Today began my third week at Kill O' the Grange, and the lightening struck, both literally and figuratively. Around 11:25 this morning, I was sitting in the computer lab typing narration bits for the Christmas play when all of the sudden our building was struck by lightening. There was this loud bang, and I learned that lightening is not common here in Ireland. The whole school was in an uproar: Did you see that? Are you okay? Kids were screaming, students were crying, teachers had jumped out of their skin and were trying to slide it back on. It was incredible. All day that was all anyone could talk about was the lightening strike. Lightening is not very common here, and lightening strikes happen even less.
Toward the end of the day, the 6th class teacher had a meeting, so I stepped in and taught for the last hour. During this time I had my own lightening strike. You see, here they have a different view on classroom management. In the states students are expected to be silent during lecture and work time. When talking is allowed, they are to keep it to a dull roar at most.
Here, talking is a constant throughout the day. Students are quiet for lecture, but often during work time there is conversation, and when they are allowed to talk, they immediately reach full capacity. Coming from an American classroom I was taken back by this practice. How could anyone get anything done, and how can the teacher effectively teach?
Then today, when I had the class to myself, I found it happening. The students were talking. How could they get any work done? However, as I began to walk the room, lightening struck and I learned that you don't need a silent classroom for an effective one. Some of the very students carrying on conversations while working were also the ones half way through with their work. If something is on their mind, instead of keeping it in there to fester, they discussed it while doing their English homework. This type of conversation provides an outlet yet does not overwhelmingly distract from the task at hand.
Also, it does not infringe on respect either. Once the teacher starts to speak, the class does quiet, and if the teacher is talking to someone else while the student requests help, there is no butting in. Rather, the student waits patiently until the teacher is free. So while my lightening strike did not stop the entire school, it did make me realize that work can be done in a noisy classroom. Students are capable of both conversation and productivity. Just because you have one doesn't mean you cannot have the other.