We discussed in my Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum class this session that it is AWFUL to do "popcorm" reads and call on students to read. The students focus on what sentence they are going to read, try to decipher every word so they know how to pronounce them, and are so flustered when it is their turn that they are not comprehending the material AT ALL. Situations like this make me think about giving presentations and how nervous I was (and still somewhat am!) talking in front of people. I feel that we should start young with students and allow them to feel very comfortable with talking to groups of people, allowing them to adjust early on and grow to enjoy or at least tolerate the thought of speaking to the rest of their classmates. I'm not a speech therapist, nor am I qualified to explain HOW we can do this, but I do know that this was a huge fear of mine (along with a fear of FAILURE) and it is something that teachers can certainly help with by acclimating them slowly, doing group work and group presentations, partner work and partner presentations, and making the presentation itself a fun and relaxed one. It's important to not place strict rules and restrictions on pace, time limit, and put students under such constraints that they are more focused on that than the material. Just my opinion!
Thank you! What great examples! I’d forgotten about the popcorn reading because I only take volunteers for oral reading. (I figure someone may know how to read but get flustered in front of peers. Then the peers can mock the person for about 50 years. Kids can be relentless. There’s an episode of Friends with Julia Roberts. She locks Chandler in the men’s room without his drawers because he was responsible for her being called “Susie Underpants” for decades after he played some trick on her.*)
I love your suggestions for helping people keep their composure in front of others. And think if we added some training to classes in how to be a well-mannered, non-critical audience member! What a great combo!
And failure? Oh that never bothered me. Just kidding!!! Thank you for your ideas! I hope to hear more from people too.
*Vissers, KGF. "Plot Summary for 'Friends': The One After the Superbowl; Part 2 (1996)." Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com, Inc., 2011. Web. 13 July 2011. .
Great questions to ask!! I think for students, the lists are endless, reading in front of people, being made fun of during gym, being called last for team sports, being ridiculed for the clothes they wear, and so on and so on. This doesn't even address the issues at home. Issues with parents, single parent homes, death of a parent, or sibling, the list is really endless. So the biggest question is how do we counteract these ideas in school! How do we let our kids know that they should not be afraid to be at school? We need to be diligent about the environment that we provide. We should concentrate on the needs of the students, so much so that we hold no room for discrimination, bullying, negativity, or ignorance. Thanks again for your post on my wall about your father. I am so very sorry for your loss, but am inspired by your lessons from his presence, ands absence in your life... Again, Thank You
We discussed in my Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum class this session that it is AWFUL to do "popcorm" reads and call on students to read. The students focus on what sentence they are going to read, try to decipher every word so they know how to pronounce them, and are so flustered when it is their turn that they are not comprehending the material AT ALL. Situations like this make me think about giving presentations and how nervous I was (and still somewhat am!) talking in front of people. I feel that we should start young with students and allow them to feel very comfortable with talking to groups of people, allowing them to adjust early on and grow to enjoy or at least tolerate the thought of speaking to the rest of their classmates. I'm not a speech therapist, nor am I qualified to explain HOW we can do this, but I do know that this was a huge fear of mine (along with a fear of FAILURE) and it is something that teachers can certainly help with by acclimating them slowly, doing group work and group presentations, partner work and partner presentations, and making the presentation itself a fun and relaxed one. It's important to not place strict rules and restrictions on pace, time limit, and put students under such constraints that they are more focused on that than the material. Just my opinion!
ReplyDeleteThank you! What great examples! I’d forgotten about the popcorn reading because I only take volunteers for oral reading. (I figure someone may know how to read but get flustered in front of peers. Then the peers can mock the person for about 50 years. Kids can be relentless. There’s an episode of Friends with Julia Roberts. She locks Chandler in the men’s room without his drawers because he was responsible for her being called “Susie Underpants” for decades after he played some trick on her.*)
ReplyDeleteI love your suggestions for helping people keep their composure in front of others. And think if we added some training to classes in how to be a well-mannered, non-critical audience member! What a great combo!
And failure? Oh that never bothered me. Just kidding!!! Thank you for your ideas! I hope to hear more from people too.
*Vissers, KGF. "Plot Summary for 'Friends': The One After the Superbowl; Part 2 (1996)." Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com, Inc.,
2011. Web. 13 July 2011.
.
Carol
ReplyDeleteGreat questions to ask!! I think for students, the lists are endless, reading in front of people, being made fun of during gym, being called last for team sports, being ridiculed for the clothes they wear, and so on and so on. This doesn't even address the issues at home. Issues with parents, single parent homes, death of a parent, or sibling, the list is really endless. So the biggest question is how do we counteract these ideas in school! How do we let our kids know that they should not be afraid to be at school? We need to be diligent about the environment that we provide. We should concentrate on the needs of the students, so much so that we hold no room for discrimination, bullying, negativity, or ignorance. Thanks again for your post on my wall about your father. I am so very sorry for your loss, but am inspired by your lessons from his presence, ands absence in your life... Again, Thank You