Teaching Tips Spotlight on Teaching Circles in the Classroom - Tip #4
To celebrate National Indigenous History Month, here鈥檚 a tip for instructors on how to incorporate the concept of talking circles into their classrooms.
Talking Circles Teaching Tip Week #4: Honour Silence as Expression
Spotlight:
Talking Circles are a ceremonial form of communication that centres presence, not performance. Speaking is always by choice, and listening鈥攐ften in silence鈥攊s equally honoured as a contribution.
A core feature of Talking Circles is deep listening鈥攊ncluding listening to silence. In many Indigenous traditions, silence is not a void to be filled, but a form of presence, reflection, and respect. Honouring silence in your circle can create space for insight to emerge on its own time.
Why it matters:
Silence in Western classrooms can feel uncomfortable. In Indigenous contexts, silence is often a sign of respect, contemplation, or presence.
Try this:
Allow silence in Talking Circles without rushing to fill it. Trust that reflection is happening even when words are not.
Reflective question:
What does it mean to 鈥渓isten from the heart鈥� 鈥� and how often do you create space for that in class?
See all the tips and additional resources here -
