Knowing your Students
I find that the more I know about my students, the better I am able to relate to them. I sometimes find out that we have similar backgrounds and this helps me relate the material to shared experiences.
Hi Audrey,
Learning involves listening and both you and your students are practicing this by learning more about each other. This helps to start the development of respect and rapport. Thanks for sharing with us.
Gary
Hi Gloria,
Thank you for sharing this story. This is what being an instructor is all about. We impact the lives of our students in many ways and in this case your impact was student success in your course in spite of her daughter's illness. Good point on the human aspects of teaching.
Gary
I find that the more I know about my students the better it is for both of us. I also let them know something about me. I am able to connect with my students on a personal level, and it helps alleviate some of the fear that they may have about me. Reducing anxiety is important when it comes to learning.
I totally agree that is best to try to know your students as quickly as possible. I had a occasion where a student was late every day, when after a week I sought her out, I found out that her 5year old daughter was in the hospital. She went to visit her for supper, before coming to class. By knowing this I was able to help her stay in the class and get the work completed even while having concern for her daughter. If I would not have sought her out I would never have known.
Hi Shannon,
You have a great background to provide support to your students since you were a student and understand the student perspective in your college. Your students know you are there to assist them in their career pursuit and this is critical for earning their respect.
Gary
I was a student a few years ago at the school I currently teaching at. I feel I have a better understanding in regards to how the students learn and feel in the classroom setting because I was in their shoes. I am pretty good with learning names. I try to keep in the loop with students and stress to them that if they need help with something to come to me. I am always accessible to them whether it be in the school or via email when I am not there. I keep the students involved as much as I can in the classes. I listen to their comments, good or bad, and work with them to make class as enjoyable and less stressful as possible.
Hi Donna,
I like this approach as well. It helps to get to know the students better while easing them into the class.
Gary
I use a "pretest" during the first class. This isn't as much a test as it is a way for me to learn something about each student. I give the class general feedback after I review these pretests and I thank them for their sharing information with me.
Hi Diana,
Good job of listening to your students. This is so important in teaching. By getting to know your students you are developing trust, respect and rapport with them which leads to greater engagement on their part.
Gary
I value to importance of getting to know my students as well. I enjoy hearing their stories as it relates to what we are learning. It helps them learn by applying their life experiences to the presented content!
I've used this method in large classes, in an effort to better learn the students' names:
as a student answers a question, or makes a comment, I have them give their own name before they continue. This way, it's not me guessing (and potentially remembering the wrong name).
Hi Bari,
Good strategy plus one of the fun parts of teaching is the development of relationships with students. They bring to the classroom such diverse backgrounds and experiences so learning about these life experiences and working with the students in the courses make teaching exciting and rewarding.
Gary
I really like getting to know my students on a more personal level. I feel more comfortable talking to them and relating experiences with them.
Hi Amy,
There are many strategies you can use but one that helps with that number of students is the use of name tents. I have class that are larger in numbers as well so I have to work very hard to remember the names of my students. The name tents really help me to do this. I give each student a 5X7 blank card. I hand out a wide variety of colored felt markers and have the students put their preferred names in large print and their last names at the bottom of the card. They can also decorate their tents if they want to with colorful designs, etc..
At the end of the first class they bring the name tents up to the front of the class and put them on my desk. I carefully watch them while they do this to connect the tent with the student. The next class period I have the name tents spread out on my desk again I watch the students while they pick up their tents. One more connection between student name and tent. I do this several class meetings and before very long I have the names down. Hope this strategy will work for you.
Gary
I know that this is cliche but I really am bad with names. Does anyone have any specific suggestions as to how to remember the names of 46 students?
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for sharing this strategy for learning students names and getting them involved in the class. These technique is going to be valuable to other instructors.
Gary
I always use my sign in sheet to help me call the students name the first night of class.I walk around with my sign in sheet.Once I start to lecture I will call a student by name to answer a question. I love the students response they are suprised that I know their name and I usually get a smile or blushing, after the student and I have that kodak moment the student will answer my question.Once that happens the students become more involved in my lecture because now the students know that I know their names.
I would agree with you. I have been teaching for a while now and i have realized that getting to know my students more give me an opportunity to better understand of their career goals and college expectations.
That is a great idea. I like to do the same thing. I often find that some of the students really struggle with this; they are perhaps shy or lack experience speaking in front of groups. I always question if taking the time to do this is good, but find down the road it has paid big dividends.
