Why Students Stop Participating in Class

My professional experience in education extends over four decades. During this time I have been a teacher, administrator, college professor, assistant to the dean and educational consultant.
As all of us know we learn from our experiences. I know that I am a much better teacher today than I was when I started. I have a greater understanding of the knowledge, skills and dispositions that are needed to be a master teacher. I vividly remember one of the many memorable moments that added to my understanding about how and why children react differently in primary grades than they do in high school when teachers ask the students questions. Credit must be given to Dr. Spencer Kagan who brought this to my attention in the 1980’s and forever changed my teaching style and made me a better teacher.
The following video is from a workshop with teacher candidates that demonstrates why students respond differently in primary grades than they do when they are in middle or high school.

Video Review Important Points
Children are influenced by peer pressure.
The number of students willing to respond in class decreases significantly in middle and high school.
Teachers should not call on students who may not know or are reluctant to answer.
Teachers must analyze and respond appropriately to classroom dynamics.
Teaching strategies, used for decades, need to be analyzed to determine if they are effective.
The way teachers interact with students may increase or decrease the amount of bullying by students.

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