I took the “no blurting/talking over” rule out of my list of rules this year. I may need to add it back on there because I have one level 2 class that is just too chatty during stories.
My recent thinking about the blurting issue has been that maybe if I slowed down more, there would be less blurting. When I then asked Anne about how she handles the L1 blurting during stories, she wrote this (italics are mine):
“I have taken to fixing the laser pointer on the no-English rule on the wall, and staring at the offender. Lately what I do with management is to just slow down and quiet down, and point at the rule that is being violated. I might say, in German, “Bobby, don’t forget…” and point to the rule while gazing intently at Bobby.”
So, slowing down, such a powerful tool in what we do, might also provide some insights into how to increase classroom discipline.
On that same topic, I have decided firmly now to stop the story the minute I hear a word of English. One word, and we will read and discuss some text for the rest of the class (level 1, so enamored of stories right now, is not the problem – it’s the level 2 kids).
Thus, slowing down, or just stopping and going to reading when I hear that first word of English – neither of these may work on the blurting issue, but I will try both ideas. (Reading classes, admittedly more boring but possibly more instructional because of the powerful back and forth between the kids reading for translation into L1 and then massive discussion of same in L2, are a very good way to keep the room focused on the target language. I could do that all day, and there is far less blurting because the humor level is way down. I could easily go on with the story, but why, when reading classes are so easy to crank up CI!
To recap, I’m going to experiment with:
– going slower during stories to prevent blurting in English (may or may not work).
– stopping altogether at the first English (may or may not work).
– bail out to reading, which is what I want to personally work more on this year anyway.
Comments?