Listen up!

This week my cooperating teacher observed one of my classes. One comment she gave me was about how I talk over my students.

As I reflected on that class, I realized that I do. The students know that they need to be quiet as I am talking, yet I was showing them that it did not really matter. The way I let them be set up a precedence for their behavior. I was showing them that it was ok for them to talk while I was talking. It is not ok.

Since I am the teacher, I need to have their attention when I am talking. It is a matter of respect as well as classroom management. My cooperating teacher suggested that I use wait-time. I took this as me sitting there staring at them until they are quiet. I tried it today, and it seemed to work. Students got uncomfortable with me just sitting there staring at them. I would have too. So, they quieted down.

One technique that I have tried lately, because I have noticed this problem as well, is a rather elementary technique. When I say, "And a hush fell over the crowd," they all say "hush." This actually works pretty well. Some of them roll their eyes, but it always gets everyone to stop talking. Though, I am, and I believe my students are, getting a little tired of hearing this, so next week I am going to try a new one. Simply, I say, "If you can hear me say 'shhh'," and then whoever can hear me says 'shhh.' I'm hoping this will have the same effect and the students will shhh each other instead of me having to shhh them.

One a side note...

I did have a good interaction with one of my students. He is a student who I have been trying to build rapport with all term. He had just finished a book and asked me for a suggestion of what to read next. In three seconds, I scanned my mind's library of books I have read. If I gave him a book he liked, it might give me better rapport with him. So, I spat out a book I recently just read and he began reading it.

Fast forward. In one day, he was 200+ pages into the book. He raved about it next time I saw him. It felt good to build that relationship with him. I can only hope that he can keep that trust with me for the duration of my student teaching.