Friday Gem #18 – the problem with interrupting the pause

Autumn Focus: Questioning

Teaching and learning Gem #18 – Guest Edited by AFB – the problem with interrupting the pause

Following on from Isabelle’s gems about questioning, and the need to pause…

We have also been discussing what interrupting that pause might actually do.

Why do we interrupt a pause?

  1. We teach in a bubbly, vibrant school. We are not used to silence in the classroom. It’s a bit awkward.
  2. We move around our topics and texts fairly swiftly, and are not always comfortable with slowing down.
  3. We want to help. If we feel awkward, how awkward must THEY feel? I know, we’ll turn the question around! Changing the word order will not only help them understand the question better, but it will break the awkward feeling!!

INCORRECT!

Jumping in, to ‘help’ a student, or to break a silence might relieve someone, sometime. But it is also likely to:

  • confuse
  • or disorientate the thoughts about the first question
  • or embarrass by drawing attention to the pause
  • or even patronise by perceiving a problem where there isn’t one

 

Today’s top tip: embrace the pause