Raising hands

Subject: Raising hands
From: GUEST,Spaceman
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 07:17 AM

There is a peculiar thing with my students. They raise hands and they want to answer my questions before I ask the question. Why such a thing is happening? Why do they want me so much to get them say something or do something without knowing what I will ask?

Subject: RE: Raising hands
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 07:24 AM

They crave attention.
They want you to notice them.
They want to show how smart they are.
They want to be ready so you will call on them first, in case they know the answer!

Be very, very grateful that they raise their hands at all! Some classes I teach (general music) are so impulsive they all call out at once, whether they know the answer or not!

Subject: RE: Raising hands
From: John Routledge
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 07:25 AM

Life is so fast nowadays. Never mind the question let's give the answer - saves time! GBroon

Subject: RE: Raising hands
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 07:26 AM

BTW, there have been a lot of questions from novice teachers lately, all GUESTS with different lower-case names. Are you all the same person? Or different members of the same practice-teachers class? Or??? Feel free to join the Mudcat!

Subject: RE: Raising hands
From: Amos
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 02:25 PM

Actually they are naively revealing the real side effects of cellphone proliferation, namely telepathic powers in the next generation. You should advise them to use their powers wisely, but not to publicly bring then to the attention of those who are not so endowed, or they will end up reexperiencing the Salem witch-hunt debacles first hand!

A

Subject: RE: Raising hands
From: wysiwyg
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 02:33 PM

ASK THEM!!!

Then come tell us!

~S~

Subject: RE: Raising hands
From: En
Date: 04 Feb 01 - 05:13 PM

You are doing a terrific job if the kids are enthusiatically directing the discussion. My rule of thumb: Limit teacher talk to 5% of class time. Students will learn more when you elicit questions from them, or have them engaged in doing something real, like singing or playing or reasearching. I love setting kids up with a controversial--perhaps dangerous--issue, hinting at it, alluding to it, teasing their interest. People are more likely to learn when they can't stand not knowing something. It takes a bit of practice to deftly deliver the kinds of questions that lead to other burning questions.

If you are a new teacher, here is a technique I use with children of any age. I tell them I would like them to think about this question for 30 seconds (this gives slower students "think time"); then prompt them to whisper the answer to someone near them (some get a chance to show off, and those who don't know can acquire the information), then ask for a show of hands.

Subject: RE: Raising hands
From: GUEST,Spaceman
Date: 06 Feb 01 - 01:15 PM

Dear En: That is an interesting idea but I cannot understand why doing the thing with the whisper. What is the purpose of that? And what does it have to do with raising hands?