Make them ask

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Home : 2005 : November : 22

Make them ask
By Chicago Teacher

When students ask for questions from me, I always make sure they ask me an actual question. Not "I need help" or "I don't get it", but "I don't understand problem number 3, can you help me?" I train my class on how to do
that each year so they know that is what I'm expecting. If they are really vague, I usually ask them what they need, because sometimes they don't really need help with a question at all. Sometimes they want you to check their work or want something else totally seperate from what I'm thinking they want.

For kids who are constantly asking for me to check their work (raising their

hand every other minute to ask "is this right?"), I try to encourage them that they can handle the assignment and then set a goal for them("After you have finished 5 questions, I will come over and check them for you." or "Finish the rest of this page and then I will check it for you") and as the year goes on I make the goal bigger so they aren't feeling the need to ask as often.

I also had one year where the whole class was like you describe. The second I would finish teaching and ask them to start work, almost every hand would pop into the air. At those times, I would say something like "I expect everyone to try their best and work on the assignment until at least 2:00 (or whatever- around 5 minutes) and then I will answer questions". Most of the kids would just start working and be fine, and the ones with real questions could make due until then.

Hope this helps.