Friday, September 23, 2011
Case Study Two Fall 2011
Choose either Vanessa or Tyrone to post your reflection and reaction to his/her interview. Please discuss any experiences you had with these type students in high school or in college. How would you interact with either situation if you were their teacher. Respond to at least three of your classmates posts. DUE by 11:59 September 25, 2011.
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(Tyrone) Tyrone was smart, handsome, and athletic but he sometimes did not use discretion in the choices he made in life. He did the bare minimum in school and his grades were a description of the amount of study time he invested. Tyrone tried harder in school during basketball season in order to stay eligible to play, but would let them practically sink after the season. I can relate to Tyrone, in the high school where I attended, there were many guys just like him. During basketball and football season, the teachers gave them a good grade in order for them to stay eligible to play, a grade they did not deserve. But after the season was over, these same athletes were in remedial classes to learn what they should have during the course of the season. Most of these students were from underprivileged areas. Their parents showed a lack of concern which I believe led to their actions. As a future educator I believe each student should attain the proper education and skills to succeed. Tyrone has created a pattern whereas sports have become more important than obtaining a quality education. I feel yes, becoming an athlete is great, but your first priority is your education. You have to set high expectations to make your kids succeed in life. Explain to them, basketball and football isn’t a promised outlet in life, but a college education is. Tyrone discussed how he enjoyed school but he had a hard time staying focused on his classes. As a teacher, I will be the loving, kind, warm individual that each student will enjoy learning on a daily basis. I will also provide my class with a warm and safe environment just as to make them feel at home. I will also hold high expectations and uphold them. I believe a teachers’ attitude toward learning will affect the students whether it is good or bad. Also, in order to keep my students focused, it is my intention to keep them active with lots of different activities. This will keep them engaged in whatever is being taught. I will always iterate to my students the sky is not the limit so just keep reaching and you will accomplish your goals.
ReplyDelete~Stanjuarnia Lucious
I found Vanessa's story very interesting. I had friends like Vanessa in high school who's main concern was being popular. They did not come to school for an education. These friends liked school, but for all the wrong reasons. High school was like a social event for them. My friends were considered to be popular and members of the "in-crowd". These friends often got in to trouble as a result of doing things to maintain their popularity at school. Some of my friends were also like Vanessa's friends who became pregnant and mothers at a young age. My friends who became pregnant unfortunately did not graduate from high school. Some of my friends from high school regrettable made poor choices trying to fit in with the "in crowd". Unfortunately, the poor choices my friends made in high school had a negative impact on their future.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher I would make sure to provide a safe learning environment were Vanessa could excel academically. I would set high expectations for her to meet that were achievable as long as she applied herself. I would develop a positive relationship with Vanessa. I would try to appeal to her interest and make learning as relevant to her life as possible. I would treat Vanessa with respect and encourage her to reach her fullest potential. I would ensure Vanessa knows that she is capable of achieving her dreams as long as she applies herself and works hard when she goes to college. I would try to keep in contact with Vanessa after she graduates from high school to continue to encourage her to pursue her dreams no matter what.
Vanessa was the student who viewed school as a social event instead of a learning environment. It took Vanessa to reach her senior year in high school to realize that she should have been more serious about school as well as her grades. Although Vanessa had teachers who tried to get her to work to her full potential, she felt that popularity and socializing was the most important thing. Throughout my time in high school I saw many students who viewed school the same way as Vanessa; a time for socializing. Although many of those students have potential to be excellent students, their focus just was not on academics. This had a strong effect on the students after graduation, many were so focused on other aspects of high school they never really prepared themselves for life after graduation.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher I would try my hardest to make students like Vanessa and Tyrone realize that their is life after high school; THE REAL WORLD, and in the real world people really don't care if you are homecoming queen or the school's prom king. Teachers have to make students realize that learning is important part of life, popularity and athletics will only get you so far. Like people always say knowledge is power! The more knowledge you have the more opportunities you will receive in life.
As reading Vanessa's story I can see how it relates to a lot of students today. It also relates back to when I was in High School, I can remember that there was always a group of girls that wanted to be the popular girls, they got all the attention and ultimately tried to take all the shine in the school that they could. With this day and age that we are in now in High School image and popularity seems to still mean a lot in many people's eyes. If you're not up on the latest trends, technology, or slang then you are not considered to be a part of the "in-crowd" which now everyone pretty much wants to be a part of so they won’t be considered "lame". Vanessa wanted badly to be a part of this fine group of people which is why she would often stray away from doing her school work and just focusing on what her next look would be. I believe that with Vanessa growing up in a home of 8 children and being the oldest the spotlight was taken off of her and placed on her younger siblings and now with all the attention being on them she would use school as a way to get that attention back why wanting and needing to be popular. With reading more into Vanessa's story I think that many students feel exactly how Vanessa feels about High School, it’s looked at as if it's just a social ground. I think as a teacher I would handle Vanessa’s situation just as she wanted school to be handled in the back of her mind. She felt her teacher was like a mother and made learning fun and also exposed the students to real life situations before she taught it. I feel that teacher's should be more like a mother/father to the students, besides the students are in your care for 8 whole hours and you would want your child well taken care of if you had to leave them every day for that long. I also feel strongly that a teacher should call home every so often to tell the parents of the GOOD things that the student has done instead of just always sending home the bad reports. As Vanessa stated it would make her feel good and want to work harder. As a upcoming teacher I also feel strongly that teachers should respect students and they would want to be respected (you have to give respect to earn respect) and each teacher should set high expectations to let the students know that you believe in them and everything they strive to do.
ReplyDeleteTyrone was a phenomenal athlete, handsome and a personality to top it all off. This is the guy that many girls in my high school though were “it”! They thought that this was the guy that they wanted in their life, and majority of the time thinking, he can get “us” out of the hood. There were many guys like this in my high school that I encountered, and may have even dated one. Many times guys of this caliber use sports as an outlet of not only the hood, but from the life that they have at home with family. Sports occupy their time and put them in a dreamland where they don’t necessarily experience at home. Many times, when the guys would express their feelings about going to the NBA or NFL, the teachers would shoot their dreams down and tell them that they will never be a professional at anything. This is where a lot of teachers and PEOPLE mess up with our children. It would be my duty to ensure the students that they can be anything that their heart desires, but you have to work hard at it. I will be a positive role model and give them instruction that is centered around their dreams. It is so important to let the students know that it is so much more involved in playing that sport; you have to know how to count your money, so that your accountant isn’t robbing you. The professional also has to know how to read, so that you know what type of contract you are signing. When I have the opportunity to teach this kind of student, I will not blow their dream. I would take time out to let them know that all of the things that I am teaching them can be used towards their big dream of becoming a professional player in the league. It is important to let the students know how they can use the material that they are given, because why would anyone take time out to learn something that is not essential to everyday life. I would not rob my students of their education I will try to make it as clear as possible, but still sticking to the curriculum. Students will not CHILL in my class that is definitely not an option.
ReplyDelete@shonteria
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with you when you stated that you would treat Vanessa just as she wanted to be treated. We as teachers have to understand that all students are different and we have to cater to all of their needs. Yes, teachers should focus more on the positive things that the students do, this will make them happier as well. When teachers always focus on negativity, this begins to rub off on them as well, they are negative 24/7!!
@Andrea
You are so right when you say there is LIFE after high school. Many students go through high school thinking that it will last forever and they will be taken care of somehow, I guess by the BIRDS . I strongly agree with you when you stated that you would try your best to be real with them at all times about the popularity. Sometimes teachers are not real with students, they are just there to get paid. Teachers like you will bring the students down to reality and ensure them that they have something waiting on them at the end of that stage!
@Devon,
I love how you said that you would set high expectations for Vanessa. If teachers don’t expect great thing from students, they will not give them great things. The higher you set the expectations for your students, the better the response that you will get from them. I think that when teachers go beyond the classroom by keeping in contact with their students after crossing the stage, it makes a big difference. Having someone to talk to when times get hard or when you feel like giving up is so important. Teachers can make the difference in so many ways; we just have to go beyond the classroom.
After reading Tyrone's interview, I feel like I have know many young men like him in high school and college. Through my experiences, students like Tyrone really have one focus and that focus is mainly whatever sport they are gifted at. These students usually miss many of classes, yet always seem to do well on tests and assignments. Tyrone tries harder during the basketball season because his goal is to stay eligible to play basketball. When I was in high school, I did notice that many athletes were eligible to play during their respective season even though they did not try particularly hard during their offseason.
ReplyDeleteIf I was the teacher of Tyrone, I would encourage Tyrone to find another hobby or interest in addition to sports. I also think it is important to hold him accountable for his actions within in the classroom. I would try not to be a teacher who makes it hard on him to pass the class, with scheduling tests on game day, but I would tell him I expect him to take my test and pass each test. Like most of the students interviewed, Tyrone believes that teachers that show respect towards their students are generally respected back. I would show him respect by expecting that he WILL do well in my class.
@ De’Von: I agree. There were many girls that attended school with me just like Vanessa. They only attended for the popularity and not the education. These ladies often did the wrong things which lead to disciplinary actions. They had to be with the in-crowd. So, due to their poor choices in life, most of these women now were left with poor outcomes in their future.
ReplyDelete@ Andrea: I agree. As a teacher, I also plan to recapitulate to my students, the sky is not the limit. So, just keep reaching and you will succeed.
@ Shonteria: I agree. There are many kids like Vanessa who’s in a home being the oldest sibling and is always left out. So, as a teacher, I will always provide my class with a warm and safe environment to make them feel like home. But my excitations will remain high, because all of my kids have the ability to succeed.
After reading Tyrone's story, he is typical of many handsome star athletes I attended high school with. Like Tyrone they enjoyed the social aspect of school and only did enough work to maintain eligibility to play their desired sport. School for him was where he found security, commitment and love. His outlet in sport was a determining factor that could help him support his family and relieve them from the stressful "hood" life. However, the pressure of success of attending college and becoming a professional athlete weighed heavily on Tyrone. In my own personal experience, almost all the of the talented athletes I went to high school were weighed with these same options.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher, I would inspire students such as Tyrone to not only succeed athletically but also academically. Many teachers make the mistakes by stifling their male athletes and discouraging them that their talents could actual take them to the levels they dream and desire for. I would want my students to understand and learn that when they take their athleticism to the next level the should strive for the same in academics to exhaust all opportunities. In teaching, a teacher has to know that they are not only provide learning but also inspiration, admiration, support, and encourage. Sometimes a teacher is a child's only support team. That's why respect and trust is vital in a student- teacher relationship.
@Whitney I totally agree. A teacher has to inspire a student that they can be anything they want to be in life. In my opinion as that role model its our duty!! Teacher instruction based around that dream is a clever idea.
ReplyDelete@Shonteria Respect and high expectation says it all. Teachers are the most seen role model in a student's life why not inspire.
@Andrea You so right most students don't understand life after high school. I was one of those students. Teachers should prepare them for the knowledge that will help them succeed.
There are many students like Vanessa who go to school everyday not to learn but because of the fun things they might experience there. When I was in high school there were groups of people who were popular and they seemed to be the "life of the party". However, some of those students did not do so well all because they got too caught up with popularity and all the fun things they had experienced. From reading about Vanessa, I do believe that she might have forgotten the real reason as to why she was in school. She had been popular her whole life and she started thinking that school was nothing but a social experience rather than a learning environment. As Vanessa gets older I do see that she starts to realize that school is all about learning and graduating and she even has some career goals of her own. I also think that school had to have been boring for her maybe because some of her teachers did not make the learning fun. As a teacher candidate I believe that learning should not be boring but fun and interesting so that the students will want to participate and actually pay attention. Judging by how Vanessa described some of her favorite teachers, it seemed as if she was used to being taught in a way where she was interested and enjoyed learning. Another observation I saw was what Vanessa said when she was asked about paying attention in class. She says something about how some students do not like the teachers and that they tend to misbehave and not pay attention. Vanessa also mentions that there is not much learning going on because the teachers are constantly writing referrals to the office. This all has to be because the teachers are probably not teaching to where students want to listen. Also these teachers are probably not managing their classrooms correctly.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher I would handle Vanessa's situation by just being a teacher who will teach her and her fellow students to where they will want to learn and pay attention. I would also have high expectations of my students and I will get to know them and respect them and their needs.I would also explain to Vanessa that school is not a social ground, even though you make friends there, but it is also a learning environment and that if she wants to achieve her career goals she must start with education.
Student Responses:
@ Andrea: I totally agree with how students have to realize that there is something called the "real world" where people do not care about popularity. They must understand that education is more important than anything and we as future teachers have to make sure that our students are prepared.
@ De' Von: I really liked what you said about how you would have a positive relationship with Vanessa. To me that just means to basically get to know your students and find out about there interest and to see how what you teach will relate or connect with your students.
A couple of things stood out to me from Tyrone's story. The first thing is his view of his school environment. He stated that sometimes it was hard to focus on school work because he was busy watching his back. This is the same way many students feel today. Teachers can't always control what happens in the hallways and around the school grounds, but every teacher can control the environment in his/her classroom. Making the students feel safe and comfortable is the only way some will learn. The second thing that stood out to me is Tyrone stating that most students want to know why they need to know what they are being taught. Students will want to know this more and more as they get older. As teachers, it is necessary to teach the material and also make it relevant to the students' lives.
ReplyDeleteI knew a lot of people in high school like Tyrone. They were athletic and popular, but did not take their grades seriously. They did just enough to remain eligible to play sports. Sometimes, however, the teachers would give them good grades that were not earned. I disagree with giving students grades only so they don't lose their eligibility. If I was in the situation of having a star player in my class who was failing, I would spend extra time with the student to ensure he was understanding the material being taught, even if this meant coming to school early or staying late. When students are given grades that are not earned, it is only setting them up for failure in the future. This sense of entitlement will cause negative results if still present after one finishes school and has a job earning money in the real world.
@Andrea I completely agree with your statement about making students realize that there is life after high school. So many students are unprepared for the real world after they graduate.
ReplyDelete@Shonteria I like your statement about calling parents to tell them about good things their child has done. I'm sure a lot of parents have only had negative interactions with teachers. Some positive feedback might cause them to be more involved in their child's education.
@LaSondra Respect and trust are vital to a student-teacher relationship. You are on point with is statement. Students won't learn from someone they feel disrespected by and don't trust.
@Stannjuarnia.....I agree that teachers should have a safe environment for each student to escape to. Keeping students like Tyrone engaged is essential to their success. Sometimes they are only focused on their respective sport that they do not care about other subjects in school.
ReplyDelete@Andrea...I agree that it is important for students to understand that life exists after high school. Many students are so focused on being popular or the best athlete that their time in high school "flies" by.
@Melissa....Students like Tyrone sometimes do have a sense of entitlement. They sometimes expect others to help them out even if they do not necessarily put forth the effort required. It hurts them in the long run when no one else is willing to help them anymore.
(Whitney) I agree that it is important that as educators and people we should never shoot down the dreams of a student no matter how impossible they may seem. Instead we should encourage students to "reach for the stars" but also inform them that educational is essential to go anywhere in life.
ReplyDelete(LaSondra) I think that its great that as a teacher you would encourage your student to perform in as well as outside of the classroom. I absolutely agree with you! I think its important that we make sure students realize that you can go so much further in life if you are well educated along with talented.
(Melissa) I saw the same thing while in high school as well as in my early college years. I don't think teachers realize how much they are hurting these students, of course they will be able to play in the big game but what will happen later on in life when the student actual needs to use the knowledge they should have learned.
Being on the poms team all four years of high school, Tyrone's story is one I encountered often. Funny thing is no matter whether it was football season or basketball season the scenarios were exactly the same. These boys were the most popular, the cutest and the pride and joy of my high school yet their grades were horrible. They did what they wanted because at the end of the day nobody did anything to them because of game season. I personally witness our star basketball player sit in the hallway everyday in the same spot. Every day I game from a class he was there and I'm not talking just one or two periods, I'm talking all day. Yet when it was time for the game he was always on the court. I knew for a fact he couldn't go to class if he spent most of his time in the hallway ( plus I had class with him and he never attended), but yet like I said he was always on the court. Some how he always managed to never fail a class which made him eligible for game days. Off season however, he was always on academic probation and I couldn't understand for the life of me how he was never on probation during season. Many times in black families when you have a great athlete in the family, like Tyrone, there's hopes and dreams that he will get the family out of the ghetto, buy his mama a house or make it so the family won't have to struggle any more. Its a lot of pressure because not only is the athlete competing for himself but in his belief, he is doing this to make it better for his family. This is a lot for any one to handle, adult or child.
ReplyDeleteI believe as a teacher you encourage the student in their craft, go to a game or two, talk to them about what is going on in their craft but yet let them know that, that is not the only option. Show them that hmm maybe if I don't make the NBA I can own my own team, be a manager or professional trainer. You don't knock their idea or dream but you show them and let them know to have a plan b just in case things don't go as planned. As a teacher I would also engage all my students and make learning relevant for them. I would also like Tyrone mentioned demand respect from my pupils but also give them the respect they need and deserve. I would let them know this is a learning environment and at the end of the day that's our main objective but it's not a certain way we must go about it. If that means we have to play a game of basketball to learn how to count by 2's or something along those lines, at least er learn something, each moment is a teachable moment and all it takes is someone to pull out the teaching in it.
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ReplyDelete@ Whitney
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree that as future teachers we must encourage our students to reach their fullest potential. Teachers must ensure that their students know that if they work hard and apply themselves they can be anything their heart desires. Teachers must always encourage their students to reach their dreams.
@ Maya
I agree that as teachers we must hold ours students accountable for their actions within the classroom. Student athletes must be required to meet the same expectations as the other students in the class. Teachers must remember that student athletes are students first and athletes second.
@ LaSondra
I agree that in some cases teachers are their students only support system. Teachers take on numerous roles in their student's lives. That's why it is essential to build a positive student-teacher relationship that is built on trust and respect.
@ LaSondra I totally agree with you. I do believe where teachers go wrong is discouraging our athletes. Aren't we suppose to be motivators? I also believe as teachers we are suppose to support our students because it builds that relationship that so many teachers lack.
ReplyDelete@ Whitney I 100% agree with you. As I stated to LaSondra I do believe that we as teachers are not to tell the athletes that they won't be able to achieve their dreams but show them other aspects of the game. Let them know hey maybe if you can't play on the court you can own the court or something associated with it.
@ Melissa I also agree that as a teacher the first way you can start by making your school a safe environment is start in your classroom. There is no way that in a classroom that you as a teacher should allow any form of bullying, teasing or anything of that sort in your classroom. If a student cannot feel safe in your room how can you expect them to be able to learn.
@ Devon: I stand by your comment and like you believe that we should provide a safe a environment for the students. also we must help them reach their potential to the fullest for the future.
ReplyDelete@Jasmine: I also agree that encouragement goes a long way. As teacher we need to uplift our pupils, give them counsel into the right the directions in order for them to make it in this world. The usage of things they like is a great way to incorporate teaching.
I have encountered on a nonpersonal level indindividuals like Vanessa in the school system. People like her tend to enjoy the here and now, and they dont worry about tomorrow. I have always wondered how can individuals just set his/her site on socializing, partying, drinking. They are always wearing the newest style, and spend time with all other popular people, but everything else goes lacking. Those who adopt this life style tend to regret it later ans as a result start blaming others for their mistakes.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher I would exers love toward that individual, show that I care, and teach them to take pride in everything. First, I would set weekly meetings to get to know him/her and to check on progress made. At a later date I would try to found out in a subtle way if they were facing any issues and disscuss it. I would also have an open -door policy for he/she to come talk when needed. On a serious note I will try my best to show the student that the path they traveling on is not a good one.
I choose Vanessa's story because I do remember students who had situations similar to her in high school. I remember students like Vanessa who had multiple siblings, stayed in an apartment, and lacked parental support and encouragement. There were a few teachers along the way that tried to motivate them but as time passed by these students seemed to blend more into there surroundings which were their peers that like to have a good time, hang out, and be popular.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher a student like Vanessa would stand out to me because I have seen it before. Time and time again students talk about introducing them to topics before you just jump into them. This is where creativity and getting their attention plays an important part in your lesson. This is also a time for explaining why this is important to know and how you could use this to relate to everyday life beyond the classroom. Even in college I have heard students ask why do we need to know this.
Also when we have students like Vanessa in our classrooms we have to continually make sure the school is a safe environment. Take on the role as a parent to let them know you care and sometime this means going the extra mile for example I think it would be extremely important to continue to check on your students that may need it even after they pass your class. This shows them that you are still holding them accountable to the high standards that you set in your class and that you believe they can achieve outstanding grades beyond your classroom with different teachers and different teaching styles.
Also I thought that letting parents know that the student is doing well was a good way of communicating with the parents and students. Parents and students don't want to only hear when something unacceptable happens. When you communicate the good I think people are more likely to listen to what you have to say just in case you have to address another issue that may need improvement.
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ReplyDelete@ Devon I agree that for some students that it may take keeping in touch after they leave your classroom.
ReplyDelete@Andrea I agree that we should talk to our students and let them know that there is life after high school and we should make sure that they actually hear us even if it takes bring in a guest speaker to let them know that it is serious.
@Lady C I agree that as a teacher learning has to get the students attention. It should be fun when we can make it fun and not boring to the best of our ability .
@Yanna I can also relate to Tyrone's story, because I did attend a High School that focused a lot of attention on our basketball team and the star players would always seem to get treated differently when it came to academics. I often felt like something should be done about that because I thought it was unfair for me to work hard for my grade and they just "play basketball" for theirs. I also agree with you when you say a teacher's attitude plays a role in students learning. You made some great points. Great Job!
ReplyDelete@LaShondra I totally agree that teachers are some children's only support team, that why it's important to make sure they 'see' that you are focused on them individually. A child can stray away if they feel they don't have a good support system.
@Jasmine reading and knowing that you were closely in the situation first hand, let's us all see that it still happens and is very real. I agree with you when you say you would engage your students to make learning relevant fir them. If the sudents can't vision it them they probably won't learn it right off.
Tyrone was an athlete who everyone love and he enjoyed all the praise from everyone! Tyrone was more focused on his grades during basketball season because he knew if they were not good, he was not going to be able to play. After basketball season was over his grades dropped. Tyrone had a lot of colleges looking at him to give him a scholarship to play basketball. When I think about it, there was a guy I knew who was similar to Tyrone. He played football and was the star athlete. His grades were good during the season but they dropped after the season was over. As a school teacher, I would do my hardest to encourage a student like Tyrone to do their work during basketball season as well as after it. Because they need to know that their grades are very important no matter what time of the school year it is. During Tyrone's interview, he answered to the last question that some students are afraid to speak out in the classroom when they do not understand something. It is the teacher's job to make sure that the students are comfortable in the classroom so that they will not be afraid to say anything.
ReplyDeleteVanessa-
ReplyDeleteMost of us have traits that are reflected in Vanessa’s story whether we were popular with the whole school or with our groups of friends. Popularity can stunt the growth of education because it is easy to lose focus. When you are young acceptance is very important and prioritizing is not a strong skill. Prioritizing is learned as you grow and mature. Unfortunately, you eventually see the benefits of being prepared in hind sight. I have seen many people lose focus in high school and college and dropping out is usually the outcome. Luckily Vanessa’s teacher Mrs. Livingston took initiative and found something that peaked Vanessa’s interest. Many teachers don’t even care whether students succeed or not because they feel like the students should find their own motivation but some people are not self-motivated. Understanding that children need motivation is one of the keys to becoming a successful teacher. I relate to children who need motivation therefore I would support and motivate my student constantly and effectively. Students can tell when you care about their success. I have noticed there is a familiar reference in all of the case studies that I have read so far. All of the students in the studies say that they like teachers that demand respect, push them to work hard, and show support for their students by attending activities. I will definitely use all of those strategies so that I can be an effective teacher and a motivator for my students.
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ReplyDeleteSchool is set up as a learning institution, however school is also a great place to meet friends, and develop as social beings. The key to doing this is to maintain a balance. This was especially hard for Vanessa to do. She lacked that balance and found herself being more caught up into friends, socializing, popularity contests, parties, and so on. However, I feel that teachers should be held somewhat accountable for helping to steer students into the right direction. Teachers have a responsibility in helping students, not only to succeed academically, but also to develop as total well beings. What happened to Vanessa is that she began to come into who she was as a young girl. She was only exemplifying her leadership abilities in a social setting. Is this wrong? Absolutely not. This may be the way that she will build confidence in who she is as an individual. This builds self-esteem and character. She just has to learn how to take this negative image and turn it into a positive situation.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher, I would capitalize on Vanessa’s leadership abilities and utilize them in our classroom learning environment. We could focus on more group activities that draw interest in academics. As a teacher I would help to steer Vanessa into the right direction by showing her how to maximize her potential. I would help Vanessa understand that if she properly channels her outgoing personality with academic success then she will be able to do anything she sets her mind to. The sky is the limit.
@ Sfletcher your encouragement and good reports to the parents will build a great repertoire with your students. You will succeed with gaining their trust by ensuring a safe environment for a great learning environment. EXCELLENT!
ReplyDelete@Vernice I like really like that you will have one on one meetings to get to know your students and check their progress. You made some really good points and you have high expectations. GOOD JOB!
@Melissa You understand that you can only control so much. That is a good characteristic to have because some people think that they are in total control of everything. If you focus on the environment in your classroom then students will want to come to you and give you there full attention. I also like that you will not be a teacher who compromises her integrity by giving grades that were not earned. WONDERFUL!
@DeVon I love when you said you would communicate with a student like Vanessa even after high school just to encourage her and make sure she is doing ok. Because a lot of teachers do not care about a student's life after they leave their classroom. I think that is a fantastic idea. By doing this, it will show your student that you really did care about them and their future!
ReplyDelete@LaShondra I agree that respect and trust is vital in a teacher-student relationship. Because teachers never know when these students are going to need them. they need to make sure they earn the students trust and respect for them as soon as the school year begins.
@Melissa I do not agree with teachers giving athletes a good grade ALSO just so he/she can play a sport. When teachers do this, it will have a huge effect on that student's education in the long run.
TO EVERYBODY: I don't know if I'm nosy or just inspired but I truly enjoyed reading all of your posts. You all make great points and you show me different sides of your personalities. I think you will all be excellent teachers because your aspirations are just as high as your care for the students you will be teaching.
ReplyDelete@ Shante Fletcher, I love what you said about checking on your students even when they've passed your class. This takes a special type of teacher to do this. One who genuinely cares for the total well being of the student, not just their success in your class.
ReplyDelete@ Vernise, Wow that's a great idea to to weekly progress meetings with a student like Vanessa and set realistic goals. It would be very time consuming, but it would produce measurable goals.
@ LaSondra, I totally agree with what you said about, In teaching, a teacher has to know that they are not only provide learning but also inspiration, admiration, support, and encourage. Sometimes a teacher is a child's only support team. Wow I want to take this idea and adopt it as my Motto for teaching. That was powerful.
At Ms. Lee, OMG I was thinking the exact same thing. We really don't get to know a lot about each other in class, but after reading these blogs you get a deeper appreciation for each other as classmates, as well as, future teachers. I'm loving this. I don't know what type of Teachers the other colleges and universities are producing, but this one thing I do know, is that Alabama A&M College of Education is putting in the effort and time into molding us into Great Teachers. I am so proud of who "we have become" as Teacher candidates! (I wish we could all graduate and teach in the same school, We would have the greatest school in the district and I'm confident we would meet our AYP goals). lol
ReplyDeleteBeing that I played sports all the way throughout my high school career, I mostly identify with Tyrone. As a matter of fact, I had a friend back in high school who was pretty much Tyrone's twin brother. He was a natural athlete who was just doing things to be doing things simply because had things handed to him his whole school career. During school hours and class time, we as in the whole basketball team were in our respected classes; trying our best to learn what we thought was vital to our education. Meanwhile, Ill call him LaKeith, was in the gym all day...practicing his free-throws. LaKeith was a very talented player and he led us to two State Championship titles at my former high school...LaKeith was also the runner up for player of the year for the state of Alabame..he was given a pass throughout high school, but at what expense?? Lakeith did graduate, he took the ACT and scored a 13 on it and now he is a local basketball celebrity. This story of Tyrone hits home...I mean, really hits home. These type of things shouldn't be compromised; a child's education for a schools glory.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the teachers dropped the ball. It wasnt the athletes fault at all. In this type of situation, there has to be someone there in the child's ear telling them that playing sports is fine, but to have an education is almost divine.
A student should have a teacher to be so involved in their everyday school life that if they were to even think about doing something that goes against their future, the thought process would be stopped due to what that teacher has installed or said in the past. To make a classroom feel like a second home and secure place with guidance and counseling in making education the number one priority would be my utmost goal for my students. I think that a teacher should show that they care so much that every step a student makes outside of the classroom should reflect in a positive way of the teaching inside of the classroom.
@ Shante Fletcher and @bgreen I agree with the both of you in the matter of checking on the students once they have been promoted out of your classroom. That, to me, shows true love for a student and trust me...the student will always remember that!
ReplyDelete@Melissa I def like the fact that you know what reality is and that you can only control the things that are in your power and grasps. If a student knows that there is absolutely nothing you can do but still sees that you are bending over backwards to make an attempt, that will stick with a student forever. I too was once that student.
@Shonteria Showing "Respect" to a student can mean a vast different number of things. That's a great thing to do! You never know how much respect a student has ever gotten and or earn prior to stepping foot in your classroom. To show a student that they are special, important and that they can give and earn respect as well can change a student's life! For the better of course.
I want to talk about Vanessa for the simple fact that i kind of been in her shoes before because what she went through sounds like me in college. I was that social person who was caring more about the people than the books. i always had teachers who supported me and motivated me but at the same time it was self motivation I needed. i learned the hard way cause I have been at AAMU since 2002 and i was that social person hanging out instead of hanging in my books.
ReplyDeleteI had plenty of opportunities to get back on track but i would pass them by and continue doing whatever. so one day it clicked in my head i am steady waving by to everyone after me but i am standing still and they are passing me by which was not a good feeling. So i decided to get up and seek help to get back on track and i thank God he put me in contact with the right people who care enough to push me to my potential. i had friends like her also so i decided to start pushing them also it just takes one person to push you and then the ball is rolling. When i become a teacher i wanna motivate my students to always excel in the classroom but learn class is class and social is social. there can be a blend of the two but also a line should be drawn. Last i would tell my students to make friends with those want you to succeed also cause i am grateful for the ones i have some are in this class.
Well to be honest i want to comment on all its hard to pick at least 3 so i will comment like this if we all take a piece from each other and sow it into each child we come in contact with the future is bring because as i sit and read i notice we have a drive and passion to make the difference needed. i just want to say if you can take more from this then just a job its a gift we have and by sharing we can mold more ideas to support the reasons we all came together to teach a child who in turn can one day teach a nation.
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