This is a great article about classroom management and productive struggle from Classroom Management guru Michael Linsin's blog. I know that many of you have selected Indicator 2.3 as part of your PLP. This would be a great article to read and reflect on. Enjoy!
When And Why You Should Leave Your
Students Alone
By Michael Linsin
The picture of an entire class lost in their work is the
most beautiful sight in teaching.
Because it’s irrefutable proof that your lesson was
effective, and that learning, deep and meaningful, is taking place.
Sadly, it’s a scene that rarely plays out.
Most teachers find themselves rushing from one student to
the next, reteaching what was taught just minutes before. They find themselves
calling out reminders and encouragements. They find themselves tamping down
disruptions and redirecting off-task behavior.
For some this is done out of necessity. Their lessons and
classroom management skills aren’t strong enough to support their students
through more than a few minutes of truly independent work.
For others, it’s become an unfortunate habit. Somewhere
along the line they’ve been led to believe that if they aren’t perpetually
moving, talking, helping, and cajoling, then they’re not being a good teacher.
In either case, they’re doing a disservice to their
students. They’re encouraging (learned) helplessness, shirking responsibility,
and poor listening and
attending skills. They’re teaching their students to throw in the towel at the
slightest adversity.
Exceptional teachers, on the other hand, know that their
effectiveness is tied to how well and how long their students are able to work
without their direct input.
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