Do you know the average wait time a teacher pauses for after asking a question in the classroom? On average, it is one second. Just one.
The ideal wait time is 8 seconds. That amount of time allows a student to think about their answer (aka metacognition). Not only is that going to allow your students to delve deeper into what their response is going to be, but it also allows YOU to craft a higher level of questioning.
If you’re asking 50 questions an hour, who is more exhausted? I dare say you because you’ve thought up all those questions! It’s definitely not your students who were able to answer them so quickly, you had to then ask another!
One of the ASCD books I’ve read recently was Never Work Harder Than Your Students and Other Principles of Great Teaching by Robyn Jackson. I was able to meet Robyn this year and think she is a powerful advocate for whatshe believes in, focusing on your students growth, not your great “strategies. .
One of the most interesting and challenging ideas Jackson presents is that teachers should be able to explain why they are doing each activity and assessment they chose. She urges teachers to ask themselves, “Why am I doing what I’m doing?” If students ask you why they’re doing an activity, and you can’t give them an answer that makes sense, you might want to rethink the activity. Does it tie back in your LO’s?
Another interesting idea Jackson develops is Principle 3: ”Expect Your Students to Get There.” She discusses the point of view that I have heard all my life among colleagues: that some students can’t or won’t do the work because they’re lazy or don’t care or whatever, and there’s really nothing we can do to change that. Jackson, however, believes that expectations are really all about what we expect of ourselves—not of our students. I don’t know about you but that sounds like a challenge to me! 🙂
Be intentional with your questioning. Make them worth answering, worth thinking about, and worthy of your students exhaustion.
Questioningly,
Amber
I must add this to my reading list. I do remember in my classroom days always trying to count to 5 in my head before I got anxious. The better point that you made was, asking relevant and meaningful questions. I agree.
If you’re asking 50 questions an hour, who is more exhausted?
At the end of the day shouldn’t the students be mentally tired? I say yes. Too often teachers are exhausted and the students are going to go “play”. Thank you for the post and the book recommendation, I’m adding this to my list.
-Ben
Completely agree! Educators must invest the time to get the desired results. If you want higher thinking responses, the you have to invest the time to craft the lesson and the questions to get there. Being this planned allows you to make necessary changes “on the fly”, so as to not miss those “teachable moments.”
I have purchased this book but haven’t had a chance to read it…it is now on my more immediate list.
Principle #3 Expect your students to get there. That is part of my philosophy. I hate those teachers who say their students can’t do something…if you don’t think they can then OF COURSE they can’t. If you don’t believe they can, why do you think they will even try? Make the most of your questions and your expectations!