Did I make you think? And I was not even in your classroo

When was the last time someone questioned your teaching?


Did that question result in a quick tinge of evaluation-day butterflies? A slight protective cringe? A thought along the lines of “Do not question me! I know my classroom and my kids more than anyone!”


3 years ago Cheap Danilo Gallinari Jersey , my principal asked me to video tape myself teaching. And I was questioned. “Why did you begin talking before the [kids|children] completed their anticipatory set?” he asked. “Why are the desks arranged that way? Why did you stop to talk to that kid? Why, why, why?


“Ummm…” I stammered Cheap Mike Miller Jersey , “Ahhh…” The rapid-fire questions unnerved me. I started doubting my teaching. Why did I lean over to talk to one child but squat right down to talk to another? Did you notice that? Therefore I did what any person crazy enough to work with teenagers for a living would do. I became defensive.


“I was speaking at the beginning of the anticipatory set since I knew there were words that the kids wouldn’t quite understand without a prelude. I have got the desks arranged in a circle because that way everyone could see everyone else, and everybody could see me. I stopped to talk to that child, since he basically never does what is asked the first time.”


I simply barely missed adding in a triumphant “so there!”


My principal leaned back and grinned. “You see Cheap Will Barton Jersey ,” he said, “most of the people I have do this same excersize have a reason for doing what they do. It is simply drawing that reason to consciousness. Sometimes we go on autopilot and don’t really stop to consider why we’re doing what we are doing.”


Coaching in education (aside from graduate courses online) is the procedure of bringing that subconscious knowledge to the surface, to capitalize upon it. If teachers have a well thought-out reason behind doing what they do – from choosing the words with which they start their class to selecting how to present their curriculum Cheap Paul Millsap Jersey , instruction improves. When instruction improves, students get smarter. And while a specialist educational coach possesses a tool set of working with teachers, the most important tool of all – questioning – is simply accessible to anybody willing to try it.


Think about your first class yesterday.
How did you start it? What were the very first words out of your mouth? “Sit down?” “Good morning?” “Thank you for being here?”
What was the first activity you used in your lesson?
What was the greatest part of your lesson?
The poorest?


Why?


Did I make you think? And I was not even in your classroom. Imagine the type of questions I could ask if I could observe one of your lessons Cheap Jameer Nelson Jersey , then have an in-depth discussion about it. Or if I could concentrate my findings on a certain topic that would most benefit you.