The part of the reading that stuck in my mind the most was the comparison of students to blocks of stone. Teachers have a level of mastery for each subject and the student’s grade is based on their level of mastery. How disappointing is it to see a C or D on a paper you worked incredibly hard on? I had a professor who asked us to come up with ideas on teaching a math concept. My partner and I worked together to create a lesson that taught in a meaningful and motivating way only to have the professor say this is what I want you to teach and how. She had decided what she wanted us to do before we left the class to make plans for our lesson. Our lesson was dismissed without her even listening to what we had to say, our hard work not even acknowledged.
I work as a special education teacher and all my students are working at different levels. I want them to feel great about what they have accomplished. I try to remind myself to acknowledge what they have done and how far they have progressed even if it is just one problem more than the day before. Sometimes we as teachers lose sight of what we are truly trying to accomplish. That is to ensure our students leave our classrooms not just with knowledge of curriculum, but also the knowledge that they are someone special who can do anything they set their minds to. Students are not just a grade.
I agree with you that students should not only leave the classroom with the knowledge of the curriculum but also knowing they are special and can do anything they set their minds to. It is interesting to see how a student's face lights up or how they sit up a little straighter in their desk when you give them praise. They tend to try a little harder and put more effort into the class on their own. This is something that as a teacher and a mom, I need to strive towards.
ReplyDeleteCherie,
ReplyDeleteYour statement, “students are not just a grade” is very profound. When you and your partner were putting together the lesson for teaching math concepts, the professor should have taken the time to listen to your presentation, allowing you to explain why you thought your approach would benefit the students. By dismissing your idea without even looking at it, the professor can actually be doing more harm than good. You work with these students on a daily basis and see what is going on in class. You know their personalities and what motivates them. Unfortunately, this is how a teacher can become unmotivated as well and just stick to teaching the curriculum. It takes a teacher, like yourself, who wants to make a difference and continues to find creative ways to teach.
Cherie,
ReplyDeleteI am a special education teacher at heart. That was my first job and I have a true passion for it. I agree that students, whether they are in special education or not, need to be encouraged for the effort that they put in. Although, some encouragement is not as helpful as others. Students know when they are being praised falsely. If they are not putting in the effort and you praise them with a blanket, “great job,” or “nice work,” they will learn to mistrust your praise. I have been working very hard to make my encouragement very specific and targeted. The students begin to understand that I am interested in the effort in the process and not the end result. They will also see my praise as something accurate and measurable, as truly trust that I am rewarding them for something that they feel proud of too.
Cherie I am right there with you about providing students with just more than knowledge. Creating a sense of self worth amongst students and their environment is something that we are continuously working on at our campus. The life that some of these students experience does not afford them with the support of feeling or finding their place in life. A sense of belonging is all some students are looking for. Providing and accommodating the needs of our student population is the goal of our learning community. Before learning can even start their needs to be a relationship of trust and belief amongst our students that their teachers are going to provide the best setting and opportunity to discover their potential and focus on what needs more attention.
ReplyDeleteSometimes just listening to your students and discovering what they are truly like will build and environment where they are motivated and willing to meet you half way so that the learning process is achieved with relative ease and positive experiences. Not every learning community is like another, the commonality they both possess is that they are there for the need of the student and the community. Educating students is not just giving a grade it is about building long lasting relationships and setting an example of what educated people are like and the traits they posses.
I wish you continued success and hope that all students continue to take advantage of this blessing which presents itself. I too work with the same population of students and find it very satisfying when levels of achievement are reached merely due to their interest and continued need to go far and beyond those limits that have been placed upon them. Students are only limited by the amount of what lacks on the part of the teacher. Being motivating and a positive figure is what every student looks for. By the looks of it your students must really enjoy attending your class.
Teaching should encourage exploration and discovery. There's nothing wrong with structure, but you'd be amazed at what students accomplish when you give Thames the freedom to risk. At the same time you are so correct that it's not the headlines but the little meaningful steps that make all the difference.
ReplyDelete