Fast Llamas,
Are you here for part 4 of our series? It's a good one this week! We continue to pull from Doug Curry's website and free resources found at http://www.fastllama.com/free-resources
Today we talk about a clear beginning to each lesson. I won't spoil it too much more... here's Doug...
Not Having a Clear Cut Beginning to Each Lesson
Sometimes when I observe teachers who are a bit slow in the llama department, it seems like there is never a time in which the teachers gets the attention of all students and maintains it. Often this is the result of not having a powerful beginning.
What does this mean? Picture this: The kids enter your class. You take care of a few administrative tasks. The students are noisy and talkative. When you are ready to start, you kind of take them on one by one, but after a few minutes it is impossible to determine if there is really a lesson going on. It looks the same as when they came in.
The answer? When you are ready to begin, make sure that you are totally prepared.
Hey, every lesson you teach is not going to be the greatest lesson in the history of mankind. Do a thorough job of planning lessons, but also, have a life!
The type of preparation to which I am referring is this: Once you begin, everything you need is right in reach. This goes for your supplies, papers, pen, etc. You can’t be turning around looking for stuff once you get the attention of 25 tigers in your 3rd period class.
When you are ready to begin, get right in front of them. Center yourself.
Use whatever call to attention you use.
Be confident and powerful, and get their attention. Keep it by using your fast llama presence. If the students begin group work or independent work, and then you need to speak to them again, guess what? You have to be just as powerful again!
Slow llamas are weak. They allow students to talk and goof off while they are speaking to the class. Listen to me: No one talks when you talk. Focus on that one task, and you will develop fast llama skills.
There is a lot to unpack here, but did you notice that Curry's advice had little to do with content but everything to do with delivery? The bad news is teaching well is challenging, fast llamas only make it look easy. However, the good news is, if you put forth the effort, you can use the above advice and get faster. You just need to aware of your actions and practice getting better (and thus getting faster) at putting them into play. Other llamas in the building are counting on you to get faster and stay fast. Because, little tiger behavior carries from one class to another. If your kids have a chaotic 4th period, then, guess what? That chaotic energy carries over into their 5th period. Our kids deserve to have consistency in their day, they need it, heck, their brains crave it.
The first thing Curry speaks about is a Clean Beginning. Our brains crave clean beginnings and clean endings. Have you ever had a song in your brain, playing all day long? Well, that earworm is probably due to the song not finishing before you stopped listening to it. So, one morning, A Horse With No Name is playing when you shut off your car and go into the building. Now, incredulously, that horse is running through the desert that is your brain! You didn't have a clean beginning or ending.
So, what can you do? Well, establish a systems for starting class. When students enter you room, you have practiced and normalized what students are to do once they enter. These routines are consistent and celebrated each day.
I knew I was consistent with my opening tradition, when on days when this didn't happen (like a test day) the students remarked that class "felt weird".
The second thing Curry discusses is getting kids to listen to you. So, what can you do? Get an attention getter and stick with it. Hold kids accountable for getting quiet and still when you call them to attention. Look to see that everyone is successful. Then, start talking. Call to attention can be fun and quirky... Learning is hard work, but, it can be fun too. Also, one last thing, don't think your kids are too old to participate, or that it won't work. With consistency and positive reinforcement you can get kids to anything you ask them to do. This requires love and respect, and it is doable.
Curry added to have everything ready once you start talking. This is why I wore a server apron. Everything I needed was in the pockets and I didn't have to dig around for it. I wanted to send a message that my students were important enough for me to be prepared. What is the lab demo didn't work or technology failed? This happens, its doesn't mean you aren't prepared, and it certainly teaches kids what to do when things don't go your way. And, things will not always go your way.
Finally, Curry speaks of confidence. Be careful here. There is a difference between confidence and being authoritarian. Confidence means you are strong, secure and want to lead students to success. Because that what this really is all about. Students being successful. Students need you to take control of the class, there is a natural craving to learn... it is your job to maintain a calm, consistent learning environment, where meaningful learning experiences occur daily. These are the classrooms students remember for the rest of their lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment