In the wake of report cards and some relatively horrific classroom behavioral problems, I found myself both aware of making some of my my lessons too teacher-centric and making some strides in allowing constructive SILENCES. Pausing at appropriate moments allowed me to not only let my students have the opportunity to formulate speech but allowed me to gather my energies.

Looking at my classroom transcripts, practicing more active scaffolding and less direct error correction, and requiring more S-->S questions gave me a move well-rounded and less discouraged view of my own efforts.