DEMOCRATIC TEACHING

Fatimah Amira Aisha Sharvin Shareenjit Razin

Question :
5. Jonathan attempts to answer a question that you posed during your ESL lesson but his answer was wrong. Taking into account democratic teaching tenets how would you provide feedback to his response.

Definitions:
Freedom- means students are able to be themselves and have the right
to express themselves through their behavior and opinions. Educators have a responsibility to protect and respect students individuality and acknowledge their right to make choices for themselves.

Justice- means students have a right to school rules and consequences

that are fair to everyone.

Equality- means an equal educational opportunity for each student. It

means meeting the individual needs of every student in order to give each a chance to succeed in school.

How to solve Jonathans Problem???

Respond to off target comments encouragingly -Even if the comment is completely wrong or off the wall, thank the student for sharing their idea and--this is your creative challenge of the day--find a way to link their concept back on the correct track of discussion. -After class, take the time to talk with the student who made the mistake and discuss the issue with him or her then. This will reinforce that you want people to take risks with their ideas in class.

 Ask a follow-up question that leads the student to understand the error in the answer. If thats correct, then how do you explain this? Get the class to correct or make the answer better. Well, we need to work a bit more on Bobs answer. How would you make it stronger or better? What needs to be corrected?

Keep the focus on the answer. This answer isnt very good as opposed to No, Jonathan, youre wrong.

Examples of how a teacher seeks for explanation :

What do you mean by? Can you give me an example? All of your answer depends on the idea that Why did you base your answers in this rather than? What are your reasons for saying this? Can you be more specific?

Let me see if I understand you. Do you mean?

Could you explain your answer further?