Summary
The YouTube video, “To reduce choppy time in lessons use a Front Loaded Means of Participation & wait for Golden Silence,” provides teaching strategies for minimizing classroom disruptions. Choppy time refers to periods of noise and distractions that occur when students are not fully engaged in the lesson. Front-loading means explicitly stating how students should participate, ensuring everyone is aware of the expectations. Golden Silence is the point in time when students are fully focused on their work, at which point a teacher can introduce a minor disruption, such as taking attendance, without causing chaos.
Time-stamps
- Choppy Time [0:00-1:27]: The video begins by defining “choppy time” as the noisy period in a classroom when students are not misbehaving but are creating noise, for example, when they are getting out their mini whiteboards. This can escalate into disruptive behavior. Experienced teachers know that it’s best to address this early on.
- Front Loaded Means of Participation [1:27-3:00]: The speaker explains that to reduce choppy time, teachers need to be clear with their instructions by front-loading their means of participation. This means stating at the beginning of the instruction how you want students to participate in the activity, for example, by raising their hands, using mini whiteboards, or working in silence.
- Wait Time [3:00-4:57]: After giving an instruction, it is important for teachers to wait and ensure that all students are on the same page before moving on. The speaker emphasizes the importance of not getting distracted by questions or other issues that arise during this time.
- Golden Silence [4:57-8:07]: Golden silence is the point at which students are deeply focused on their work and can be interrupted with a little bit of noise without becoming distracted. The speaker compares taking the register to a kid tripping over a chair in a classroom that has and has not reached golden silence. In the class that has reached golden silence, the students are so focused on their work that they don’t even notice the disruption.
- Three Key Phrases [8:07-8:43]: The speaker summarizes the three key phrases from the video:
- Choppy Time: The noisy period at the start of an activity.
- Front Loaded Means of Participation: Stating at the beginning of the instruction how students should participate.
- Golden Silence: The point at which students are deeply focused on their work and can be interrupted without becoming distracted.
Key implications for teachers in the classroom:
- Front-loading the means of participation helps reduce choppy time and maintain order in the classroom. “Front-loading” means explicitly stating at the beginning of instructions how students should participate in an activity (e.g., “Quietly raise your hand”, “Write your answer on the mini whiteboard”, etc.). If teachers do not clearly state their expectations for student participation at the beginning, students may begin an activity in a disorganized or disruptive manner. This can lead to “choppy time,” which is a noisy and chaotic period of time when students are not misbehaving, but there is a lot of commotion and disruption.
- Waiting for student compliance after giving instructions is crucial for classroom management. Teachers should wait for all students to follow instructions before moving on to the next step or answering student questions. This ensures that everyone is on the same page and reduces the likelihood of distractions and disruptions. Waiting also allows students to become engrossed in their work and reach “golden silence.”
- “Golden silence” is a state of deep focus that students reach after they have been working on a task for a while. At this point, teachers can interrupt the silence to a small degree, such as by talking to a student or taking the register, without causing disruptions. However, interrupting students before they reach golden silence can be very disruptive and lead to chaos. Golden silence is a valuable tool for teachers because it allows students to work independently and productively.
- Not all classes may achieve golden silence. Teachers should be aware of the different dynamics of each class and adjust their management strategies accordingly. Some classes may require a stricter approach to maintain order throughout the lesson.
Overall, the source emphasizes the importance of clear communication, student engagement, and strategic timing in classroom management. By front-loading instructions, waiting for student compliance, and understanding the concept of golden silence, teachers can create a more productive and focused learning environment.
Quote
One of the most important ingredients to an instruction is the wait afterwards because what i see a lot is people start their instruction then they take a question from a kid over here there’s a question from the kid over there and then they start talking to someone at the back and then they start repeating their instruction or whatever and before you know it that hubbub is like off the charts you’ve got some kids working some kids chatting then a teacher starts circulating talking to this kid that kid yeah it’s all about that weight right it’s about making sure that everyone’s on the same page
