I guess this might be something where I just need to talk at them for a while, rather than trying to facilitate discussion of the topic that eventually arrives at answers.
Y'know, as much as you hear that "facilitate/lead/groups/cooperative learning" is Good and lecturing is Bad, the key is really to have a balance and figure out what works best for which points (and be willing to bail and switch when you were wrong or a group doesn't fit what you expected). Sometimes lecturing is just the easiest, fastest way to get the information into their heads. You can spend forever trying to get them to the point where they kinda get it (maybe), or spend 10 minutes "telling" and have them all go "oh, okay, gotcha. Next?" Like with my kids - sometimes simply bailing and saying "dude, look up a translation" is just the best way to do it.
I try to stay away from lecturing, because if I do that, then why did I make them read the chapter in the book, you know? But this seems to be something that needs it.
If you're just repeating what they read, it's worthless. If you're adding to it, or going deeper, or using it in a different way - or if it's absolutely essential that they understand this part/can't risk them having blown off the reading - then lecturing's okay. It's all about doing it at the *right* time, not ALL the time. So it's good that you're avoiding it, but don't be so determined to never use it that you make something way harder than it needs to be (for both you and them). It's really good that you're recognizing when they're not getting it and trying to find alternate ways to pick it up later.
body paragraph as a hamburger thing
Ooooh, like. I like that I can also adapt stuff like that to use for paper formatting for my kids (intro/body/conclusion) since "paragraph" in college writing is more like the size of our "paper" writing. But not being a "regular" English teacher, I haven't seen a lot of resources like that. Thanks!
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2009-09-02 09:42 pm (UTC)Y'know, as much as you hear that "facilitate/lead/groups/cooperative learning" is Good and lecturing is Bad, the key is really to have a balance and figure out what works best for which points (and be willing to bail and switch when you were wrong or a group doesn't fit what you expected). Sometimes lecturing is just the easiest, fastest way to get the information into their heads. You can spend forever trying to get them to the point where they kinda get it (maybe), or spend 10 minutes "telling" and have them all go "oh, okay, gotcha. Next?" Like with my kids - sometimes simply bailing and saying "dude, look up a translation" is just the best way to do it.
I try to stay away from lecturing, because if I do that, then why did I make them read the chapter in the book, you know? But this seems to be something that needs it.
If you're just repeating what they read, it's worthless. If you're adding to it, or going deeper, or using it in a different way - or if it's absolutely essential that they understand this part/can't risk them having blown off the reading - then lecturing's okay. It's all about doing it at the *right* time, not ALL the time. So it's good that you're avoiding it, but don't be so determined to never use it that you make something way harder than it needs to be (for both you and them). It's really good that you're recognizing when they're not getting it and trying to find alternate ways to pick it up later.
body paragraph as a hamburger thing
Ooooh, like. I like that I can also adapt stuff like that to use for paper formatting for my kids (intro/body/conclusion) since "paragraph" in college writing is more like the size of our "paper" writing. But not being a "regular" English teacher, I haven't seen a lot of resources like that. Thanks!