A very strange thing happened in math class today. I gave a quiz for the first 20 minutes or so and was planning to let the kids do exercises for the rest of the time to practice their skills. What I said was: "Instead of doing homework tonight, we will do the problems on page 24 in class so that I can help you."
At this point, thirty of the forty students in the class stood up, gathered their belongings, and walked out of the classroom.
I should have stopped them, but I didn't. I was too shocked to do anything. I wasn't sure if they misunderstood me or if they were just being difficult and unruly or if they had jsut decided that they had had enough and didn't need additional practice. So I stood there and let them go.
I realize now that I handled the situation poorly. It was a simple case of not making myself clear. I should have demanded (in a nice "Thai" way of course) to sit back down and get to work. I hear my mother saying (as she was wont to do): "Live and learn." Next time I will not be caught off guard!
Holy smolie --- kind of funny, though. :-) I think it also may have been a language/culture barrier too, because when I read what you said, that was extremely clear to me what you were wanting to do for the remainder of the class.
Hang in there, and yes, we all live and learn. hehe!!
Love you!!
My meaning was clear to the 10 who stayed as well. They were the good students in the front of the class. (The ones who also speak English well?). The ones who left were the ones who needed the extra work. Oh well...