What They Whisper, Matters

Updated December 3, 2021

Updated October 21, 2022

I firmly believe that what students say when the teacher is not around or when they perceive that the teacher is inattentive, may be their most honest sayings. This doesn't suggest that students aren't keepin it a "hunnit" when we are actively engaged in conversation. Yet and still...

I pay attention to what the kids say underneath their breath or to a classmate. I recently blogged about purposeful ear-hustling.

While, there's the occasional, "I hate this class" or "He do the most," I try to read between the lines and where I can tweak a lesson or pedagogical approach, I do. Not always, but when I can.

Every now and then, I also hear feedback that lets me know I've broken through the multilayered Teflon that some of them have built up over the years.  I'd hear something that lets me know that I'm on the right track.

In one instance, a student was starting to cut up in class. Another classmate quickly checked him, "Yo, this not the type of class we can wild out in!"

Bet!

Then there was a group of girls who were discussing our latest "Do Now" series.

Student 1: "Yo these Do Nows be fun as &%*# -  I be writing a whole page and &%*#!!"
Student 2: "Real &%*#!! Me too. [So-n-so] be asking why I'm writing all these sentences!"

Listen to students!

Earhustle, even!😉