Thread: I was told by a few students today that...

SOme times life rolls in like a steam roller and proceeds to kick your butt. Tell us more about the situation. I think you might believe the student, or at least partially. Why? Maybe we can up the rigor rate on your assignments. Small tweaks can go a long way.

As an Academic Coach I deal with this every day. Some times the hardest part is convincing a teacher that they are doing a good job, no matter what the students say.

I feel like I can't do anything to fix this.

Simmer down- there may not be anything anybody could do to fix it- if it needs fixing. My students would be bored by anything short of professional wrestling and adult films- so I regularly ignore the bored part, because they are going to be bored regardless.

they aren't learning anything and they are able to BS their way through it.

I usually respond- "Well, if that's they case, bud, why aren't you making an A?" That's where you can hear the snickering and the crickets chirp.

Good point, John.

Mark, I would like to explain in further detail...I will do that when I have a chance. I'm going to have a chat with this class today.

Good luck.

Students are not there to affirm you, but its often nice if we get glimpses of that. Dont take it personally, they love to complain about teachers and school. Making sure you are using a variety of techniques that keep you from becoming stale is probably a good idea, but dont find your self worth as a teacher from them.

Best wishes, let us know how "the talk" went.

~Tater

Originally Posted by ErBear

...every day of my class is boring and that they aren't learning anything and they are able to BS their way through it.

This wasn't said in a vindictive or nasty way; it was just said honestly when I asked why a student was displaying a negative attitude in class.

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Don't let them get away with that. They are just trying to get you to take the blame for thier lack of involvement. I don't know what grade you teach.. I teach 8th grade. I had one student who is obviously very bright, but sees all the work as somehow below him and makes a half hearted attempt to comply.. often ignores requirements because in his opinion thay are useless. I took him aside and told I realized that perhaps these assignments were not matched to his interest or ability... he eagerly agreed. I printed out the state standards for him and said he was free to design any learning activity that would demonstrate mastery of the standards. He was still eager... until he started reading the standards... I quietly watched from afar as he tried to make sense out of them... now seeming he knew so much more than I do, asking me to explain them was not an option. After that one period, he quietly put them away and made no more attempts to argue the requirements of any assignments I give him. Should he indeed design appropriate activities that will provide evidence of meeting the standards, I am more than willing to let him pursue them. I put the ball in his court ....

what grade and topic?

English, tenth grade.

I stepped up the pace by a lot on our weekly vocab. They will definitely be learning more now :wink:

I see that there is definitely a need for more accountability in my class...they need to do more work outside of class, and they need to be responsible for it.

The most important thing high school has taught me is that there's something to be learned from every teacher, no matter what I think of his or her style or personality. Even if a course is dead boring (I'm not speaking of yours here, of course :wink, learning to push through the crap and move on with life is a valuable lesson. I expressed that value to some parents at a post-school-board-election party, and they were all, "Ugh, I don't like that at all! It should never have to be that way!" ...It surprised me how idealistic they were (maybe it shouldn't have, seeing as these women haven't been in secondary school for thirty years).

The other most important thing high school has taught me about getting an education is that, as a student, you get out what you put in. I don't think a student should complain (and don't see why he'd want to bother) about being bored if he can't take it upon himself to contribute in a way that makes the class more personal and engaging. And there are ways to do that... you have to really get to know the people around you.

I've had paranoid teachers who've been outright hostile to any student feedback that might even hint at our desire for them to change their ways. These teachers felt like shit, so they made us feel like shit in return. "Don't question me," blah blah blah and all that.

Don't let what the students say - or what anyone says - make you insecure about teaching. There's no such thing as a teacher who does great all the time from get-go. The best teachers are the ones who can learn fast and make changes as needed; who can mold the class around the students' wishes without being lax or letting them dominate; who can see criticism as opportunity for positive change rather than an assault on their capabilities.

You are capable. If you do disappear, your students will have one less person to remind them that they too are capable.