Saturday, October 09, 2004
October's Thought-Provoking Question(s)
With so many students in each class, and with so many classes each day, can a teacher ever really get to know a particular student well enough to meet his or her learning needs? Have you had, or do you have, teachers who seemed to know you well? Or who were able to give you the attention you needed and not make you feel lost in the crowd?
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If I get to know teachers outside class, then they know stuff about me and can talk to me about it in class. If I don't already know the teachers and I'm in big classes, I might never even talk to them. I'll bet some of my teachers don't even know what my voice sounds like. But I don't know how they should be expected to talk to each of us and still do whatevver teaching they have to do that day.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I've got some biggish classes, and the teachers still make time to talk to me and get to know me somewhat. Just by asking questions and saying hi outside of school, mostly, like at the mall or restaurants.
ReplyDeleteJust as some teachers turn out to be the scariest people in the world, some end up as your most enjoyable memories. Has a teacher ever gotten to know me? Well, has the time to do that? I barely have the time to do that. Some have given it a shot throughout the years. I remember Maney always asking me how I was as I strolled in for class. I think all it takes to get someone to open up is by being just a little bit nicer, more compassionate, than the next person. It only takes a moment's worth of effort to make a lasting impression like that. You don't always need to get to know someone's innermost workings to make a great memory, and the latter is often the most impactful.
ReplyDeleteJournalism class lesson: Aim for quality, versus quantity. And if it's true for writing, then it must also be for life.
*Winks*
From across the Atlantic pond...I think a lot of teachers try to actually get to know their students but a lot of times it's a certain group. Some teachers really aim to getting aquainted with the athletes, other's with the theatre people, the really intelligent kids, the artists...but in one way or another they all try. Then you have the awesome English/Drama/Advanced Writing teachers who try to get to know everyone and who you can talk to about anything! I really like your new site by the way. Miss you Moberg!!!
ReplyDeleteHey, "Anonymous" from across the Atlantic! Good to hear from you, and I'm glad that you found me on the Web. You're probably right about a teacher's getting to know a group of students, especially if that is the group that the teacher coaches or directs, etc, in extracurricular activities, too. I wonder if I DO try to get to know everyone as well as I should . . . there must be students who feel ignored by me. It's nice to hear that you think I do, though. And I miss you, too! I hope all is well on The Isle. E-mail me when you know more about your post-secondary plans.
ReplyDeleteDo we WANT teachers to know us? I guess I"m just fine with having a "school" life that teachers know and a "real" life that my friends know.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the thing about certain teachers "reaching out" to students with the same interests as them. I think that is awesome that people with the same interests are able to connect on a different levels other than math or english or history. It's life, some people are just meant to get along better with some people and not as well with others. In my opinion we have a very good staff at our HS that is involved with student activities and try to connect with students as much as possible. I think that it is different for us though, living in a small community and such, because no matter what, people know you or your parents or someone. Well let's wrap this up, I don't feel lost in the crowd, maybe it's just a sally thing, but I think that our teachers do a pretty good job at getting to know us.
ReplyDeleteMost of my teachers dont know me very well but this is mostly because I choose to be lost in the crowd. I like knowing that when I come into class all I have to do is sit there and listen and I dont have to worry about what the teacher thinks of me.If a teacher knew that my passion is writing then they're going to expect all my papers to be A+'s and thats too much pressure for me. So when teachers try to make me feel important in a class I basically ignore it because I would rather be in my own world in class then have everyone expect me to be Mrs Sunshine and talk to everyone and share my opinions. I like being alone.
ReplyDeleteI don't think teachers have enough time in their hour to personalize to each student. A teacher may try to remember the type of person they are, or remember something small that separates them from the rest of the class. I don't believe that a teacher could, in a larger class, learn each personal style of learning. Personally I think I have teachers who know me pretty well, but unless I go up to them a lot, they won't know my personal style of learning. --Katie D. (1st period)
ReplyDeleteI think that teachers can get to know particular students by the way they do their work. If a student has a problem with something, a teacher can usually tell and try to help them. I know a few teachers that have helped me, but I think their are also others that don't even pay attention to things like that and teach the class as a whole, not helping individual students....Sarah U. period 3
ReplyDeleteI think that a teacher can get to know their students by talking to them everyday.Also, I have never felt lost in the crowd in any of my classes but thats because if I join the class in the discussion I feel like I know more. So I think that if you hold more classroom discussions and call on people to say something they will become more into the class and learn more from what I have experienced. Also teachers seem to know me more if by older brothers and sisters or if they recognize my last name and they ask me if I know someone that they know. Or maybe if they just know my parents, they seem to ask me questions about them--Bailey S. (Per.3)
ReplyDeleteI think that a teacher can get to know their students by talking to them everyday.Also, I have never felt lost in the crowd in any of my classes but thats because if I join the class in the discussion I feel like I know more. So I think that if you hold more classroom discussions and call on people to say something they will become more into the class and learn more from what I have experienced. Also teachers seem to know me more if by older brothers and sisters or if they recognize my last name and they ask me if I know someone that they know. Or maybe if they just know my parents, they seem to ask me questions about them--Bailey S. (Per.3)
ReplyDeleteYo, this blog is phat.
ReplyDeleteI believe that in our school most teachers know their students well enough to have a conversasion with them. I personaly have many teachers that know me either because of my parents, older siblings or I see them out of school. In our school system we have teachers who care and want to get to know us to make us feel more comfortable in their class and it will help us learn better. So yes, I beleive teachers can get to know a student well enough to meet his or her learning needs, if they wanted to!-----Ashley A. 3rd period
ReplyDeleteTeachers know me because of my older sisters. I have met most of their teachers even if I don't have them for a teacher myself. Teachers get to know me by asking me questions when I come in for help with the homework or something like that. I don't make a point of talking to my teachers after class or school hours, but if I see them I am willing to chit-chat with them. As far as meeting my learning needs, most teachers do. I am fine with learning in large groups as well as small groups. Teaching one on one is not my favorite way of learning but if I have a question it is the only way to get the answer. So almost every teacher I have had has met my learning needs and the attention I need. I know most of my teachers and all of my teachers know me. I am not one to willingly say the answer to a question or read aloud. That is the only thing in classes that makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't think I have ever felt lost in the crowd because whenever I am confused with what we are learning I am not afriad to ask.
ReplyDeleteI think that there are too many students for teachers to remember. Especially when they just enter high school. And good job to all the teachers who can remember the names of all their students! I think that all my teachers( in the past and present) have been good at helping me and giving me enough attention. I think that it is better for the teachers to learn everybody's name becuase it gives the classroom a relaxing and welcoming environment. It makes the students feel comfortable. I also think that a teacher can get to know a student well. If they see them everyday in and out of school and in activities they should be able to recognize them and know there name.-H.S.
ReplyDeleteMegan says... Coming from a school much smaller than Senior High, I've had a different experience with teachers. In a school where there are about 20 kids in a grade..yea...grade.. lol and 400 some residents in town, teachers have more one-on-one time with each student. Not only do they see them in the classroom, but also in the halls, at lunch (everyone eats together k-12 haha), at games, and at the c-store (which is Cenex to all you 'big-town' kids). Not only do we have these same teachers every year- some for more than one subject per day- but some teachers even had our parents as students. Also, we had seen a lot of the teachers since we were in kindergarten while walking up and down the halls filled with the "big kids" and hearing stories about each of them. Then we became the big kids and finally had all those teachers in class. We realize that, although some stories were true, there was still a lot to be learned about our teachers. We came to know them as people- not just teachers, and they came to know us as kids- not just students. It's important to have a relationship with your teachers becuase for one, they're there to help you learn, and for two, they truly care and when you hit a rough spot, you'll be surprised to find they'll one of the first to offer their advice/comfort. I guess all you have to do is put forth some effort, becuase if they're a teacher, they're there because they want to help and they care. All you have to do is ask; make yourself heard, even if it means going in before or after school. Just don't let yourself become one in the crowd.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of the other comments that I previously read. During class, teachers can't just concentrate on one student. Their job is to work with the whole class and not leave anybody out. 'Out of class' activities, such as sports, speech, or the musical with your teachers allow you to get to know them OUT of class, which allows you to know them IN class. I think that teachers are friendly in class and do as much as they can without losing focus with the whole class. -Anna Hagen
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of the other comments that I previously read. During class, teachers can't just concentrate on one student. Their job is to work with the whole class and not leave anybody out. 'Out of class' activities, such as sports, speech, or the musical with your teachers allow you to get to know them OUT of class, which allows you to know them IN class. I think that teachers are friendly in class and do as much as they can without losing focus with the whole class. -Anna Hagen
ReplyDeleteThis is Ally, Ok I think that teachers in this school do meet our learning needs tha† we are aquired to. I do think that you can get to know your teacher well but I think that the kids in school should take there own initative to get to know their teachers better. I also think that the teachers are doing a good job to keep their class a class, because teachers arent there to be your friend they are there to teach.
ReplyDeleteI think that a teacher could get to know students better if they really wanted to. I don't know if the student would want that, but if they did they could go in after school and ask for help. But I do think that it would be hard for a teacher to concentrate on a certain student.amy j per.1
ReplyDeleteOnly a few teachers have gotten to know me very well,but i do think that the teachers could easiely get to know everystudent alot better if they would just take the time to talk to them about things and/or say hi in the halls "how are u? good day?" stuff like that. One teacher always seemed to make it feel like i wasnt just a student but was actually someone, But lets not get into that. lol
ReplyDeleteSara Pape
I feel that yes teachers can get to know students well enough. See you l8r Mr. Moberg.
ReplyDeleteGeoff Johnson