Classroom Interactions in Science and Math

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Classroom Interactionsin Science and Math

• 05 Classroom Norms

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Scavenger Hunt Discussion

• Get together with another pair and compare
  results
• Surprises?
• Comments or observations?
• Something you want to know more about?
• Turn in hard copy

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What are norms?

• From a web response
• They unspoken, unwritten rules which govern the
  way students and teachers interact in the
  classroom. These rules are influenced by not
  only the students and teachers, but also by the
  families of the students.

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What norms might be reflected here?
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Features of norms

• Norms are usually invisible to people.
• Remember IRE interactions?
• T initiates How much is 7 and 5?
• St responds 12.
• T evaluates Excellent!

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• .Until violated
• Tchr Pippi, can you tell me what 7 and 5 are?
• Pippi Well, if you dont know that yourself,
  you neednt think Im going to tell you!
• Tchr One doesnt answer that way in school
  And now I will tell you that 7 and 5 are 12.
• Pippi See that! You knew it yourself. Why are
  you asking then?

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• Norms can and should be made explicit in
  classrooms
• Helps level playing field
• Norms take work to establish, whether 1st grade
  or 12th grade
• 1-2 months, or more
• Norms are reflected in everything you, the
  teacher, say and do
• e.g., how respond to wrong answers, to right
  answers, to struggle, to questions how set up
  and implement tasks

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Teacher moves to establish norms -- examples

• Prompt reflection
• How could we verify this?
• What was the reason we wanted to ____ in the
  first place?
• Press for precision
• What does that mean?
• Have students direct questions to other students
• Why dont you ask student 1, see what he has to
  say

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Activity Video analysis

• What practical choices did teacher make?
• Set up (room, equipment, people)
• How are questions handled?
• How is content addressed?
• What are students supposed to be doing?
• What norms for science are being established?
• When appropriate?
• What could you do differently to establish
  different norms?

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Observation 1 presentation

• Guidelines online
• Prepare to present next week