UPLIFTING OUR STUDENTS
We are in a time where our students are having a hard time at home, work and school. Sometimes saying an affirmation or kind word, can uplift someone and they will have a great day and outlook on there life.
Hi Janelle, Thanks for your post to the forum. You are obviously a very caring instructor! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Susan Polick
I couldn't agree more with all the posts here. I am an on line instructor who meets with my students only once a week. I teach a very difficult and challenging program, and statistics show that an extremely high percentage of students who begin the program do not finish the program. Although I deal with smaller groups, I see a new group of students every 10 weeks or more. It's much more challenging to get to know these students in such a short amount of time, so I try every day to make class a little bit more exciting and personable to not only show that I care about them as an instructor (whether it be one-on-one mentoring or otherwise), but it also affords me the opportunity to get to know what their personal learning styles are like. In that way, knowing a little bit more about their personal life AND their learning styles, it makes it that much easier to help guide them towards reaching their goals by personalizing a teaching technique to their advantage. In addition, even after they are no longer my student, I still like to send frequent, congratulatory emails to them whenever I hear that they have passed certain levels within the program. It's just one more easy way of showing that you care about them and that you are interested in their success as a student. It really takes no extra time or effort to touch base with them, by email or other means, if you sincerely care about them, not only as a student, but a person as well. And, in doing so, you may not even know what a positive, significant, possibly life-lasting impact it has made on the student. Think about it! Wouldn't you want to be treated with kindness and respect?
Hi Yan - I so agree; one of my most startling memories is with a student with whom I did a mock-interview. When she was finished I said that she had done a good job and congratulated her on her impending graduation. I asked her what she intended to do then and she replied that she was going to take her diploma to her high school and show it to her former guidance counselor who had told her "You will never be able to make it in college!" I truly had to hold back tears hearing that!! We do wonderful things in Career Colleges!
I can't agree more! The students in career colleges are often with a lot of issues both personal and professional and we, Instructors can make huge difference in their lives. It fully applies to praise them for something, even little. It would go a long way often.
I agree we need to have empathy with the students. My students come from all kinds of backgrounds to. And in the tech school I tech at they can be there for 2years or more and working at the same time. They have long hours and thats rough to deal with.
I must second this... Being always positive is a key attribute, this makes an impact on many of their lives... As instructors we need to continually subconsciously reinforce this in our minds...
Judith I feel you have a great point. We as instructors may be the only positive infuence in their lives. It dosn't take a lot of time out of our day to say a kind word that would make their day.
How true. Kind words and showing a true interest is key.
Yes, I agree totally. It is very important to let the students know they are valued, have self worth and to believe in themselves.
Hi Elizabeth- You are a very caring and kind teacher. Your students must surely sense that and as you say they feel comfortable confiding in you. Great teaching! Susan
Every day I try and learn a little something about at least a couple of my students lives outside of the classroom. It really helps me get to know them and makes them realize that not only am I their teacher, but that I actually care about them as people. Once you get to know your students, they tend to feel more comfortable coming to you when they are having a hard time getting the information and asking for your help. By the end of the class cycle I feel that students have been able to learn more of the information when they feel supported and cared about.
Hi Jason- You are an example of an empathetic/caring instuctor which is what we need way more of. It's incredible how much of a difference we can make by just taking the time to care. Well done!
Best wishes- Susan
I had a student that everyday would seem down in the dumps. I asked him if everything was ok and he told be a breif story of what was going on. I made it a point each morning to ask him how he was doing and letting him know if he needed someone to talk to i was there to listen. By the end of the class rotation he was coming in with a smile on his face and thanking me for showing that i cared.
This is so true. It is also important to provide encouragement because it is a critical part of the learning process that helps to keep students engaged.
Hi Richard- I agree- there is nothing better than being that smiling face at the door of your classroom, saying "Hi, how are you?"! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
Hi Araceli - Thanks for your post to the forum. So true, just acknowledging that a student is trying means a world of difference! Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career. Susan
It is amazing to see how uplifting a pat in the shoulder and the word "job well done" will do to lift a stugling student's moral.
We live in a fast paced environment nad we sometimes forget to smile say hello and let the person know they have done a job well done
Hi Sarah- Thanks for your post to the forum. I just got an email reply to one I sent this morning to one of my online students. He said:
"Thank you so much, for the kind words, it is things like that that keep those of us who work full time and go to school going." It made my day! You are obviously a caring instructor - great work! Susan
