Banning hand-raising in school

cooker71

I thought it was a joke, but I wrote my latest parenting column on a school in Britain has banned hand-raising in favor of giving a thumbs up to promote a "calmer classroom."

Teachers, WDYT?

https://patch.com/A-mHh7

DandRAgain

yep...hand raising is the downfall of education.....

 

MaxandRuby

So hand raising causes commotion and unruliness in a classroom?

camrude

O for the love....

Maybe children should just type their questions to the teacher and he/she can respond to the class via instant messaging. This way there is no hand raising, no talking and total and complete order.

Seriously.

 

peekaboo716

on that idea. Seriously?

hero

Banning hand raising is a bit odd but there are more effective ways to have students ask questions during quiet work time. I think it depends on the teacher's style of classroom management.

Joenali

There are many ways to engage students in coversation. Obviously, had raising is one. But often it's the same kids raising their hands and dominating the coversation. I do turn and talks, signs that mean "I'm thinking the same thing you are", etc. Turn and talks are very effective in getting all students to talk, not just the ones that dominate conversations. I also do something called "Grand Conversations" where the students take over the talking/discussing (perhaps about a book) and use coversation starters like "I wonder..." "I think..." "I agree because...". The kids don't raise their hands at all during this kind of discussion. Think of it as a 'grown up' book club discussion. No talking over each other, taking turns etc. I facillitate and guide the discussion. Look! No hand raising!

luckyluvr

My principal is against hand-raising. He prefers we call on non-volunteers so we can gauge student engagement. I only do this when he's observing me, b/c at the high school level, trying to get a discussion out of some of the average students is ridiculously hard.