Kathryn+Pitchford

Kathryn Pitchford

Nancy is reading a book. You asked her earlier to put it away and she did, but now it’s out again.

At this point, I would quietly walk over to Nancy and ask for her to give me the book so as to remove temptation from her. I do not like having to ask students to do, or not do, something more than once. This precedent will, hopefully, have already been set in the classroom. After class is over, I would have Nancy stay late and have the conversation with her that although I am absolutely thrilled with the fact that she is reading, there is a proper time and place for it. During class, when I have already asked her once to put her book away, is definitely not an appropriate time. I would continue the conversation and make sure she was aware of the fact that if it happened in the future there would be more serious repercussions, starting with detention. After I was sure that Nancy understood that what she did was rude, that class was where she needed to be at the moment where she was reading, I would inquire as to what she was reading and if she was enjoying it. I would then give her the book back, I would once again remind Nancy that reading during class is not the appropriate time or place. I would never want to discourage a student from reading, I would just want to remind her that we all have schedules that need to be followed and adhered to, no matter what we would rather be doing.

The same two or three students try to answer all questions you ask.

Although it is reassuring that at least some students are anxious to participate, it is not the most effective way to lead the classroom. Every student should be encouraged and even required to participate in group discussions when the happen in the classroom. In this situation, if verbalizing, “I want to give everyone a chance to participate” does not stop those two or three from jumping around in their seats, I would go to a list of students. Every student would receive a check mark when they answer a question or contribute in some way, they would not be allowed to answer again until the cycle rolled around and it was their turn once again. Not only would this stop students from fidgeting around in their seats, it would also require everyone to participate, even the quiet kid that keeps his head down in the back of the room. Once students understood that not one student will be permitted to answer every question, hopefully the check list will fade out of the picture, but can always be brought in again if necessary.