I was asked by a third/fourth grade teacher, “What do you say to a student who thinks his answers are ALWAYS correct even when I prove he is wrong by giving examples of the correct math solutions and by other students demonstrating the correct answers by their methods?”
I responded:
ALWAYS keep in mind that the person who asks the question controls the situation.
The only way this child will change is by having him continually reflect. The skill required to resolve classroom discipline and learning challenges with a student is in asking questions that will have the student reflect.
So what reflective question(s) can you ask?
Here are a few that immediately come to my mind:
– How do you know that your answer is correct?
– What’s the worst that can happen if you make a mistake?
– What would you do if you found out someone else made a mistake and is afraid to say so?
A few suggestions to solve this classroom discipline and learning problem:
– Emphasize what I teach in my education book: YOU CANNOT LEARN AND BE PERFECT AT THE SAME TIME.
– Let the student know that anyone who is easily embarrassed has a challenge for learning. People who want to learn understand that YOU CANNOT LEARN IF YOU ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH BEING EMBARRASSED.
– Start each conversation with the child with some kind of sincere compliment.
Here are a few resources for handling classroom discipline and learning problems.
