- When you ask a question, few students eagerly raise their hands to answer-This is probably one of the simplest ways for you to tell whether or not students are listening to and getting what you’re saying. When you pose a question, pay attention to how they respond. If getting them to answer is like pulling teeth, you might want to present the material you’re trying to teach in a different way and ask the question in a different manner.
- You can’t find a single student to make eye contact with- When students don’t make eye contact with you or look directly at you when you’re teaching, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not paying attention. Some students prefer not to look at their teacher as they actively process what’s being said. However, it’s definitely not a good sign if no one in your class is looking at you as you teach. In fact, if at least half of the learners in the class aren’t looking at you, it may be time to try to try out different teaching strategies in the lesson to engage them.
- Your students are excessively fidgety-If you notice the majority of your students are wiggling around quite a bit in their desks, shaking their feet, and tapping their pencils, it’s a pretty clear sign that what you’re saying is either boring them or making them uneasy because it doesn’t quite make sense. Students who are relatively still in their desks are usually the ones who are most focused and engaged in what their teachers are saying. So, do what you can to change your curriculum in order to minimize the fidgeting in your classroom.
The author of this site does not claim to be a professional in body language. Information provided in this site came from various sources and personal observations. Sources and additional reading material are included.