Even before I decided to run for the Dysart Governing Board, I spent time watching videos from teachers on social media. I am grateful for the teachers who are willing to step forward and give the public a glimpse into what they deal with every day in our public school classrooms.
Some of their stories are frustrating. Others are funny. And every once in a while, I come across an idea that makes me think, “That is brilliant!”
Recently, I watched a teacher explain her “secret weapon” for surviving the classroom.
She has an Alexa in every class.
No, not the electronic device sitting on the teacher’s desk.
Each week, one student signs up to be the classroom “Alexa.”
When another student asks a question that has already been answered, instead of the teacher becoming frustrated or repeating the same instructions for the fifth time, she simply says:
“Alexa, would you please repeat what I said earlier?”
The student serving as Alexa then gives the answer.
I love this idea for several reasons.
First, the student playing Alexa has an incentive to listen carefully. They know their classmates may be depending on them later, so suddenly paying attention becomes a responsibility—and even a little bit of fun.
Second, it saves the teacher from constantly repeating herself. Teachers already have enough on their plates without answering the same question over and over because someone wasn’t listening.
But there is another benefit that I think may be even more important.
If “Alexa” repeats the instructions and gets them wrong, the teacher receives immediate feedback. Maybe the student wasn’t listening—but perhaps the original instructions weren’t as clear as the teacher thought. That gives the teacher an opportunity to explain the lesson or directions differently.
That’s good teaching.
It is also an example of something we sometimes forget when discussing education policy: teachers know their classrooms. They develop creative solutions every day to keep students engaged, manage behavior and make learning work.
Not every good idea requires a new program, expensive technology, a consultant or another mandate from administration.
Sometimes it just requires listening to teachers.
And sometimes, apparently, it requires Alexa.
I hope a Dysart teacher or two reads this and gives the idea a try. If you do, I would love to hear how it works in your classroom.
