Teaching Strategies

I had changed structures in my classroom to try to make talk more equitable and give all students opportunities to participate in ways that felt authentic to them, but the physics content was still the physics content.

Status imbalances in student groups can affect participation and learning, with higher-status students often dominating discussions. By recognizing and addressing these imbalances, teachers can create a more inclusive classroom, encouraging all students to engage, share their reasoning, and take academic risks.

Raised in a Caribbean household, I perceived “What are you doing?” as judgment. This carried over to teaching, where I overemphasized correctness. Now, in professional development, I focus on fostering a broader view of “doing” in math and science, encouraging exploration and curiosity in students.

Rosiane Lesperance’s Edutopia article, published on January 5, 2024, explores connecting science education to social issues in high school.

After meticulously planning an engaging, curiosity-driven lesson, teachers often face the challenge of dwindling student conversations. Laura Shafer explores why discussions can stall and offers strategies to keep students actively talking, sharing, and learning. Discover how scaffolding can help students confidently navigate meaningful scientific discourse in the classroom.

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