Methods of Teaching

Teacher:
Any particular kind of island?
Student 2:
A very small island.
Teacher:
OK. Where is the island in our story?
Student 3:
It’s near Aruba.
Teacher:
Good. What else?
Student 4:
In the Caribbean.
Teacher:
OK. (The teacher tells students to locate the island on their individual
maps. When she is satisfied that everyone has located the island, she
continues.) This story takes place at what time in history?

---

88
ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN EDUCATION/B.ED. (HONS) ELEMENTARY
Student 5:
1942.
Teacher:_OK,_but_are_they_in_Europe_Student_8:_No._Teacher:_Then_why_is_this_little_island_in_the_Caribbean_affected_Student_9'>Teacher:
Good. What important thing was happening then?
Student 6:
It was the middle of World War II.
Teacher:
Where did most of the fighting take place in World War II?
Student 7:
Europe.
Teacher:
OK, but are they in Europe?
Student 8:
No.
Teacher:
Then why is this little island in the Caribbean affected?
Student 9:
It’s a world war so it affects lots of places.
Teacher:
True, but why this place?
Student 10:
Because there are three submarines there.
Teacher:
But why?
Student 11: 
Because of a supply of oil there.
Teacher:
So what? Why is oil important?
Student 12:
It’s worth a lot of money.
Teacher:
Why?
Student 13:
Because it is rare and we need it.
Teacher:
OK, it’s an important natural resource that’s not plentiful everywhere.
The teacher who taught this lesson acknowledges that it is a recitation rather than a discus-
sion and that it is controlled by the teacher. The class is preparing to discuss and critique 
a novel. In order to do that, the students need to have the story’s context. The teacher’s 
major goal with this recitation was to assure that everyone had the story’s specific back-
ground facts; this was done by asking the students questions rather than giving them those 
facts. The students’ answers also allow the teacher to know what prior knowledge students 
bring to their interpretation of the novel and to correct any misconceptions they may have.
Discussion 
Discussion is a form of verbal interaction in which students work together to consider 
an issue or a question. It is intended to stimulate a variety of responses, to encourage 
students to consider different points of view, to foster problem-solving, to examine 
implications, and to relate material to personal experience.

---

FACULTY RESOURCES: Methods of Teaching
89
The students whose discussion is excerpted below have just read Buford the Little 
Bighorn, a story about a little mountain sheep with huge horns that cause him consid-
erable trouble throughout the story. At the very end of the story Buford discovers that 
his horns have some use after all. The students are discussing whether Buford will ever 
consider returning them to a normal size. 
Teacher:
My ladies and gents, let’s review how to behave in a discussion. If
someone’s talking, we don’t cut them off, right? Raise your
hand and I will recognize you. Remember, you can’t just say, ‘I agree’
or ‘I disagree’. You have to be able to defend your answer. 
What does that mean? Sheneika?