Is it time to ban hand-raising in the classroom?

Is this form of participation doing more harm than good?

A student.

Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: The teacher asked a question, you had the perfect answer — a concise and trenchant response — but someone else's name was called. The other student made an astute comment, everyone nodded and moved on, your idea was forgotten, and you missed your chance to contribute.

This model of classroom participation is common, despite decades of research suggesting we do away with it. I used it all the time, and would be now if I were teaching still. But it's ineffective. For kids, not being called on can be deflating and dispiriting, and what's worse, if it happens often enough, it can be discouraging to the point where they just stop trying.

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Bret Turner

Bret Turner is a first-grade teacher, father, and children's musician. He is a contributor to PBS Kids and Teaching Tolerance, he's a sourdough bread baker, and has a three-legged dog. You can find more of his writing here.