Week Three, Post Two: Circling Back to Week One

6/8/2020

Overview
In all truth, if we had been In a face-to-face class, we would have had a round table discussion about what makes a good school experience versus what makes for a bad classroom experience. In order to bring that conversation into play in our own online space, it's important to look back at where we started this class in week one.

Thing to think about first . . .
The premise behind asking you this first question, "what is your best/worst learning experiences" is simple: research indicates that teacher classroom practice is influenced by how a particular teacher was taught as a student far more than any methods course you might take as a pre-service teacher, a sobering thought given how many of you wrote about bad classroom experiences.

Thing to think about second. . .
You've all been students far longer than you have been teachers at this point. I myself have not yet quite even passed that line. I'm about at 50/50 if we don't count graduate work (though I do). So it's important to consider and critique our own experiences as students.

Think to think about third. . .
We don't teach in a vacuum. We teach in a wider world where everyone and anyone can have an opinion about education. Mike Rose says (in a different text than the one we are reading) that no one would ever invite the general public to be "a urologist for a day," but everyone and their brother, somehow, can be "a teacher for a day." We treat teachers, like nuns and priests, as called to the work, a vocation rather than a job or a career, and, thus, it allows governments and the public to treat teachers as less deserving of equal pay and equal work--we don't even have to get into the gender dynamics to make that point. So think about what you and your classmates read about in education news. What are the many diverse issues that teachers have to face in the classroom (and out) today? And how does that intersect with what we know about best practices.

Finally, Post: A Class-Generated list of Best Practices.
I'm looking for a class list of sorts of best practices. So rather than post your list of best practices, I'd like for folks to post in response to the person who posted before them, adding to and subtracting from or qualifying/explaining what the person before you posted. This is a unique way of running a discussion board that asks students to pay careful attention to what is being said and to build a response that considers what everyone had to say.

19 Comments

Lydia Theriault

6/9/2020 07:37:53 am

Okay, I think I understand what is being asked of me.

As far as in-class practices:
Organization should be top three of this list, for sure.
Clear expectations too, both from teacher and student.

Even before I even knew about the role a teacher plays in society, I was always aware that they are underpaid. Maybe it had to do with the many strikes I've heard about growing up, but there was always a lot of talk about it. Now that I am grown and have seen what a teacher really does (both through my kids schooling, but also through what I am learning now) I am realising that it is a lot. Also, Covid19 really puts into perspective for me, how important teachers are and that their roles never stop, even when considering many teachers have families and children of their own to school. Rose said this a few times in his book that he is like a counselor or a social worker half the time. Teachers deal with so much more than teaching a particular subject, we are dealing with human lives.

brianna walsh

6/9/2020 08:57:12 am

Hi Lydia!
I do think that organization and clear expectations are good practices. Clear expectations are so important. I have had teachers who weren’t clear, and it just left me sitting there confused. I also do agree that organization is very important. I think another good practice is managing time efficiently too. I have also heard a lot about how teachers aren’t paid enough and heard “if you’re looking for a job that pays good, teaching isn’t the job.” I am not quite sure why teachers are underpaid because I think they are about as important as doctors. I also do think COVID really does emphasize the importance of teachers and education. These teachers have had to convert to online with very short notice which I don’t think ever happened before. It is amazing how teachers adjusted their teaching curriculum to fit the needs of students virtually. I don’t think anything could have prepared these teachers to go virtual, but that just proves the importance of organization and clear expectations that you listed. I do agree that teachers are doing more than just teaching a subject. I also think that Mike Rose emphasized the importance of patience and really getting to know your students interests and their culture or home life.

Kaylee Tavares

6/9/2020 02:39:50 pm

I agree that organization is important as are clear expectations. I think an additional important practice is creative a culturally responsive classroom. Unfortunately, I have read many news stories regarding teachers approaching the subject of racism rather inappropriately. A story that comes to mind is the teacher that suggested the black students in her class act as slaves while the white students act as slave buyers in order to act out a skit that showed the general idea of what a slave auction was like. This story (and the countless others like it) have caused me to prioritize this practice as I continue towards being a teacher. Thus, I think culturally responsive pedagogy is very important. Additionally, while COVID has shown the importance of teachers, it has also jeopardized many jobs for educators. Just today, I read a story about a Massachusetts school cutting Art and Music for the following school year.

Lindsay Vo

6/9/2020 03:45:15 pm

Hi Lydia,
I agree that organization and clear expectations are important practices to use when you're a teacher. Personally, clear expectations didn't come to my mind but I like that you included this. I also agree that teachers are underpaid, as I talked a lot about this in my own post. As you said, COVID-19 really puts teaching into perspective for parents who are home-schooling their children. Overall, I think you did a great job!

6/9/2020 08:24:11 am

I feel like some diverse issues that some teachers face would be how to incorporate multiple learners into their lessons, meaning how can I reach and engage multiple learners at once. I feel like another issue could be how to meet the needs of all students. Sometimes it can be hard if one student is falling behind and the teachers have to try to meet their needs and still go along with the curriculum. Another issue could be how to help students reach their long-term goals and make a positive impact on their life. I feel like it is very important to be able to set students up for their future or to reach their goals. I also feel like it is very important to communicate with parents effectively. How to engage students is also huge. I feel like a lot of the times in classrooms there are the same five hands being raised. How do we know if a student is really engaged? I feel like that intersects with the best practices by efficiently managing your time, making sure that the students aren’t doing the same thing for more than five minutes, staying organized, and making sure that you collaborate with other teacher and faculty members. Teachers are very important in and out of the classroom and guide students to reaching their goals.

6/9/2020 03:41:38 pm

Some in-class practices that are important for teachers is definitely organization and patience. Organization is a key skill to have, especially when you're a teacher, because you have a lot of responsibilities. Patience is also an important practice because teachers are leaders, therefore they must set an example for kids.

Since my mom was a bus driver when I was little (and still is today), I got to see a lot of one-on-one conversations between students, especially when they talked about teachers. Some teachers were praised by students, but unfortunately, most of the time, teachers are viewed in a negative light. For example, students say, "I got a bad grade because the teacher doesn't like me," or "My teacher called my mom and now I'm grounded." A lot of the time, teachers have to be the bad guys, because there is much more to teaching than creating powerpoints: discipline also comes with it. With that being said, I also know that teachers are very underpaid, and to me this isn't fair. I think this might change though due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot of the time, people say, "Oh you're just a teacher, you have summers off so it can't be that hard" when in reality, teachers are more than teachers. Teachers are caring, creative, responsible, and smart, and I believe we should appreciate them more.

Ali Nolan

6/10/2020 09:56:18 am

Hi Lindsay,

Organization and patience is so important in the classroom! Especially for those who have disabilities or other issues that may be happening outside of the classroom, but effecting them inside of the classroom. To add, I also think that diversity is important for in-class practices. Even in classes that do not have a wide range of diverse students, that does not mean our lesson plans cannot have diverse authors or scholars. We should allow our students to read from a wide range of perspectives, and it would be good practice to get students out of some unconscious bias.

6/10/2020 09:52:02 am

List of best in-class practices: Patience, open-mindedness, respect goes both ways, and being clear.

Issues that teachers have to face today, I think especially now with COVID, is being fluid. Having curriculum that can move from in-person to an online format and being adaptable. It's not easy work and I don't think teachers get enough credit! There are so many hoops that teachers jump through for students; making lesson plans that are inclusive, making accommodations and keeping everyone on task and engaged. It's really like a one-person circus. Adaptability is something I did not really understand with teaching until this year. It's a good takeaway and I wish more people would see how hard it is to teach. Teaching is not babysitting, it's a job that requires every ounce of energy a person has, and then some! One of the questions was to reflect on best/worst experiences in school. For me, one of the best experiences I had was with a math teacher. I always hated math, I was never good at it and I mixed up numbers way too frequently. My freshman year of high school I failed algebra. I remember the parent-teacher meeting. My teacher looked at me and said that she is not failing me out of embarrassment, but for my own well-being and that it would be a disservice to put me through. It crushed me, but looking back on it I understand it better! Anyway, the following semester I took her class again. She worked with me every day and gave her heart and soul out to make sure I passed. I passed with flying colors and I still keep in contact with her to this day! Teaching is extremely rewarding and encompasses a lot of tough love. There are teachers that really believe in their students and push them to be the best versions of themselves. It's admirable.

Hannah Dziadyk

6/10/2020 03:32:53 pm

The list of the best class practices include Understanding, respect going both ways, patience and organization are key factors to create best practices in the classroom. You want best student to do the best that they can and be successful and by having these practices can help lead to a healthy and safe learning environment for students. The students who have disabilites organization and structure are super important for the students sucessn and having patience with these students are huge for their sucess in learning in the classroom. Also I know it has been mentioned in previous posts but clear expectations of students are key as each student should have an understanding of what is expected of them and even if parents know that would be good so that everyone is on the same page. Engaging students into these expectations and values in your classroom can be a struggle but if you can get them on board then it will make the school experience better for the students. One of my best experiences with a teacher was my biology teacher. Science was something I wasn't always interested in and was not good at it whats so ever. I was on the line of failing the class and i didn't want to disappoint my teacher, myself or my parents and my team because I would not have been allowed to play if I failed a class (per my parents). I did what I had to do which is go and talk with the teacher and she was happy that I came to her and took initiative with my grades and she was happy to help me understand the material and I ended up with a B in the class. Teaching is very rewarding process and may not be easy all the time and you may have to work extra time with many students and lesson plan many times until you find a plan to reach as many students as you can but in the end it is worth the process.

Megan

6/10/2020 07:46:33 pm

Hi Hannah!

I completely agree. I feel like being as clear as possible with students is incredibly important - if a student doesn't understand a syllabus, an assignment, or a rule, then there's absolutely no way for them to succeed in what they need to do. And that extra sucks because the repercussions can be harsh! I think that being clear and engaging is probably the most important thing for educators on my list. I feel like it's the bare foundation of everything else you do in the classroom. Right under that would be patience and organization. If you don't know what you're doing, then your kids won't. And if you aren't patient with your kids, then they won't be patient with themselves.

Maddie Butkus

6/10/2020 07:45:01 pm

The list that Hannah stated for best class practices is spot on, and for my input, I would like to further discuss what I had written about for my earlier post revolving around respect. For anyone who read my worst classroom experience, I’m sure you could tell how much lack of respect there was not only between myself and that teacher but also that teacher and her students overall. The whole aspect of respect going both ways is so important for me and I know it is for many others as well. I know that the teacher has more authority over the students but that does not mean that they should not show their students respect. How are students expected to give teachers respect if they cannot get any in return? The authors we have read this week, both Rose and Villanueva, have even hinted about how important respect is within the classroom as well. Rose spoke about how students engage more when they feel as if a teacher cares about them and takes the time to teach them in ways they truly understand. Villanueva stressed the importance of equality within the classroom stating specifically that teachers should start to incorporate a more multicultural perspective in order to make all students feel equal, important and thus respected. If we as teachers respect our students, the students are more likely to respect us. This respect can then lead to better teaching and thus better understanding of what is being taught. Overall, while I believe all the practices mentioned within this list are extremely important, I believe respect going both ways is crucial in order to create positive and thus thriving classroom environments.

6/10/2020 07:52:47 pm

I agree with everything I've seen so far! Organization, patience, clarity, respect, etc. I feel like the most important thing for me that I haven't seen yet is specifically being patient with your class needs at the current time. I hate to say it, but because of the pandemic PLUS the protests PLUS the uncertainty of everything from work to school to socializing PLUS being with my family for longer than 6 or 7 weeks without being able to leave (and even before, I would leave to go to work) PLUS my own personal struggles, I have found it incredibly difficult to keep myself on the right path. Spring semester went by okay enough so I thought that I would do great for summer classes. I was incorrect! I'm so much more stressed and confused than I ever could have imagined! It's so much harder to find the time to do what I need to do and even though I reach out to my professors when I need help, I know other students might not. I always want to be sure that my students can feel like they can get the requirements done and, if not, I would want to help readjust to be fair to everybody. It's stressful and a lot and incredibly aggravating at times but I decided years ago that I will always focus on getting my students to learn instead of just hoping they can all keep up with my speed. Teachers should be more personal with their students and I haven't had that experience as much as I wish I had.

alexa parham

6/10/2020 08:38:20 pm

Hi Megan!

I did not think to add clairty and respect into my positives, but those aspects are so, so important as well. Without clear cut instructions and clear learning direction or respect for your students, then teaching is going to be a struggle. If a teacher does not have respect for his or her students, then they will most likely not have respect for that teacher.

I talked about a different "bad experience" based off of personal schooling I have experienced myself and it honeslty also related to delays in learning from "The Johnny can't..." articles.
I agree, I think that COVID has caused so many "bad experiences" in the education world. In spring semester there was so much disorganization, confusment, and little patience, along with many other issues that definitely fall under the "bad experience" category. I am not blaming the teachers for that at all... it has just been a roller coaster for all of us... everyone is trying their best, but that does not mean that students (especially young students) are not getting the best teaching. Many kids are missing out on that learning experience and are suffering from this impact. Stress, like you said, has taken over with parents and students and the problem is that there is no easy solution.

Maddie Butkus response to Lydia

6/10/2020 07:58:16 pm

Hey Lydia,
You make an excellent point here about how, just like Rose had mentioned, many teachers become like counselors and social workers. I believe that that is apart of making the classroom feel like a safe environment for students which is crucial, especially now. Just as you had mentioned, a teachers job goes far beyond just teaching subjects and focuses heavily on dealing with human lives. This then revolves back into the whole aspect of respect being held between both teachers and students within a classroom. By being a person a student can talk to, they are showing students their respect for whatever it is they need help with. The student then is showing respect back by sharing whatever it is they need help with with that teacher. In addition to this being tied into respect, I truly believe teachers going on to teach online through COVID-19 shows an even deeper aspect of the respect they have for their students.

6/10/2020 08:29:46 pm

Hello,

From my experience as a student, as a pre-school teacher, and as an observer from BSU ELED requirements, I have taken a lot in…

Some "best learning experiences":
- PATIENCE. Being patient with your students (on all levels) - this is super important too because I am a double major including Special Education where patience is so important
- UNDERSTANDING. Along with being patient… being understanding. This is also MAJOR in special education but also with ANY student. I think that it is so, so, SO imperative to understand where a student is coming from. Especially, when teachers do not always know a student's family life or outside of school situation.
- ORGANIZATION. Being prepared and having structure within the classroom gives the teacher and students the best environment to learn and be successful. It impacts the students when they feel as though the teacher does not know what he or she is talking about. Also, being all over the place makes you seem like you do not know what you're doing and if this is how a student feels then they are most likely not going to listen to you. Listening also comes into play with structure.
- ENTHUSIAM. This may seem silly to some, but if you are excited, you are most likely going to make your students smile and make them feel that excitement in learning themselves… at any age. If you show that you love teaching and learning - so will they.
- COMFORT. If you make your students feel comfortable in their school environment, then they will definitely take more in and be willing to learn more. Also, it doesn't hurt to throw in a joke here and there to make them laugh.
- SUPPORT. Knowing that your teacher is there to help and support you is so important. Knowing that your teacher isn't going to let you fail, gives you the strength to keep trying.
- IMAGINATIVE. Coming up with good activities and assignment makes or breaks learning and teaching. I think it is important to be imaginative in your teaching. And, if you are not very imaginative... there is always Pinterest! ;)

Some struggles within learning…
- I think a lot of teachers get tired of what they do or are have been teaching for years and are just waiting to retire or they once loved teaching, but they do not have that excitement in them anymore. This to me is a MAJOR ISSUE.
- If you do not LOVE teaching … then your students are NOT going to LOVE learning. I honestly feel that it is as simple as that.
- I have had so many personal experiences where I barely got taught, just got busy work, or was taught in the most Unenthusiastic way and it definitely hindered my learning and attitude toward school. A teacher makes a huge impact in what you take from that grade and if you have that bad teacher... the next year is going to be even worse… causing confidence to lower, unmotivated attitudes when it comes to learning and delays in learning.

Paige Couture

6/11/2020 10:32:06 am

Hi Alexa,

When I was student-teaching, I would notice many teachers becoming tired of what they are doing, or simply cannot handle the challenges of being an educator. I will admit that some days I do feel worn out, however, the best practice is rewarding myself with something after a hard day. I usually do this by buying myself iced coffee, doing something I enjoy like reading or hanging out with a friend. This truly helps and makes me feel refreshed for the next day to come. What is something you would do to reward yourself? I agree with you, that you must love teaching yourself. That is why one of the best practices is to spend quality time with each individual child and build a connection with them. That way, you can incorporate their interest into a lesson that is fun to learn, and they will take something from it. I think one of my major issues is teachers not having the same views as each other. This also effects the students in all aspects. Teachers should team up together to create lessons that will help make education better for children and have a healthy environment.

6/11/2020 10:13:53 am

The many diverse issues that educators must face in and out of the classroom today, are those children that are different, do not get accepted by others. In other words, educators must face bullying in the classroom—or outside of—and how to handle situations the right way. This could also happen to educators inside or out of the class, students feeling like they are misunderstood and are not treated the same. Another issue would be educators trying to incorporate appropriate lesson plans that celebrate their diversity or multiculturalism. A third issue is other students noticing that a child may do something unique, like bring in food that represents their culture during lunch time. The child may ask the other one something inappropriate or makes them upset. At the private daycare that I work for, I used to have one child who would bring in chopsticks to eat during lunch. The toddlers were not old enough to ask questions about it, but I’m sure that they noticed the difference between chopsticks and silverware. If the toddlers were old enough, I’m sure they would have raised questions about it. What would be the best practice for educators to respond appropriately to these types of questions? Rose teaches us one of the most important practices—becoming a responsive educator in the classroom. By being responsive, Rose is saying: emotionally, educationally and accepting diverse and multicultural students.

Fiona Bell

6/11/2020 10:41:29 am

Hey folks! I really dug/agree with practically everything everybody brought to the table, here are a few i especially liked: organization, patience, open-mindedness, supportive, imaginative, comfort, respect going both ways, incorporating multiple learners, managing time efficiently, understanding, clarity, safe environment, enthusiasm, etc etc. To add a few of my own to the convo: I think honesty/compassion/passion/kindness/understanding/dedication/engaging/self-reflection are all really really vital as well.

Kylie Bock

6/11/2020 12:04:11 pm

I'm a little late to the party but I strongly agree with what everyone said. Organization, patience and enthusiasm were practices I saw many people write and I agree. Another thing that I think is important to practice in the classroom is empathy. I think it is so easy for teachers to get easily frustrated with students no matter the grade level, but it is vital like Rose said, that we as educators recognize everyone comes from a different background with their own unique experiences. Having empathy allows teachers to form closer relationships with their students and these close bonds result in trust.

That being said, I think it is so easy for teachers to become drained so it is super important for them to recharge in ways that makes them happy. Like Paige and Alexa said, self care and love is equally as important so do things that you know will boost your energy and moral! I find mediation and journaling to work wonders.

Week Three, Post Two: Circling Back to Week One

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Summer 2020 ENGL 301

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