Please Stop Thinking!Four Things Teachers Say that Sabotage LearningBy Alex Kajitani
As teachers, we always keep an eye out for the “teachable moment.” Those unexpected twists and turns (usually student-provoked) in our daily routine that allow us to grab hold of a question, comment or mistake and spark in our students knowledge that is real-time and interesting. We’re also taught to ask questions that are thought-provoking and lead to “higher-level” conversations. As teachers of at-promise students, we know that the teachable moment is often the most powerful, memorable part of our day.
However, often below our consciousness are words, phrases and instructions that do the exact opposite. Instead of invoking thinking, they actually sabotage it. Below are four of these phrases (as spoken by the teacher), how they are perceived (as heard by the students), and a few alternatives that will keep your classes on-track, on-target and ready for the next truly teachable moment.
1. What we say: “You were supposed to have learned this last year.”
What students hear: “You didn’t do what you were supposed to do last year, and it doesn’t appear that you’re doing it this year either.”
In addition, when we make this statement, we are also implying that the teacher that they had last year didn’t do their job properly. This creates a negative divide between you and the previous teacher, as well as you and the students. In addition, often the student(s) did learn it last year, they just don’t recognize it because it is now in a different context with a different teacher.
Instead consider the following alternatives:
“I believe you have some background knowledge about this concept. Tell me some of the things you know about xx.”
“Let’s step back from this topic and look at some of the information we need to know in order to understand this.”
“Let me see a show of hands of who does remember this (half the class). OK, now those of you raising your hands have 3 minutes to pair up with those who do not, and tell them everything you know about this topic.”
All three of the above statements take the responsibility of learning away from whatever happened (or did not happen) last year, and instead refocus the learning on the students, what they already know, and what they need to know. In addition, it does so in a way that is empowering for the students.
2. What we say: “This is important. It will be on the test.”
What students hear: “Don’t worry about all that other stuff. If I don’t tell you it’s on the test, it’s not really something we need to focus on.”
Tests, like grades, are important. But we all know that the best way to do well on tests and get good grades is to learn, understand and apply the information. In addition, an at-promise student with a history of poor grades is not motivated by what will be on the test. She is motivated by knowing how the information you’re teaching in class will help her in her life. As teachers one of our goals is to instill in our students a personal engagement in the subject we are teaching them.
This statement also undermines us as teachers. Placing the information’s importance on the fact that it will be tested also sends the message that it is the only reason we’re teaching it, that we are not in control of our curriculum, and we ourselves do not understand its importance.
Instead consider the following alternatives:
“This is important. It helps us understand the link between x and y.”
“Tomorrow, we’re going to study y. Let’s make sure we understand x, so that we can easily understand the connection when we uncover it tomorrow.”
“I didn’t think that this was important when I learned it in school. But then one day I (insert your own story here!).”
All three of the above take the emphasis off of the test, and promote the importance of a love of learning, as well as lifelong learning. They help our at-promise students make connections within the subject matter, as well as connections between the information and their daily lives. When true learning happens, the test scores and grades seem to take care of themselves!
3. What we say: “Please stop talking.”
What students hear: “Please stop talking… and thinking!”
Yes, there are times when we need the students to stop talking so that we can give instructions. And there are times when personal issues are of greater interest to our students than the teacher’s objectives for the day. But there are also times when the students really are talking about the subject matter. And when we demand that they stop talking, we are, many times, demanding that in order to be quiet, they switch from a brain filled with ideas and questions to one that is blank and uninterested.
Instead consider the following alternatives to quiet down or transition your class (and keep them thinking at the same time):
“I am going to count down from 10. In those ten seconds I want you to read the objective on the board, and be prepared to discuss it.” (promotes reading)
“If you can hear me, clap once. (Wait 3 seconds.) If you can hear me, clap twice.” (promotes kinesthetics)
“As I lower my hand, change your conversations into a soft whisper, until my hand is lowered completely.” (Note: This one requires a bit of training in advance, but I have found kids love the participation of it. I liken it to how the end of a song fades into silence, as opposed to being turned off abruptly.)
Students talk when they are excited. And in today’s non-stop world of texting and social networking, the floodgates seem always open for them to comment, reply or “like” (Facebook users will understand that term) – a continuous kind of “talking” in the online world in which they are used to participating. The trick is to transition student talking into learning the subject at hand, in a way that is smooth, effective, engaging to the students and respectful toward the teacher.
4. What we say: “Why didn’t you do your homework?”
What students hear: “Quick: think of something to say to get the teacher out of here as soon as possible.”
It’s the age old cliché, isn’t it? The dog ate it. My brother ripped it. I did it, but I forgot to bring it. We’ve heard them all. And the reason we keep getting the same old answers is because we keep asking the same old question. As famous sales guru Zig Ziglar says, “Failure is an event – not a person.” When a student does not do their homework, focus on the act and the decision, not the individual or personality type. Treat failure to complete homework as a decision or as an event, and immediately move toward a solution-based approach.
Did the student write the homework down in class the previous day? Is the student required to care for younger siblings, and thus has little or no time to complete the work? I once had a student confess to me (after his fourth after-school detention for not doing homework) that he had lost his math book. As soon as we got him a new book, the problem magically disappeared! Asking the right question can help uncover the truth, as well as some real solutions.
Instead consider the following alternatives:
“If you could re-live yesterday, what would you do differently in order to get your homework done?”
“If you could change one thing about where and when you do your homework, what would that one thing be?”
“What are the biggest obstacles to you not getting your homework done?”
As teachers, we know that homework is the key to mastering concepts that we teach in class (often in a very limited amount of time). I often tell my students, “You haven’t learned something until you can do it on your own, without my help.” Completing their homework is an essential part of this process. When we ask questions that focus on process and success, not failure, we can truly empower our at-promise students to achieve inside and outside of the classroom.
In short, if we really want to seize those “teachable moments” with our at-promise students, we must be willing to put ourselves in their shoes and examine our own vernacular for those phrases that sabotage their learning. Then, we must erase those phrases from our teaching vocabulary and redirect them into words that inspire and empower our students to think beyond what they’ve been hearing for years, and engage in their own learning.
Alex Kajitani is the 2009 California Teacher of the Year, and a top-4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year. He is also known around the country as “The Rappin’ Mathematician,” speaks nationally about “Making Math Cool,” and delivers powerful keynote speeches about the importance of supporting and motivating teachers. Visit www.AlexKajitani.com to check out his ideas on education.
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