Video clip setting

Teacher uses colored sticks, student name cards, and hand-raising to manage students’ responses to questions during instruction. In the second clip the class is practicing test taking. There is not an expectation that they know the answers.

Strategies summary 

-Green, yellow and red sticks give many options for group responses without words

-Reinforce following of directions with praise

-Cards with student names are drawn to direct which student will answer a question. This avoids chaos of hand-raising and provides equanimity in the process.

-Use of hand-raising to see if class supports the answer given (avoids use when answer is obviously wrong)

-Assist student to think through wrong answer to give correct answer before getting class support for it

Student behavior

Questions to consider 

1.     What was the teacher trying to accomplish? What behaviors indicate success or need for further strategies?

2.     What alternative strategies do you propose?

Classroom background

7th Grade, Regular Education Classroom, 30 students, 90% Free or Reduced Lunch

Thank-you to:

The students and teachers of this classroom at Story School of  Milwaukee Public Schools