It's the little things we do sometimes!
I recently had a student who needed to fast track his education by staying late to attempt to complete all his required class and lab assignments. The area he was training in was his weakest point in the automotive field. This young man had the thoughts of leaving school to go train for his military duties he would soon be expected to perform as well. So, with an active military assignment and his current class assignments, hw had already started to expect the worst case outcome from fast tracking his education. Together him and I stayed after class late and helped him to get a better understanding of the area he was training in, with the one on one help, we found that even with the military duties and the fact that this was his worst area of expertise, we were able to get him through it, and in turn, just a little caring went along way, and the student scored very high on his written test and he performed very well on his hands on lab task. This being said he was able to leave for military duties with hopefully as clear of a mind set as we helped him with in class.
In many classes, I have tried to pump the students up to boost their self confidence. When they have test anxiety, I spend a lot of time trying to get them to believe in their knowledge. In many cases, it has made a difference in them.
Leann,
A passionate instructor is difficult to ignore.
Jeffrey Schillinger
I agree with Anton it is easier when you are passionate about teaching because it is contagious and very catchy for your students to catch.
like a culinary teacher my goal is not only to teach students but spend more time after classes
to show them different techniques I cannot show them during the class
Cheryl,
You are on to something here. Too many teachers want to teach students a lesson instead of allowing students to participate in the lesson. A few pencils can go a long way.
Jeffrey Schillinger
It's definitely the little things that go a long way to keeping a student/customer. It might be something so small as giving a student paper and pencil on the first day of class. I'm amazed at how many of my students show up for the first day of class with NOTHING! So, I've started bringing pencils, paper, highlighters, and folders for every student that needs to get organized. It's difficult to teach note taking and success strategies when a student isn't organized.
I often tutor a student who is struggling with course material and i start with having them tell me what they did learn and understand than I remind them how much success they have already achieved too many people only look at their failures and let it define them in a situation, I reinforce the fact that every day we way more many success then failures so focus on those. It often helps to change their outlook and the learning becomes what they expect.
It sure can be. Having been Ex Military myself, definately helps motivate the student(s) when in the back of their mind they realize you know what their going through, and that at times helps them focus a little better when they realize you have or may of had the same experiences, and here you are getting them through the same experiences.
I always try to re enforce that input with the understanding that all of these life experiences may throw you a curve ball from time to time, but in the end can help make you a stronger person and better for it.
Thank you! It is so much easier and fun when you are passionate about what you do and care about the people you are doing it for.
Anton,
Great job. This story is repeated over and over again at good career colleges. Dedicated faculty members make all the difference.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Excellent example. I've faced a very similar situation, even at home. I am a military spouse and when my husband is about to deploy and his courses are effected he gets discouraged. Its a challenge to keep him motivated.
