Protocol Overview and Instructions: 
​
Talking Chips is a good way to check for understanding and it can help to make sure each person in the group is heard. It is also a good way to set the platform for the next activity or the next day. This protocol makes sure that not one student dominates the conversation and that you can hear each students' concerns and thoughts.

Talking Chips Protocol Instructions
​
​

Educator Thoughts:
​
​I used a variation of the Talking Chip protocol and switched it to the Talking Cubes.  Each student was given a different colored set of connecting cubes and asked to connect their cube after contributing their idea during book club discussions.  This held each child accountable to share, but also allowed me to get a quick visible on who is contributing ideas, how much, and how often.  It took some guidance to get students to know that they were a tool and not a toy, but once they understood how beneficial they were, the kids did a great job and began begging to use these for all group discussions.

"I love watching my quietest students be willing to share ideas with the group when using this protocol.  It gives them a voice, and allows me to check in without interrupting the flow."

​

Student Quote:
​
​"I love the talking cubes.  It stops ___ from taking over, and lets me share."

​"I hated the talking cubes at first because my group would try to make me share when they wanted me to, but then you told me that I could share when I felt ready.  I feel really good when I put my cube on our group chain.  And nobody talks over me when I’m sharing.  That makes me feel better about talking to the group."

Meet the Educator:

My name is Amanda Hawks and I am a 4th grade teacher at Alward Elementary in Hudsonville.  This is my 13th year of teaching.  I taught 7 years out in Baltimore, MD.  I started my teaching career at the middle school level, teaching 6th grade math.  I then was a math resource teacher for 2 years at the elementary level.  I then taught 4th grade one year before teaching 3rd grade for the next 3 years.  I moved to Michigan in 2016 and have been teaching 4th grade at Alward for the past 6 years.  I love the idea of Project Based Learning and am excited to find more ways to incorporate these protocols and projects into my classroom.

    "Project Based Learning allows students to learn material in more meaningful, hands-on ways, and opens up their creativity when demonstrating that learning."​