You probably remember that we had three days' worth of "WASC Visits" last year- an outside committee coming in to evaluate our school. That was the culmination of a two-year process where we had to engage in a "self-study" to reveiw our accomplishments and shortcomings and develop an "action plan" to better serve you and meet your needs.
One of our action plan goals is to improve teachers' and other staff members' connections with all students. YOU GUYS are the best source of how we could best do that, and I would LOVE your input (I may share it with some of the teams that are working specifically on leading this project, but won't use your name unless you want me to!).
What are things, big or small, that teachers have done that have made you feel that they are invested in you/interested in you as a person as well as a student/committed to your success in their class (it doesn't have to be here- at any point in your educational career is fine!)? What are things you think El Dorado teachers could do better in terms specifically of that connection piece? Do you like it when teachers share pieces of THEIR peronsal stories with you - does it make you feel more connected to them, or do you think it's a distraction from learning/not important/not valuable?
THANKS!!! :)
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Lego, Cav (the Lego brand name was derived from the Danish expression "leg godt" - play well - and lego also translates in Latin as "I study" or "I put together"...really, one of the world's most perfect words!)
Simply knowing my name is nice. Some teachers, not saying who, don't even know all the kids' names in their classroom by the end of the year. I find that incredibly sad. Also, taking time to ask about our day is great. For example, when we used to do "High, Low" in Mrs. Amann's class. Granted, I know teachers are busy, but still. I think some could take five minutes out of their class period every couple weeks to hear about different aspects of our lives away from one specific classroom. Just a couple ideas.
Some of my teachers have given me notes, or written my parents notes to tell them how i'm doing in the class and encourage. I love giving and recieving notes so this is huge for me!
I agree with Ashley know our names! Also I know Mrs. Williams goes around the class every Monday and asks everyone how thier weekend was and what they did so thats nice.
Mrs. Amann gave us notes when we had Star Testing, I loved that! Getting a note always puts a huge smile on my face. And also if you are just walking by campus and say hello, it makes kids feel important and noticed. If i was a teacher I would hand-write a note to each student at the end of each semester telling them how they are doing and what you appreciate about having them in class, etc. Oh and Mrs. Amann also asked the highlight of our weekend, which I really enjoyed.
To add to Ashley's response, I know the teachers should know everybody's names, but sometimes, and I'm sure we have all seen it, students don't always participate in class. Some are just reserved to their doodling in the back of the room. This may be the teachers' faults becasue they are not getting all the children involve or it may be the students, but either way, there needs to be more communication in class.
This is not in reference to any of your classes Mrs. Cav. Both World Affairs and AP gov are very interactive and student-involved classes :)
I totally agree with Lauren & Maddie too. Notes make us feel important and unique from the rest of the kids in the school. I still have notes from Mr. Nasr and Mrs. Amann in my binder to remind me that teachers do care about individual students.
Mr. Carlson always says good morning to me first period of asks how my day is which starts me off on a good note and shows he cares enough to even say something... (not to just me he says it as people walk in and as they leave his classroom). Also when you are having a bad day and the teacher notices or asks if you wanna talk about it also makes me feel like they generally care about the students at El Dorado. Another thing that also makes me feel like they care that they are willing to stay before school, break, lunch, after school or make an appointment with them that works for you that they will come in just to help makes me feel like they want you as a person to succeed in their class, in El Dorado and later in life. Or when the principle at break comes out and talks to us about random stuff or just talks to me makes my day that someone cares because I'm sure she has a lot of work to be doing but she takes time out of her day just to talk to the students especially since she knows a lot of our names when she has a lot of stuff to remember. I really enjoy when teachers share advice or stories with us because if you don't wanna hear it you don't have to listen but it fun to know that they understand what your going through or helps me learn something by a story they said. I'm just glad that teachers take the time to actually care about the students just to take like 5 minutes out of their class period just to care goes a long way I think :)
I dont know, most of my teachers ride me off because im quiet and so they dont really get to know me sooo i dont get to know them. thats how it has always been and will be for me i guess.
I agree with everyone that students want teachers to ask us questions about how we are doing and what is going on in our lives, but I also am really interested in how my teachers are doing. I love to hear about silly things that my teachers kids did, or a restaurant that they recently went to that was horrible. I have found that it is much easier for me to learn from a teacher that I care about and that I know cares about me and my future. Its really a kind of mutual relationship, a teacher shares a joke they heard over the weekend and I'll share how I accidentally killed my pet fish. Oh, and I also agree with everyone about notes. Notes are awesome! I recently received a note from Mr. Putnam that I still have in my binder to remind myself that teachers do notice when you put extra effort into their class. It just makes you feel like you are doing something right, and that is always a good feeling.
