Allow the student to struggle. Interesting idea. I guess I've always done that. You can tell them the answer, or let them find it themselves. Allowing students to struggle makes them think in a different direction if one way is not working. You can prompt them, but you should let them find the answer for themselves. That will create an ownership of the answer and a sense of pride that is absent when you just give them the answer.
This will also push them to believe in themselves and be proud of their accomplishments. Encouraging deeper thinking and therefore deeper learning is at the heart of successful learning.
Once you create a supportive learning environment, students are more likely to take risks with their answers. If everyone is encouraged to participate and there is no judgment, they will speak out and help each other reach a conclusion.
I believe you can give a class a vague idea and see where their thinking takes them This can teach the teacher things that he/she may never have thought of before. This will stretch their minds and create possibilities that are not there with questions requiring yes or no answers. These are the most effective, memorable and worthy lessons.
If your classroom is welcoming and supportive, the students will help each other find the answers. This will create a community feel in the classroom and this too will contribute to deeper thinking. This creates a 'classroom courage' that will serve them well in their daily lives. If they are not afraid to ask questions or 'go out on a limb' they will see deeper and feel deeper and learn deeper.
The teacher must also make time to help the student who simply does not 'get it'. Encourage the student to ask questions to understand and allow the student to struggle. If the student feels supported, he/she will ask for help. This is necessary as not everyone gets it the first time.
The most collaborative and supportive classroom will encourage risk taking and the students will learn to be ok if it does not look good or is not exactly right. There will be no fear of embarrassment and they will strive harder and dig deeper.
I think this is a wonderful idea and, as I said, it is already in my arsenal. It is effective, encouraging and exciting to watch them come to their own conclusions or find the answer.
This will also push them to believe in themselves and be proud of their accomplishments. Encouraging deeper thinking and therefore deeper learning is at the heart of successful learning.
Once you create a supportive learning environment, students are more likely to take risks with their answers. If everyone is encouraged to participate and there is no judgment, they will speak out and help each other reach a conclusion.
I believe you can give a class a vague idea and see where their thinking takes them This can teach the teacher things that he/she may never have thought of before. This will stretch their minds and create possibilities that are not there with questions requiring yes or no answers. These are the most effective, memorable and worthy lessons.
If your classroom is welcoming and supportive, the students will help each other find the answers. This will create a community feel in the classroom and this too will contribute to deeper thinking. This creates a 'classroom courage' that will serve them well in their daily lives. If they are not afraid to ask questions or 'go out on a limb' they will see deeper and feel deeper and learn deeper.
The teacher must also make time to help the student who simply does not 'get it'. Encourage the student to ask questions to understand and allow the student to struggle. If the student feels supported, he/she will ask for help. This is necessary as not everyone gets it the first time.
The most collaborative and supportive classroom will encourage risk taking and the students will learn to be ok if it does not look good or is not exactly right. There will be no fear of embarrassment and they will strive harder and dig deeper.
I think this is a wonderful idea and, as I said, it is already in my arsenal. It is effective, encouraging and exciting to watch them come to their own conclusions or find the answer.