A good teacher is enthusiastic, caring, patient, witty, strict (without disciplining), tacitly teaches morals and decision making skills, cares a little beyond the norm, makes you feel special when you're feeling anything but that....a good teacher guides without dictating, listens when its time to, is organized without being OCD, helps just before it gets frustrating and understands when you're feeling misunderstood.
If a student struggles with the framework(syllabi, directions, assignment) of the class then they can feel excluded from the overall learning experience because there is lack of clarity of the directions and expectations for the student. This can come from a simple misunderstanding of directions to a language or technological barrier which all lead to the same result-exclusion from the big picture. It is the responsibility of the teacher to recognize when a student is off track whether through body language, a sense of disconnect or lack of motivation, it is paramount for these indicators to not be overlooked. Without taking the time to connect with this learner the risk of developing a "defensive pessimism" in your student. Goodman defines defensive pessimism as defense mechanism which is developed over time from negative feedback. While this could have developed in their home environment if it is not addressed in the classroom a pattern of defeatism and negativism can lead them down a broken education path.
Mel,
ReplyDeleteYour T2P is important. I'd like to see you build out what you identify as the moral implications of a teacher attending to her students in the way you describe (and/or a negative example of neglect).
Keep pressing!
GNA