Rant: I was asking questions wrong for years and a student finally called me out

I teach middle school, and I run a 'question box' where kids can ask anything anonymously. For a long time, I would read the questions out loud and give my answer right away. I thought I was being helpful. Then, about a month ago, a kid wrote on a slip, 'Why do you always answer for us? Let us talk first.' It hit me like a ton of bricks. I was treating 'ask anything' like a one-way street where I was the expert, not a real discussion. I was shutting down the whole point, which is for them to think and share ideas with each other. Now, I read the question and just say, 'Okay, what does everyone think about that?' The room gets way noisier, but the answers are ten times better. Has anyone else had to totally flip how they run a Q&A?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia_miller2412d ago

How many teachers would actually listen to that kind of feedback? Most would get defensive. It takes guts to change your whole method like that. That student did you a huge favor, even if it was hard to hear. You turned it into a real tool for them instead of just a show for you. Good on you.

lilyr2512d ago

Oh man, I'd probably get defensive and then overthink it for weeks. My ego is way too fragile for that kind of honesty.

ruby_rivera767d ago

Hold up, I think you're being too hard on the teachers who get defensive. That initial gut reaction is totally human, it doesn't mean they won't listen later. The real win is what happens after that moment, like the original poster showed.