At researchED Birmingham taught a live Year 10 lesson on why Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol. The brief was to demonstrate how teachers can be sure all students are paying attention, understanding what has been taught and getting better at the skills they need to master.
The group were keen. They wanted to show what they knew about Victorian poverty, philanthropy, Dickens’ anger at social indifference. They leaned forward, were keen to speculate and revise their answers when challenged. It was, in many respects, too easy.
Except for one boy. He wasn’t disruptive but it was clear he didn’t really want to be there. When asked a question he muttered, “dunno,” or shrugged. When pressed, he looked at me with something close to panic. There was nothing aggressive or defiant in his attitude, he was just desperate for me to leave him alone.
In many of the schools I visit, there exists a wary ceasefire. Teachers know that if they don’t expect too much, …
