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Stop Teaching, Start Facilitating

Writer's picture: Dr. Nadine O'GarroDr. Nadine O'Garro

Hey Super Teachers!


Let’s talk about your role in the classroom. Spoiler alert: it’s not about endless teaching—it’s about strategic facilitation.


Here’s the thing: Real learning happens when students actively engage with the work themselves. Your job is to empower them to succeed independently, which means minimizing your talk time to only what’s necessary to set them up for success. This will free you up to circulate and facilitate while students collaborate in pairs or small groups.


Think about this: if you were sitting in professional development where the facilitator spoke for 45 minutes straight, advancing slides with minimal engagement, how would you feel? Bored? Distracted? Maybe a little frustrated? That’s exactly how your students feel when we dominate the lesson. Most of them have learned to “play school,” but true learning happens when they grapple with tasks, not when they passively listen.


Here’s the solution: Design lessons that prioritize student engagement. In your 5-Part Reusable Structure, ensure your lesson introduction is concise; 7-10 minutes is ideal, but no more than 15 minutes. Use this time to:

  • Introduce key vocabulary (especially for multilingual learners).

  • Activate prior knowledge by asking questions.

  • Provide a clear, focused presentation of concepts or skills they’ll need for the classwork activity.


How do you determine what’s essential to share? By doing the work yourself first. Completing the task ensures you know what information your students need in order to access the lesson independently.

Silently Circulate, Collect Data
Silently Circulate, Collect Data

Ready to see the magic happen? While students work, step back and observe silently for the first 3-5 minutes. Pay attention to who starts immediately, who’s engaged, and who seems off-task. This data will guide your next steps as you circulate to provide targeted support.





Need help refining your facilitation strategies? Let’s partner! Schedule a coaching call today to transform your classroom practices into sustainable, student-centered excellence.

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