Here’s an idea from Eric someone may like to try out:
Hey Ben:
Quick strategy I’m trying this year and having success with thus far:
Kids sit in chairs in a semi-circle with a few chairs behind the semi-circle. If a kid blurts out L1 or L2, he/she is asked to move to the back chairs where he/she is only to observe, but not participate. A few moments later, the kid returns.
Once the kids have some basic language, then suggesting ideas during storyasking can become chaotic. This year, I am cracking down. I only want the answer to my question, nothing more nothing less. When I ask a yes/no question, then I only accept yes/no responses. So when I ask “Did he go to the mall?” students are to respond “yes” or “no.” What happens though is that students tend to start blurting out other places, as if I had asked “Where did he go?” This is blurting and that kid goes to the back circle.
If a kid wants to add a detail that is not in direct response to my question, then he/she must raise his/her hand. It helps if I remember to raise my own hand as a signal for when I want students to respond by hand-raising.
The little things . . . I am determined to run a tighter ship this year. I gotta patch up some of the holes in my ship.
Eric