How many of you have sat through a class where the teacher stood in front of the room the entire class and lectured; giving you page after page of notes? I know I have and from experience, it made me dread school! I had the chance to browse Paula Kluth's website and I stumbled upon an article titled "Don't Lecture Me: 5 Ways to Keep Whole Class Instruction Active and Memorable". Let me tell you, I wish my teachers had read this article because I think it would have done a world of difference when it came to students participating and just being coherent during their lessons. As I read through the article, however, I realized that in some cases, it is actually GOOD to lecture.
"A common misconception teachers have is that lecturing or whole class instruction is discouraged in the differentiated classroom. While it is true that these formats should not be the centerpiece of classroom instruction, lectures and whole class lesson delivery certainly have a place in the diverse, inclusive classroom. It is important to realize, however, that in order to reach different types of learners, teachers may need to be choosey about how and when to use lecture techniques and may want to explore a range of strategies for keeping this traditional form of instruction lively, engaging, and comprehensible."
Paula Kluth gives some insightful tips for teacher to incorporate other means of teaching besides the traditional lecture. Sure, lecturing is good, but what is even better is to allow time for other forms of teaching besides having the teacher talk the whole time. Kluth suggests sharing the stage with students. Whether the student is at their seat or in the front of the classroom, let a student facilitate a discussion. With a student leading a discussion, it will get the ball rolling for students to begin thinking critically about an issue and it will also help them make connections between an event in their life and the lesson. Another helpful tip is to get the students moving! We all know that if we sit for too long, our eyes get heavy and all the blood flows to our bottom. Think of activities that you can implement into your lesson that will get the students up out of their seats and moving about the room.
Oh Miss Megan I can COMPLETELY relate. It seems to describe most of my undergraduate career. I dreaded going to classes that were straight lecture. I always seemed to "check out" ( which is usual for me after sitting for an hour). I would find myself doodling, sleeping, drooling, and not comprehending a darn thing! I can't remember one thing that I learned from college up until classes with Kelly. I never thought that I would be in a class that allowed us to get up after sitting to long and kept us actively engaged. I can surely say that I will never run my classroom in a lecture style. Especially at the elementary level!
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