To celebrate National Indigenous History Month, here’s a tip for instructors on how to incorporate the concept of talking circles into their classrooms.

Talking Circles Spotlight Teaching Tip Week #2: Use “I” Language to Decentre Authority 

Spotlight: 
Talking Circles create space for each voice to be heard without interruption or hierarchy. This practice values lived experience and invites everyone—including instructors—to participate with humility and openness. 

They invite personal storytelling and lived experience as valid forms of knowledge. In this space, educators are participants too—not just facilitators. Using “I” language shifts the tone from top-down instruction to co-learning, a core value in Indigenous pedagogies. 

Why it matters: 
Instructors often speak from a place of expertise. In Talking Circles, sharing from personal experience (not as an authority) fosters authenticity and mutual respect. 

Try this: 
Model the use of “I” statements. Rather than saying, “Students need to…” try, “In my experience, I’ve noticed…” 

Reflective question: 
How can shifting from expert to co-learner deepen trust and learning in your classroom? 

See all the tips and additional resources here - Teaching Tips Spotlight on Teaching Circles in the Classroom.docx