Use Silence

whenever we speak to the whole class or to one child - we may speak to

• instruct ("use the napkin to wipe hands")
• repeat an instruction ("please use the napkin to wipe hands" :-)
• ask questions ("With what we can wipe your hands")
• repeat questions ("Can anybody tell me With what we can wipe your hands")
• say out an observation ('Pranav is wiping his hands with the napkin nicely")
• Praise ('I really like the way Pranav is wiping his hands with the napkin nicely")

now the concern is that all of the above is actually not required !!!

When we speak

• Children become dependent on us speaking
• We stop observing
• We stop listening

Instead - let us use

• Non-verbals
• other non - intrusive ways of remaindering
• Captains - make children incharge so that they take responsibility of these tasks.

so that we get time to listen and observe and children become more self reliant

check check how much of the above we are doing in the class.

remember in the all important
S-P-A-C-E
model of facilitation - S which stands for SILENCE and is on the THUMB - that means
silence
is the
most important
and to be used
most frequently.

if i would
S
ilently
E
mpower and
E
ncourage (S.E.E)

i would be able to
SEE
the difference

enjoy using silence

don't  just trust children

but trust yourself too - that by using silence - you are still effectively facilitating.