HOW DO I KNOW MY STUDENTS
As an educator, people often ask me how I know what is going on in the minds of my students. Many students are quite shy and don't speak all that much. At the same time, in a classroom of more than forty students, it is hard to have many one-on-one conversations with each person. So, how can I really know what makes each student tick
My answer I look at their body language.
It is easy to recognise when students are interested in a lesson. Most tend to look up and make eye contact. When I make a joke, they smile. When I talk about something difficult, they look confused. I know when students are really interested, however, because they lean forward and look at me. People have a tendency to lean towards whatever they are interested in. So if a student has his head lowered to look at his watch, it implies he is bored and just counting the minutes for the class to end. If two friends are leaning their heads together, they are probably writing notes to each other. Of course, not everyone who looks up is paying attention in class. Some students look up, but there is an absence of eye contact. Their eyes barely move, and they always have the same distant expression on their faces. It is as though they are asleep with their eyes open.
Some students are amused by something else. They spend all their time looking anywhere but at me. Then again, some students' favourite activity is daydreaming. With their chins on their hands, they occupy themselves by staring out of the window or up at the ceiling. They are certainly interested in something, but who knows what. The main thing is reminding distracted students that they need to pay attention in class.
While it is easy to perceive when students are interested, bored, or distracted, it is sometimes much harder to distinguish when students are troubled. Students who are angry, afraid, or experiencing anxiety may have their arms crossed in front of their chests and their legs closed or crossed, like they are guarding their bodies. Students who are sad or worried will nearly always wear a frown. They may also hide their faces in their hands like they are embarrassed or ashamed. Some students act this way merely because they are afraid of being called on by the teacher. However, if a student does not bother to brush her hair and her eyes are red from weeping, then I can infer that there are deeper issues at work. It could be that she is having serious conflicts with other students or at home. Whatever it is, I know I need to inquire and assess what is going on.
Ultimately, my duty is helping every student to learn. Their body language lets me know when to adjust class activities, when to intervene, and when to talk to students individually, so they can all get the most out of school. Reacting to body language is an important component of being a teacher
Words and expressions:
educator / ed uke t (r)/ n. 教师;教育工作者;教育家
tick /t k/ vt.给(试卷,问题等)打钩号vi.(钟表)发出嘀嗒声n.钩号
tendency / tend nsi/ n.趋势;倾向
lower /'l / vt.把……放低;降低;减少adj,下面的;下方的;较小的
imply / m pla / vt.意味着;暗示
barely / be li/ adv.几乎不;勉强才能;刚刚
chin /t n/ n.下巴
occupy / kjupa / vt.占据;占用
stare /ste (r)/ vi. 盯着看;凝视 n.凝视
ceiling / si l / n.天花板;上限
distract /d str kt/ vt.分散(注意力);使分心
perceive /p si v/ vt.察觉;看待;理解
distinguish /d st ɡw / vi.&vt.区分:辨别
anxiety / za ti/ n.焦虑;担心;害怕
chest /t est/ n.胸部;胸膛
frown /fra n/vi.&vt. 皱眉;不同意n. 皱眉,蹙额
embarrassed / m b r st/ adj.难堪的;尴尬的
Body language Meaning Reaction
Content Description Reference
Who(name,occupation, relationship with you)
Body language (What’s his/her typical body language ) make eye contact, learn forward, lower one’s head, an absence of eye contact, distant expression, occupy oneself by, frown...
Occasion(When will he/she have such kind of body language ) in class, during an exam, doing homework, drawing, writing...
Meanings(What feelings or meanings are conveyed by his/her body language ) interested,bored,confused, distracted,troubled,embarrassed,ashamed, anxious...
Personality(What kind of person is he/she )
Checklist
Content Who-Body language-Occasion-Meanings-Personality; (1-5)
Language Use at least 4 newly-learned words; Proper and vivid description Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling (1-5)
Structure Introduction-Examples-Conclusion; Coherent and logical (1-5)
Handwriting Clear and beautiful (1-5)
Drawing Creative and representative (1-5)
Total scores
【自主学习评价】
本节读写课自我评价项目 完全符合 符合 有待改进
可以根据语境猜测词义。
理解课堂肢体语言的基本含义及应对方法,用所学词汇口头和书面描述某人的肢体语言习惯。
体会老师的付出和辛苦,用积极的肢体语言营造充满正能量的教学氛围。
学习本节读写课,我能运用以下词汇与句型:
我于课堂肢体语言我知道什么还有哪些想知道: 我还需要改进的方面: