Ending the SHOUT OUT
After my observation email last week I’ve heard from several of you about how to deal with that student (s) who answers all the questions.
• Shout outs are when one or two students shout out the answers all the time. This
occurs when a teacher shotguns a question to the class. Shotgun – asking a question to the whole class waiting for someone to answer. The idea of firing off a scattergun hoping to hit someone so they answer (yes, I know not very political correct).
First, understand there is nothing wrong with shot gun questions - IF YOU ARE NOT TRULY CHECKING FOR UNDERSTANDING this is a good way to drive your lecture forward.
If you are truly looking to see if ALL students understand the material by asking a question – ask yourself “how do you know that ALL students know the answer?” (We will discuss strategies later on how to increase the percentage of students involved in the answer.)
To avoid the Shout Out you establish a classroom culture that you don’t want SHOUT OUT ANSWERS or you announce to students before asking the question that you don’t want shout outs.
Here is something you might say: “I’m going to give you some think time after asking you the question, no talking, no shouts and then I will RANDOMLY choose someone to answer”
▪ By telling them you are randomly selecting someone you put everyone on notice they need to prepared to answer the question.
▪ Again, there is still no guarantee everyone knows the answer.
Random selection: Can be you simply calling out a name (If you can trust yourself not to pick favorites.)
▪ Create a tool
• Ice cream sticks with everyone’s name
• Slips of paper in a hat or box
• Use technology
APPS (found in Apple Store) like: Shake or Decide Now
• Doing randomly selection can create other issues:
1 Student doesn’t know the answer
2 Student knows only part of the answer
3 Student simply refuses to answer
4 Student knows the answer
Part Two: If you want some ideas on how to handle those situations feel free to continue reading.
Student doesn’t know the answer
Consider letting them call a friend to help answer the question. This is called: “Phone a Friend” Or, ask the class if someone would like to help with the answer. If no one knows the answer: Consider letting they discuss with their shoulder partner and then randomly select the partners to see what they came up with.
IMPORTANT: Once you get the right answer – MAKE SURE to return to the original student and have them repeat the FULL answer in their own words. If you don’t do this – students will get in the habit of saying they don’t know the answer, but if you make them have to repeat it students learn that you’re not going to let them off the hook.
By the way if the original student still says they don’t know the correct answer have the student with the correct answer repeat or ask another student to explain the answer and then again come back and have the first student put it in their own words.
Student give only part of the answer
Recognize the students effort with something positive ---- then you can: Ask someone randomly or shotgun – to add to the students answer or consider asking class, do they agree with the original students answer.
If they say yes, ask them to say why
If they say no, ask them to explain why
Once you have the full answer return to the original student and have them repeat the FULL answer in their own words
Student simply refuses
Do not get in a power struggle. Tell them ok and then speak with them after the lecture or class. Find out why they had such an attitude. Let them know this is the way class is run – so your willing to work with them so they don’t feel like they are being put on the spot. But they need to be prepare to answer questions. Usually, you can work something out with them.
Student knows the answer
You can ask the class if they agree - why or why not. You should always celebrate the correct answer at some point with words like “Good Job”, “Knew you could do”, “Way to go”, etc. Again, If you have any questions please email me or stop me on one of my visits in your classroom.