Warm Demanders: No Opt Out / Cold Calling

The most effective teachers are warm demanders. They don't let students escape accountability by dodging questions in class. Rather, they develop a class culture where students know they may be accountable for answering a question before the class at any given time, that they will not be negatively judged if they try their hardest but still don't get a correct answer, and that if they struggle at first, sooner or later they will answer the question correctly before the class proceeds further along in the lesson. As is implied by the description "warm demander," the teacher's goal is to push students to the next level, NOT to catch students in an "I gotcha" trap. The teacher's persistence, even when students struggle with a question or prompt at first, is meant to be a signal that he/she is deeply committed to guiding the student toward a correct answer.

Teachers must be extremely sure that students understand the teacher's motives when using no-opt-out and especially cold calling. If the teacher assumes students will appreciate the teacher's cold-calling without building a positive, supportive class culture, or establishing a strong rapport between teacher and students, the educator risks creating a poisonous, resentful class culture that may be hard to reverse.

 

Tip of the day: No-opt-out/Cold Calling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoB_0oTrv9A&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwnGusgqDEc&feature=related

If you find these videos helpful/inspirational, check out the Facebook page for my personal 'teaching bible,' which has a ton of similar clips posted to it:

http://www.facebook.com/TeachLikeAChampion