Teacher Development Skills
Help learners take responsibility for their learning.

“Help learners take responsibility for their learning,” Teacher Development Skills: Invite Diligent Learning (2023)

“Help learners take responsibility for their learning,” Teacher Development Skills: Invite Diligent Learning

Help learners take responsibility for their learning.

Skill

Resist the tendency to respond to every comment and question and invite the class to respond.

Image
man teaching students

Define

Teachers can invite diligent learning by establishing a pattern where students respond to each other in a classroom instead of or before the teacher. When teachers allow students to share their thoughts on peer comments and questions, the focus stays fixed on the learners and discussions become more engaging with increased student participation. One way to establish this pattern is by asking questions that allow students to share their thoughts and impressions on what others have said, instead of or before the teacher comments.

Model

Here are a few example questions you can ask to invite the class to share their thoughts about a student’s comment or question:

  • Who can share an experience related to what Gary just said?

  • What surprised or impressed you about Lucinda’s comment?

  • Who can testify of what Peter just said?

  • What could you share about what you’ve learned as you have pondered that question?

Practice

For each of the following scenarios, instead of commenting on the student’s question or comment, choose one of the model questions to ask the class or one of your own.

  • During class, Amy asks the following question: “How can I know if a thought is a prompting or if it is my own thoughts?”

  • During a lesson in the Old Testament, Kyle says, “I think it is pretty amazing to see that the Lord invites Israel to repent and come back to Him, despite how many times they’ve turned away from Him.”

  • Think of a comment or question from a student in a recent class. Using this skill, how could you respond?

Discuss or Ponder

  • Consider how you typically respond when a student makes a comment in class.

  • What positive outcomes might you experience as you help students respond to one another instead of or before making a comment?

Incorporate

  • As you prepare your next lesson, select a few of the model questions or ones you come up with on your own, to allow students to respond to one another.

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