Saturday Sayings: Listening

We had just finished reading our weekly big book for the second day in a row.  I was ready with a mini-lesson about compound words since there were several in the book, but first I had to ask a question that I find myself asking more and more even to the point of putting it in my lesson plans.  "What do you notice?"  Cooper raised his hand.  I can always count on him to notice something.  "I noticed that if you put two words together it makes one big word."  Thrilled, I said, "Cooper, I was hoping someone would notice that!"  I pulled out a piece of paper where I had already written a handful of compound words from the big book.  I wrote his words at the bottom of the paper, and Cooper became our teacher that day.  I'm so glad I asked the right question and stopped to listen. 

I share that moment because it reminds me that though I teach with a sense of urgency, as Regie Routman advises, and believe in teaching as efficiently as I can, I must strive for an important balance that allows for listening as well, like Donald Graves admonishes.  

I was reminded of this balance last week when I posted about the importance of being a highly effective and efficient teacher.  I love what a few of my fellow colleagues said regarding that post.  Miss Trayers commented how she encourages questions from her students that sometimes create tangents, and Barb mentioned the importance of a relaxed atmosphere while still maintaining pace.  They both make great points.  Being efficient does not mean racing through the day.  I know I can be guilty of that from time to time.


My goal is to be both efficient and willing to give the kids a voice at the same time.  Here's a thought.  Doesn't it make sense that the more efficient I am, the more time I will have for the all-important skill of listening?  Like Cooper demonstrated, kids have important things to say.