#ShutUp

Uh-huh.  I said it...shut up!  Don't be offended, it's all in good fun, but remember that talking to students and teaching are not synonymous.  The more we talk, the more opportunities we give students to tune out learning.  Talking helps us know that we are working hard, but that's not enough.  The students need to be hard-working.

This week, I was fortunate to learn from Kate Roberts (check her out at @teachkate and kateandmaggie.com), and in my learning were a few key reminders (more will be coming soon, but these are the highlights).  While her reminders were primarily about teaching writing, they apply to any content area:

• Mini-lessons should be mini.  15 minutes of explicit instruction is the maximum amount of time before students should begin constructing and applying their knowledge.
• Conferencing should not be interrogation.  Instead, when conferring with students, they should talk more about what they're thinking.  Teachers should ask questions that are open-ended:  What were you trying to convey?  Why did you make that choice?  How could you...? etc.
• Small-group instruction is coaching.  Okay, that's the focus of all of this.  Talk less, coach more. 
• Partner students:  Ensure that each student has a learning buddy.  In writing, this allows for authentic conversations and relevant learning experiences.  It also gives students are resource rather than relying on the teacher.  At some point, there will be no teacher...they must be independent.

So, to you, all of our fabulous TMS teachers, I say #ShutUp and teach on. (Disclaimer:  #ShutUp is great as an adult joke but is not kid-appropriate).