I do not know why Pre-literates engage in the autoecholalia mechanism every time they are asked a Circling Question. The teacher simply says, “Clase, ¿Sponge Bob fue a WalMart o Hanna Montana fue a WalMart?”
Left to to answer naturally, all pandemonium breaks loose. Each child begins to holler out his or her choice, repeating it over and over, louder and louder, each time in varying tones, volumes and velocities.
Some: Hanna Montana! Hanna Montana…Hanna MonTAna!
Others: Sponge Bob…SPONGE Bob! Sponge Bob!
When this happens, no one can hear, and the CI can not get in.
Not to worry, though. With Carol Gaab’s Managed Response, that reflex is effectively cut off.
Before a “Yes/No Question” is even asked, I remind them to give a Silent Response via the chosen gestures. This provides silence so that everyone can still hear me while they are answering. This comes after they and I have been fully trained, of course…it is so contra my nature that I am still struggling to master it, even after several months of practice.
For an “Either/Or Question,” while I am still stating it, I effectively shove the five-fingered hand between them and me to begin the count from five to zero, out loud at first, then eventually with just my fingers, once they get the gist. At zero, I point a finger at them, and then they give the answer.
Magically, with the simple passage of 5 seconds, the urge to autoechlaliate subsides, and everyone calmly blurts out their answer one time!
When I first noticed this, I couldn’t believe it. I was speechless. The Great Carol Gaab is right again, a master of the pre-literate brain!
It is not easy for me to do this, though. I naturally just want to blurt the question and go on, but then I am almost NEVER rewarded with calm, one word answers, so I have to do something.
The challenges come in terms of my self-discipline to first insist upon the Silent Response with “Clase…sí o no” while simultaneously doing the gesture agreed upon for each, and then asking the question…and to shove that hand full of fingers out before they can even utter a sound after an “Either/Or Question!”
Although it is harder to do, Carol is right about managing chaos. No one can hear, no CI gets in and instructional time is wasted.
But, I have one of two choices as to when I have to wait. Either I wait while they autoecholaliate with no one able to hear, or they wait until the last finger goes down and I point, at which time the urge for chatter is usually gone.
For me, the latter is harder, but so much more effective. I know I will keep striving to hone this one for at least another year!
Thanks to Carol, everyone can now have the opportunity to both hear and answer at the same time!
For more on Managed Response, please visit Carol Gaab’s website at www.tprstorytelling.com and attend one of her Pre-literate Webinars.
