Today we had 90 8th grade girls for Human Growth and Development, 3 teachers and 1 floating teacher to relieve us for our planning period.
Co-managing so many students without pre-planning what and how to approach the lesson as a group proved to be interesting. Today, I realize how important it is to me that students listen when I or anyone speaks. I believe it is a gift I give my students to learn how to actively listen: turn face the person, eyes connecting, still the hands, and pay attention. In return I make it a point to keep what I have to say short, succinct, interesting, and mentally stimulating. I was made so much more aware of this today, since my colleague has a different approach. Hers I came to realize is to continue talking over the talk until eventually students settle and start listening (x90 voices). I spent much of today moving students around, getting their attention, thanking them for listening, reminding them we are participating by listening. Since I have no pleasure in being the strong arm, the enforcer, tomorrow I will become the observer and see what transpires, giving instructional support where needed and enjoy the students' learning excitement. Perhaps it's time for me to actively listen in a different way.
