Dec 1, 2009 7:36:38 AM cite

Listening is very important, it is the best indication that students are getting, or not, what is presented, but you need to be very careful what you listen to. Students are a lot smarter than you may think. They will soon figure out what you like to talk about and get you started to avoid a lecture. Also be very firm with 'what If', when someone tries to start that, cut them off and say 'we will cover that later after we do this scenario. I said students were smart, I taught in a school where the principal was a lot dumber than the students. When Pa. passed a law limiting the use of corporeal punishment, he told us not to tell the students so that we could get away with it a bit longer. I told another teacher that the students probably know about it before we did. That principal was really out of touch. But to the point, yes listening is your feedback for your effectiveness as a teacher.

by thedoc