tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401000866208250596.post5157828021743330004..comments2017-05-02T11:25:16.020-04:00Comments on Free-Range ELT: Safety DanceKathy Faganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03560485763212635239noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401000866208250596.post-84179900747162283212011-12-27T11:25:47.492-05:002011-12-27T11:25:47.492-05:00Thanks for the tip about your article! I couldn&#...Thanks for the tip about your article! I couldn't get a connection at that link -- did KOTESOL move their website -- but I found it here: http://www.koreatesol.org/TEC/TECSummer2011.pdf<br /><br />I especially love the experience of Jeong-A Lee, who models making mistakes and taking them in stride in order to help her students feel comfortable with doing that too.<br /><br />I hadn't thought of letting the students know what's coming in their next class as as safety-builder (idea suggested by Eun-Ju Jang), but it makes sense. That ties naturally to an unplugged approach where "materials" come from the people in the room. Students have a chance to bring something from home that relates to the upcoming topic, for example.<br /><br />One-on-ones (Eunji Lee and Bu-Kil Cho) are the takeaway for me. I can see how these would build trust with the teacher, and hence strenthen safety!<br /><br />A Happy New Year to you too!Kessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15910475492465092325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4401000866208250596.post-86319078306009324952011-12-27T07:25:02.569-05:002011-12-27T07:25:02.569-05:00Kathy, thank you so much for this post and for men...Kathy, thank you so much for this post and for mentioning my blog! I love that song and each time I listen to it also brings to mind the concept of safety in the classroom. It's so very cool that you thought the same thing! :)<br /><br />I really connected to the rules (norms) discussion that you have with your students. This is an activity/concept I have introduced to the teachers in my classroom management lessons. They have largely appreciated and connected to the concept. <br /><br />I also really connected to the idea of being yourself. It seems so simple but so many of us try to create a type of teacher image, not realizing that out discomfort translates into the classroom atmosphere. <br /><br />I sense that this also relates to your relationship to the concept of mindfulness. A few years ago I took an online course which helped teachers connect mindfulness meditation practice to reflective teaching. It was amazing. When I read your "about" page I immediately thought of this experience. You might be interested in what they have to offer http://www.mindfulinquiry.org/<br /><br />One last thing, you might also be interested in an article I wrote about the concept of safety and support http://tokenteach.wordpress.com/publications/<br /><br />Happy blogging and Happy New Year!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com