In my English class, we’re doing Genius Hour right now – which is basically us having to learn something that interests us by finding a problem that we can make a difference in and doing something about it.  People are doing things like littering, racism, world hunger.

I’m interested more in passion.  Specifically, getting students to speak in class.  Even more specifically, getting students to take the chance that they’re going to be wrong and embracing that chance rather than remaining silent because they’re scared they’re going to make a mistake.

I mean, mistakes are how we learn, right?  Fall down ten times, get up eleven?  It kind of implies that you, you know, fall down.  Not stand perfectly still and hope that somehow the experience or knowledge is absorbed through osmosis or whatever.

The problem is, I’m not really sure how to begin.  I’ve tried a bunch of things.  I’ve tried being silent and waiting for them to answer the question.  (I have about six students who can’t stand the silence, and twenty-four who just wait for them to speak.)  I’ve tried giving them time to write or talk about ideas before answering.  (Those same six students <i>still</i> end up being the ones to speak.

So what do I do?  I’d love a suggestion.

Even if it’s wrong.