I was in a year four class this week with a teacher who said “who is talking when i am talking,how rude, is that you Emily?”(not her real name).The teacher used a stern voice and shook her head at the child who went read, looked at her feet and probably wanted the ground to open up as the whole class proceeded to look at her. Maybe the teacher was stressed and worried about trying to control her class, but the child’s reaction made me think about how often, consciously or unconsciously we may shame children, and how awful this must feel for them.
I wonder if a more gentle response such as “remember we all need to try and listen when i am talking” may have been equally as effective and less uncomfortable for the child!