I give the students encouragement throughout the course and I especially point out when they are improving. The student who gets C's and F's does not always realize when they improve and I feel that needs to be pointed out to them so they know what they have changed in their study habits has helped. As the class goes on, the students realize I am in their corner and want them to improve and grow.
Hi Christian,
Good approach to teaching a subject that causes many students a lot of stress. By giving them the opportunity to enjoy small successes you are building up their confidence levels to the point they start to figure out that they can not only do math problems but that math can be applied to their daily lives. This is when the ah-ha moments start to occur and you get your rewards as an instructor.
Gary
Initially, I make it clear that my goal as an instructor is for all my students to be successful in my course, and I encourage them to ask questions, list helpful resources and to talk to me directly should there be any needs for accommodations. I want my students to feel my supportive attitude from day one and at the same time be clear on course expectations. I use a lot of interaction in my math instruction, permitting students to have many small successes and thereby build self-confidence. When a student provides an incorrect answer to my question, I attempt to turn it around to a learning opportunity for all whenever possible in a way that makes the student feel good about trying.
Hi Williams,
Great job of offering your students a balance of opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. This way you are appealing to their total knowledge base rather than just through testing. I know your students really appreciate this approach.
Gary
Being successful in college means you pass your assessment test or exams. However students are naturally scared of taken exams. Unfortunately this is the only way we can quantitatively measure the success of a student. To alleviate the fear of exams which translate to the success of students, I blend my assessment of my students with home work assignments, quizzes, class discussions and in class exams. These give my students a lot of confident to overcome fear of not being successful.
Hi Timothy,
Good approach to encouraging your new students. You are so right about their fears and anxieties when starting college. They need encouragement and reassurance that they can be successful if they are willing to put forth the effort. The key is their buying into the effort process because they have to earn success it will not be gifted to them nor are the entitled to it.
Gary
Some of the biggest fears I have noticed not as a instructor but as a parent of two college students, is the insecurity and anxiety students can feel early in their college career about whether they are intelligent enough for college and do they have the ability to do the work. One thing I would do, was to reassure them they wouldn't have gotten into college if they didn't have the mental ability, however I would also stress that it is going to take a lot of effort on their part to be successful. Sometimes students can look for an excuse to fail when the reality maybe they are just being lazy and not doing the work. I like to use my first day introduction to pump up the student's confidence by welcoming them and reinforcing that the course will be challenging but they are capable of doing well if they apply themselves and that I want to see them do well and enjoy the learning experience and that I am available to help if necessary.
Hi Ofe,
Great approach. Those small bites of the elephant are so important for the students to see. This way if they have doubts they can work on them as they move through the course and start to have success. Before they know it they course will be completed, they have been successful and the elephant is gone. Everyone wins at the end. Thanks for sharing your insight with us.
Gary
I like to encourage my students--I tell them to give themselves "Self talks" set goals, don't try to eat the whole elephant at once, but set small goals...start out small and in the end they will accomplish the end goal. Tell them, I beleive in them, I know they can do it. It's going to take some hard work, but they can do it.
Sylvia,
I follow this process also. Give praise for what is good about the paper or assignment first and then, indicate how adding what could have been changed or different to make it better. Sometimes adding a famous quote helps.
Stewart,
This is great advise. Giving 5-10 minutes is not much time, but it goes a long way to someone who is struggling or lacks self confidence in their work.
I try to encourage my students to review the assignments, implement time managments skills and review the rubric and examples that I give. I encourage them to ask questions, what i think is clear may not be clear to them. We all have different learning styles.
Hi Marie,
Good points about how students can achieve success. Clear goals and objectives really help keep the students forward focused and seeing that they can achieve the career goals they have set for themselves.
Gary
I really believe developing achievable objectives, and goals builds confidence within the student. Especially if they see how it can be applied to their future career. The more real and applicable a goal is, I really believe the greater chance we get buy in from the student. Also having an environment that is safe to take risks to learn engages the class. They cannot be afraid of making a mistake, or stating the wrong answer. If they are they will not speak out to learn.
Hi Michael,
Good way to show student support. They really do need to know they have someone they can count on and wants them to be successful if they will put forth the effort.
Gary
"Communicationing" I find that doing this is very important to the student. Talking with them and letting them know you are there to listen to them. To listen to any thing that they my want to talk about, no matter what the catagory it falls in. They my not even want your comment just need to let it out. It seems to let them know they are not alone.
The first and foremost in my experience to overcome their fear is to make them understand that they are far more intellegent than most of the people who do not join the college. We have to motivate them by saying that they have taken a step forward towards a sucessful career and no one can stop them or fail them unless they want to do so. Once they develop the confidence in themslves and overcome the fear of not being able to acchieve sucess they can go far.
Hi Gregory,
This is so true. They need to feel a sense of comfort and support and being accessible to them helps to create this feeling. Keep up the good work.
Gary
An open door policy is effective....Students tend to gravitate toward reassurance
Hi Dennis,
Thank you for sharing this list with us. It is going to be very beneficial to other instructors.
Gary
