Lessons In Education: Speaking In Front Of The Class
Many children are shy about reading in front of the class. You ask them to get up, to stand in front of the room, to read their essay they wrote, and you always get that one student per year who really can't do it just yet.
You encourage him or her, you support him or her, friends let them know that they are behind them. Sometimes this works but you still will have a student leftover who just isn't ready. I do something unorthodox that seems to work in these instances.
First, I understand that the child who doesn't want to read in front of the class is afraid of criticism, afraid of being embarrassed, afraid that somebody might laugh at them or mock them. Understanding this fear is what helps eliminate it. Kids need to understand that there will be people who won't always like what they have to say or do but that it is okay. Then they need to not be worried what some heckler in row H is thinking.
So I do something special with these kids. I volunteer to read it the first time. When I read it I start changing my voice with all kinds of funny noices low and high. Then my face starts making all these contortions and I look real weird. Then I do a lousy dance or start singing their essay or poem in the worst imaginable voice. Approximately 60 seconds later I stop.
I then ask the children what they thought of my reading. Many adjectives come to mind. I ask them if they have ever seen a teacher do that before, whether or not they have ever seen someone look so foolish and weird, whether or not they have ever seen someone embarrass themselves like that. Then I explain that sometimes people are afraid to read because they think others will laugh at them but I show them with my actions that I truly don't mind that others laughed at me. (I let them this time plus they can insult my performance) Then I go for the crux. I ask the student who was shy about reading if he or she thinks he or she will ever look as foolish as I just did? Then I ask similar questions substituting the word weird, stupid, crazy, etc... and of course the answer is no.
Then the rule is set. From now on in my classroom you must read in front of the class with one exception. If you will look more embarrassing or foolish than I did, you don't have to read, otherwise you are reading. And then I hand the essay/poem back to the student who was originally supposed to read and turn the floor over to them to read in front of the class.
It's worked all but one time.
You encourage him or her, you support him or her, friends let them know that they are behind them. Sometimes this works but you still will have a student leftover who just isn't ready. I do something unorthodox that seems to work in these instances.
First, I understand that the child who doesn't want to read in front of the class is afraid of criticism, afraid of being embarrassed, afraid that somebody might laugh at them or mock them. Understanding this fear is what helps eliminate it. Kids need to understand that there will be people who won't always like what they have to say or do but that it is okay. Then they need to not be worried what some heckler in row H is thinking.
So I do something special with these kids. I volunteer to read it the first time. When I read it I start changing my voice with all kinds of funny noices low and high. Then my face starts making all these contortions and I look real weird. Then I do a lousy dance or start singing their essay or poem in the worst imaginable voice. Approximately 60 seconds later I stop.
I then ask the children what they thought of my reading. Many adjectives come to mind. I ask them if they have ever seen a teacher do that before, whether or not they have ever seen someone look so foolish and weird, whether or not they have ever seen someone embarrass themselves like that. Then I explain that sometimes people are afraid to read because they think others will laugh at them but I show them with my actions that I truly don't mind that others laughed at me. (I let them this time plus they can insult my performance) Then I go for the crux. I ask the student who was shy about reading if he or she thinks he or she will ever look as foolish as I just did? Then I ask similar questions substituting the word weird, stupid, crazy, etc... and of course the answer is no.
Then the rule is set. From now on in my classroom you must read in front of the class with one exception. If you will look more embarrassing or foolish than I did, you don't have to read, otherwise you are reading. And then I hand the essay/poem back to the student who was originally supposed to read and turn the floor over to them to read in front of the class.
It's worked all but one time.
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