Learning can't occur where there is no encouragement and no respect. Too often, students believe we have no respect for what they believe, what they say, and who they are. We need to show them otherwise. It's important not to interrupt the message and the messenger if you want complete thoughts or the best ideas. You know what I mean if you've ever been in the middle of a comment when the phone rings.
Constant corrections hurt more than students' self-esteem.
That shouldn't happen in a place where teaching and learning occurs. Students will learn more when we offer them the opportunity to correct their own mistakes. Students shouldn't be treated as blank slates. They bring a wealth of resources to the language arts classroom that can be tapped. Votes have been collected for printing in the January '99 issue.