The Importance of Questioning and Pausing
One of the big topics in this week’s reading surrounded questions in the classroom. I believe that questions are really important to ask when teaching to be able to engage students in learning and to allow teachers to figure out how well their students are grasping the concepts. One of the key points that really stuck with me from the reading was pausing and giving students time to think. Reflecting back to my own teaching, I realize that this is a weakness of mine. I am afraid to pause because it makes me nervous, as I am not yet confident enough as a teacher to understand the importance of pausing. This reading really impacted me and made me realize how important it is to pause and let the learner reflect on a question. I believe that allowing silence in your classroom and not feeling awkward with the silence is a mark of a good teacher.
Questioning is something that I really hope to bring to my specialty of physical education, especially when teaching students concepts and strategies surrounding sports. Questions are ways for learners to think about the concept being taught and really focus on why they are learning something. One strategy that I plan on implementing in my physical education class from the reading is simulations. Because physical education requires students to move and be active all of the time simulations are a great fit and a form of simulations occur in physical education at all times as students are always moving through different sports and activities. If teachers are really able to focus their simulation activities, students will be able to have a greater understanding of strategies and tactics because they have personally gone through them and understand where they should be positioned for certain activities and where they need to move to next.