These differences of treatment from teachers reinforce gender stereotypes linked to male and female social roles. Girls and boys can perform certain behaviours as boys or as girls, as if this existing situation was the result of “natural” differences (Canopé, 2018).

How can we avoid reinforcing gender stereotypes with our interactions with students? Equal treatment as well as a reminder of this principle can help us avoid unequal habits we might have unconsciously (Canopé, 2018). Here are a few tips and activities to make sure boys and girls enjoy the same opportunities to speak in class and the same attention from you.

1. Alternate turns to speak between boys and girls. Without necessarily inform students that you do intentionally alternate boys and girls when you invite one of them to answer or ask a question, try to keep this principle in mind when you ask questions in front of the classroom.
2. Pick the name of the next person to speak. Write the name of each student on a ball, a card or any other object and put all these objects in a box or a basket. When you want to ask a question to a student, pick an object and ask the student who has his or her name written on it. Choose funny objects to make the process more interesting to students.
3. Try to keep track of time during students’ interventions to make sure they have an equal amount of time to express themselves: as boys tend to speak for a longer time, invite them to answer in a limited time or to conclude their idea if they go on and on, and allow girls time to develop their idea or question them about it.
4. Make sure everyone listens and respect someone who is already talking by paying special attention to interruption: as boys have a tendency to interrupt other more, teach your students to listen to their classmates and to avoid interrupting others.

Talking Circle

The talking circle, an ancestral autochthonous communication technique, used in an academic context, can greatly foster an equal oral participation in the classroom, notably because of the ecosociety associated with it, which is inclusive and comprehends differences as complementary (Lathoud, 2016).

The traditional talking circle, as taught by the Atikamekw Elder Roger Echaquan, is described by Lathoud (2016, p. 14) as:

Traditionally, people form a circle, in a place they choose. The person who acts as a guide begins with a purification ceremony, a song, before introducing himself by talking about his origins, relationships as an integral part of one’s identity. The guide then gives to the host of the activity who, in turn, presents the theme of the gathering and passes a feather (or a talking stick or any other object) to his left-hand neighbour. Each speaks in turn (or chooses to remain silent) when given the feather, talking stick or any other object. Participants listen without judging, according to the ethic of non-interference. It is then more comfortable to express oneself without fear of being interrupted or contradicted, which promotes freedom to BE of each person. Individual experiences are shared in the form of life stories, which allow understanding the complexity of reality and of human beings as well as the interdependence between emotional, physical, spiritual or mental dimensions. We talk using the “I” criterion of truth in Aboriginal epistemology which involves taking responsibility for one’s actions, thoughts, emotions, and learning.

The researcher has developed a conceptual map that shows the applications and benefits of the talking circle when used in the classroom (Lathoud, 2016, p. 15). In yellow are proposed examples of talking circle themes that can be used in an educational setting. In purple, the anticipated benefits in a traditional Aboriginal perspective are presented. Finally, the green bubbles indicate possible academic expectations.

The main limitations to the use of this practice in class and identified par Lathoud are the need to follow a schedule, the number of students per class (younger students often lack the patience to listen to more than 15 stories), the space available in the room, the obligation to attend (but not necessarily to talk) clashes with the traditional practice of the talking circle, which you cannot impose, and the challenge of respecting indigenous cultures by avoiding to compromise too much on traditional practice to adjust it to the school system. In a nutshell, the use of this practice requires to think outside the academic framework “box” and to explore a new form of interaction with students.

When looking at an equal oral participation, the talking circle teaches students to not interrupt someone who is talking and to respect this person. It allows girls to practise public speaking and boys to express their emotions, skills that they both underdeveloped because of their gendered socialization.