Center Stage Students
I like the center stage students, and I often make them "helpers" in class. This gives them extra things to do and creates support and amity with the other students.
Karen & Patricia,
I whole-heartedly agree with the "keep-them-busy" edict! I had one such student who took notes directly on his laptop computer and would raise his hand to make a comment or ask a question on almost every lecture statement that I made. In most cases his comments were non-relevant and his questions were just answered by the lecture material (meaning he was so busy typing on his keyboard that he missed important content of my lecture). When I acknowledged in class that he was certainly diligent in capturing my delivered material on his computer and I would like to call upon him as needed to summarize what I said, his comments and questions reduced dramatically. I guess he was too busy translating what he was hearing into the key points to capture should I ask for his summaries. For whatever the reason for reduced commets and questions -- it worked!
Regards,
Bob Johnson
Hi Farley,
Center stage students want all the attention. It is good for them to learn how to share. Good points presented!
Patricia
I think having center stage students be assistants is a great way to make sure they know how to handle situations where they cannot be the focus of attention. They will learn how to share the stage with someone else
Hi Karl,
You said it nicely. The busy work should be meaningful, otherwise the student will see right through it.
Patricia
Keeping center - stage students busy is fine if the busy work has something to do with the subject being taught. Even cent - stage students are aware of busy work to keep people under controll. Havng them work on a project or do some research in a specific area is both busy work and helpful in attaing knowledge.
Hello Mary,
I preach to my students all the time the various personality differences in the workplace. You have to be able to adapt professionally in order to get along in the workplace.
Patricia
What a great idea Teasha. Pairing students like this will help prepare them for the personality differences in the workplace as well as supporting each other within the class. A seating chart would be a subtle way to encourage this.
Mary Oberson
Hi Karen,
The key is to give the center-stage student a task that will keep he or she extremely busy. This type student does not need any idle time.
Patricia
I enjoy center stage students too. The assignment of being an observer is a great way to keep them focused during class but with fewer out bursts.
Hi Paul,
As long as the center stage student is paid attention to, he or she is very happy. They must have the attention on them. Let's continue to keep the center stage student very busy.
Patricia
I have also used Center Stage students to assist weaker or shy students. The CS student can then get attention from the student they are helping and take a less prominent role in the class. I like the idea of "Use it wisely cards". It could be very useful in cutting down on one or two students monopolizing a class room discussion.
Hi Teasha,
What a good way to keep the center stage student busy. Pairing the center stage student with a reserve student is a great idea. The center stage student will definitely run the show and will pull the reserve student along.
Patricia
I will have my center stage students pair up with a student that is more reserved. they can coach and encourage the other student and this allows them to get to know eachother. Teasha Elder
Hi Melanie,
The key is to keep the center student busy and let them have a feeling of being very important. Being a helper is very ideal for a center stage student.
Patricia
