream.
The idea is to give them a truly free mental break.
To give them a chance to sweep the attic clean, restore power to their light bulb, and be ready for the next activity.
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Great strategy. As a 7th grade humanities teacher I do this all the time and it pays huge dividends.
Thanks for giving us great tips!
You’re welcome, Chris!
I love this advice and have incorporated it into my lessons daily, for all grades K-12. I used to fret about seeking out and planning content based brain breaks. While my kids like “game” like brain breaks, they love a chance to chat. Especially when I sprint it on them. You can feel the energy shift! Michael Peto has a great post on this on his language teacher blog and how to shift back to the lesson smoothly.
I use this too, just wondering if you have any recommendation how frequent in a day/period this can be done. Thanks!
I had time after every class as reward for a productive class. We finished early as they stayed on task, knowing that reward time was promised. That’s the deal… you do class correctly… get rewarded as you should.
Thank you Sir Michael for this another great tip. I’ll this sometime this second sem. God bless po!
Thanks Rolando!
I’ve been using “chit chat” breaks for years and my kids love them. I use music for transitions and I have a specific song that I play that signals when it’s chit chat break. The kids know to be in their seats by the time the song ends 😊. I give chit chat breaks every 12-15 mins or when I see my students getting restless and they’re less than two mins long.
Hi John,
When do you do it, at the beginning of class, at the end, in the middle?, my classes are 40 minutes long so I’m not sure when it would be better to do them.
Thank you SCM. We call it chit-chat time in our daily routine. We use the time timer to limit the minutes. My students stand up , walk around and talk about whatever they want . They love this.
We call this “chat time” in our first grade class room, and yes, is done during transitions (feel free to have chat time after you quietly return to your seat). It allows the kids to take a break and me a chance to set up the SMART board or hand out papers. Thanks for all you do Michael!
My pleasure Katherine! Thanks for sharing.
This is awesome advice! I really do love reading all of these quick articles with understanding children’s needs. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Nicole!
I teach middle school computer class. I have used this technique a few times, since some students (shockingly) get bored from the computer, and need a break for their eyes. I have noticed that afterwards, the students will get riled up and it’s hard to calm them down. What strategies do you think would make this more effective?
What happens when a student wont stop talking? I have one boy in year 8, who spends the entire lesson talking with friends, out of his seat, playing computer games on his phone. He is a capable student, but he only wants to chit chat and play on his phone. I give him a directed choice to do his work or he will have a 10 minute detention with me after class. Every time he chooses the detention. I’ve already tried contacted home and had a restorative conversation. What can I do now?
I teach 10 years old students. All these students want to do is talk all day . They hardly want to do any work. How do I get these students to close their mouth and focus on their lesson?
Hi, I have purchased and read your high school management plan and am planning to implement it tomorrow.
I am curious about how you recommend managing talking. Are students taught that unless they have permission (i.e. group work assignments) all work is expected to be done silently and that any talking would break the rule of “Raise your hand before speaking and leaving your seat”? If that rule is consistently enforced do students learn that no talking is the norm in the classroom? Is that a good thing for motivation??