At the moment I feel that I probably am not fostering the growth of student voice as well as I could be (particularly in maths). I think that my writing programme will eventually foster student input and voice as I have incorporated a feedback system that I hope will become familiar to the children and help them develop good feedback skills (both the giving and receiving of).
Some strategies I might try:
- STOP TALKING!!!! I need to be reminded every year. Perhaps I need to plan a few lessons more thoroughly keeping the 'silent stance' in mind, until it becomes second nature to be quiet and let chn think.
- WAIT!
- Don't rescue children
- WATCH MY BODY LANGUAGE. I need to develop an impassive face and stance that gives nothing away so that children learn not to read me as they search for what I want them to say
- Use number fans or hands behind the back or white boards so that children record their own answers and thinking, rather than copying others
- Thinking buddies - listen to the conversations
- Let chn record their own thinking more often. I am doing a lot of recording at the moment. Perhaps we need to discuss first, then decide on key information to be recorded and prioritize it THEN record it. (Avoid the waffle?)
How will I emphasise to my students
- What they are learning? - make it a habit to state this and ask chn to repeat it to visitors like Mrs Peck etc.
- Why they are learning it?
- How they know they are getting better?
- What are their next steps?
Perhaps a weekly reflection time on a Friday where we discuss and/or record these questions on our blog will foster reflection and awareness in children.
