Without effective communication it is very easy to be
misunderstood. If students understand you as a teacher and how your classroom
is run, they will be more willing to help the classroom run smoothly and effectively.
Communication in the classroom can also:
- Build a group Identity
- Ensure that the teacher has ways of getting to know students better.
- Enable the teacher to share his or her thinking about teaching.
- Provides shorthand for quick communication among members of the classroom community.
To me these all sound like great things to achieve and have
in the classroom. It’s worth taking the time and energy to have effective
communication in the classroom. I want to know each of my student’s individual
strengths and communicate to them that they are important and valued in my
classroom. Students will feel valued if their ideas and thoughts are
considered. It’s important to try and see things from their perspective as well
as your own. So how do we set this kind of classroom up? Here are some
strategies.
- Hold Goal-setting Conferences
- Use Dialogue Journals
- Incorporate Teacher Talk Groups in Lesson Plans.
Many students will talk more freely in small groups than in
whole class exchanges. I know I was one of those students. I hated talking in
front of the whole class and got too nervous to focus on what I wanted to say.
It’s important for all students to be able to communicate in some way. One thing that keeps coming to my mind about classroom communication is morning meetings. If done right I think this could be your biggest tool in helping achieve communication in the classroom.
Important discussion... how are you NOW with talking in class, etc.? 5 pts.
ReplyDeleteKenzie, I completely agree with you! During field last semester, the teacher I was with did Morning Meetings in her classroom. I quickly realized there were a few more quiet students who would only engage with communication during Morning Meetings, but when something sparked their interest they’d discuss in class, yet always be soft-spoken shy. I agree with you that it’s important for ALL students to engage and communicate within the classroom in some way. Whether it be Morning Meetings, small groups work, talking in front of the class, I strongly believe implementing communication in some form is beneficial for all students to promote strong communication skills inside and outside of the classroom. Encouraging communication in the classroom will help students get to know each other better and will aid in making great discussions. I believe classroom communication is just as important as any other tool in your classroom. Great blog!
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