A few years ago (in the before times), I was covering a math class. The teacher was on campus (for a training or such), and she popped in to make sure we all had what we needed.
The class was working silently. Everything was going smoothly.
But the teacher's reaction... She was not happy with them. She explained to me that the class was kind of dull. The students were half asleep. And they were always like this.
I didn't get what she was getting at.
Now I do.
My first period class is exactly like what she described. And now I get why she wasn't happy with them.
Quiet groups are great. But then there's too quiet.
Part of the curriculum for this class requires student participation. I read something and they repeat. I go over something and have them answer questions. I ask for them to respond to various topics.
Do they? Nope.
I mean, if I call on someone directly, they'll answer. They do the work put in front of them.
But when I ask an open-ended question, I get no response. No one volunteers.
And these are middle schoolers. I should be able to start a topic and have them go wildly off into random reminisces of things that only tangentially touch on that topic. (That's what my third period does.)
Instead, I start topics, and they stare at me. Waiting.
Now I get why that teacher didn't like her first period class. It's kind of like teaching to a brick wall, or a virtual class. Sigh.
At least I'm not dealing with behavioral issues.
