Fires 5: Teaching to the Individual, Working with the Group

Fires 5: Teaching to the Individual, Working with the Group

            This is about some of the different student personalities and how to get them to participate.  It is also about how to get groups to work together towards the goal.

            One thing that stood out was the idea of how to get students to participate and be involved.  Oftentimes, the same students will have their hands up, and other students will continue a pattern of not trying to answer.  This does not help them to learn.  There are various reasons students try not to participate, such as being insecure or trying not to stand out.  Calling on students who don’t often answer can help to get them more involved, and to encourage them to answer more often.    Asking open ended questions that require longer answers can also create more involvement – the teacher can call on other students and ask if they agree, and why.  Or pursue further along the chain of the idea.  Also, by getting other students involved, the differences between students can come into play and help inform the discussion.  I feel this is very important for a teacher to do.