I asked my ten-year-olds to stand in front of their classmates to talk about their holiday today.
Most of them had this pained look on their faces. A good many of them had their eyes scouring the floor or the ceiling, many more twisting, intertwining their fingers into complicated structures extended from their tiny palms.
A few brief words were what a dozen of students managed to mutter. Perhaps they could not muster enough courage to elaborate?
Then, there were plenty of my kids who just shine in the limelight. Apprehensive in the beginning, gaining momentum as the floor reacted accordingly in claps and laughter and finding themselves basking in the attention, they found themselves elaborating, adding in puns, exaggerating, entertaining.
I secretly feel that all students wanted to be able to deliver this way in front of the crowd, but many somehow believe that they could not do it. What do you think?
Perhaps let them have some short writing or drawing before the sharing? I did that in similar holiday sharing sessions with 6YO to 11YO children, some just talked, some needed prompt, but they all had something to show. I also drew colourful Sekinchan paddy field with bicycle riding scene on whiteboard and shared mine :)
ReplyDeleteI believe all want to share, in a way or another, some just couldn't bear the spotlights of all children watching them.
This might be helpful for us http://ideas.ted.com/how-to-teach-a-young-introvert/