This question is for the teachers out there. Why do you have kids stand up in front of the class and?

Question

make them tell everyone a little bit about themselves? I even had teachers do this when I was in college. I think its a horrible thing to do. I think you should say, "Would anyone like to share anything about themselves with the class?" Why make kids stand up in front of everybody. No one really pays attention and it just makes kids a nervous wreck. I am studying to be a teacher and I will never make my students do this. So those teachers heading back to school, for the love of pete, don't make your kids do this.

I don't think it helps much with public speaking. The first few days of school are bad enough, I think this activity could be skipped. I know I will get a lot of answers saying that. Any teachers have any different reasonings?

Visionary, I agree, thats what I'm getting at!!

Dear Penn State, I stated I didn't think it helps with public speaking,I meant when it is only required of them that first day. If it's done repeatedly through out the year, then I agree it will help.

Answer 1

In most situations it might be a better plan to ask for volunteers for this type of activity. Students can share information about themselves in all kinds of ways other than speaking in front of the class - by writing, drawing, etc. if that is a requirement of the class. Younger students need to feel safe and secure before attempting this type of activity.

By college level it is a good thing to be able to get beyond this type of fear, particularly if you are training for a profession where you will be required to speak in public. However, a simple activity such as having everyone share something about themselves at the beginning of the first class seems poor timing - no one will remember what anyone said except for those who told something really memorable or different. As a teacher of young adults I prefered to assign projects that required some degree of in-class presentation. By the time the projects were presented, the group was morfe comfortable with each other.

An activity I have used with adult professional groups is to have them share with the group something they have done in their lives that they think no one else in the room has done, and there is always the option to say "pass" and choose not to share. This activity usually brings lots of laughter, interesting questions, and really helps the group get to know each other.

So it is not as simple as the activity always being a poor choice - there are simply many ways to approach it.

Answer 2

I can't remember how many years I've had to do that. I just say the same thing every time. and being a high school freshman this next year, your right no one listens. The teachers all say that its so that they can learn a little about you. with the hundreds of students they see everyday I'm surprised they remember names as well as they do. How are they supossed to remember ANYTHING you say. I've had teachers that have you fill out a sheet with hobbies and stuff to avoid the whole nervous wreck situation though. I assume they just glance at it...write down that you filled it out and throw them away. If they learn anything about you at all, they learn it durring the school year, not from what you say or write down on the fist day. It's pointless...there must be something more fun to do on the first day of school then repeat the same little speech about yourself 8 times. I'd suggest a liitle group activity thing instead, that way kids can still kinda get to know each other and you can see how they act in group situations.

Answer 3

I totally agree with Mikey_S - if you stay in your comfort zone forever, you will never get anywhere in this world. I teach kindergarten and we do "Headline News" a couple of times a week. We pass around Share Bear and everyone gets a chance to tell us something on their minds at the time. It DOES help with public speaking (I have no idea why you would think it didn't) and it forces those shy kids to break out of their comfort zones a little bit. Even if the kids don't have something to share, I make them share their names with everyone (even if everyone already knows their classmates' names) because they need to learn to take risks.

By the way, there are LOTS of ways for kids to get to know each other without getting up and giving the "all about me" speech. One of my favorites was having an "autograph party." You have a list of characteristics or events & the students have to go around the room finding someone who meets one of those criteria & they sign their name beside...for example
likes to eat broccoli______________
has been to europe______________
has an older brother______________
etc...

Answer 4

I agree that this is a "high risk" activity for kids - it can be very frightening because they must - A) tell about themselves & B) do it in front of everyone.

I think presenting information to the class can be very valuable because they have to know & be comfortable enough with the material to explain it to others and are building oral communication skills. Middle and high school students that I work with are required to do this frequently. Withs lots of presentatioms they become quite comfortable explaing their ideas to other and speaking to groups. Doing this once or twice a year but not be too worthwhlie in my opinon.

Answer 5

In my classroom the children get to choose if they would like to come to the front of the classroom to talk. If they aren't comfortable, I find other ways of helping them be comfortable in talking. We have a speaking stone we pass around and the children can share anything they want to for the day, but if they choose they can pass. If they pass, I usually try to find something that excites them to get them to feel comfortable in talking, like I ask them about their trip or who their favorite Pokemon character, etc.

I don't think it is always best to have children feel uncomfortable in the classroom, but at the same time, we need to also get children comfortable with situations like that because they will experience them in the workforce and much worse. We not only have to educate these little guys, but also get them ready for their jobs and hope that some of the morals we teach them rub off on them.

Answer 6

I teach ESL. I do a variation of this activity on the first day. I have the students interview one another and then present their partners to the class. It's a way for me to determine their ability to ask questions, answer questions and pronounce words in English. It also gives me an idea of their lifestyles, jobs and interests so that I can plan lessons related to their individual needs.

Answer 7

In the chool I work at, we have weekly topic talks, where the student is expected to speak for up to two minutes on a given topic.

All students are expected to participate, and their participation counts towards their final grade.

Speaking skills are part of the English syllabus here, and this is as good a way as any to assess it.

Answer 8

As a teacher, I don't make students stand up in front of class and tell about themselves. I have an activity we do weekly called "All about me " and the students bring in items that describe themselves (I do it as well) and you can either tell about what you brougt in and why or you can choose to just set it in the designated spot and if someone asks you about it, you can answer them. I find that this works really well

Answer 9

I have found that when we did those exercises if I heard something intersdting it made it easier for me as a classmate to remember that student. Also if I could not remember a name I woud say hey you were the one that .... right? then we could start a conversation. I have tons of friends from listening and then asking them about themselves more but not publicly.

I think it is great as long as you give people achance to pass if they are shy.

Answer 10

Generally, the kids know each other. Why don't you give each student an index card, and have them write three things about themselves they would like the teacher to know about them?