Re: Personal Response Systems (clickers)

[SheilaARS@aol.com]

Peter:  Since our school is in PI, we modified our language arts and  math 
this past fall.  There are 12 of us who went through forty hours of  REACH 
training, and we began in November.  They provided us with the  clickers.  To be 
honest, I thought they were demeaning and would never work  with my students.  
To my astonishment, they love the clicker.  It  seems oddly enough to force 
kids to keep on a beat.  I have been amazed  because if I forget to click, they 
all yell "you forgot the click!"  There  are a couple of teachers in our group 
who have thrown them in the garbage; said  they gave them migraines.  I am 
guessing that if you like a quiet, subdued  class, the clicker isn't for you.  If 
you are a class of noise, talk,  interaction, this just keeps it more 
focused.  Believe me, I would never  have thought I would be saying this.  Of course, 
let's face it; part of it  is in the "presentation" by the teacher.  I try 
(and sometimes it's agony)  to make REACH fun, because it is BORING.  But I kind 
of click in a rhythmic  way, and kids want to shout out.  Go figure, huh!
Sheila Stark