Impact

I was thinking that at the start of the year students, teachers, and parents are expecting some sort of growth from each class that they participate in.  That since you are in the class for almost a year that you should get a year's worth of growth. 

When we talk about good teachers can we visibly demonstrate the growth students had in their class rooms.  Can students and parents provide evidence to say this teacher had a greater impact on my child than another teacher?

So think about good teachers you have had, what evidence would you show to demonstrate the impact that they have had on you?  Now mind you that this impact does not only have to do with academics, it can be social, emotional, dance, sports etc.

I know that it is against the social norms to respond to blogs but I truly would like to hear your opinion on this. 

Social Norms

Social Norms are unwritten rules about how to behave. They provide us with an expected idea of how to behave in a particular social group or culture.  In talking with a former student they brought up the fact that the social norm in school is for students not to really raise their hands.

So I started to think when does this social norm occur.  You can go into a kindergarten class, and you will often see kids raising their hands enthusiastically, hoping that the teacher calls on them.  There are times in kindergarten where you might see ten or twelve hands up at the same time.  However, when you go to most high school classes, you get a couple of hands up at a time.  Often if a student asks a lot of questions you might hear other students muttering under their breath.  What changed?

Now I realize that teachers are responsible for some of the changes.  We often in a rush to cover all the curriculum and are not receptive to encouraging or taking questions in class.  However, I think that the problem goes beyond the teacher and again just spills into the unwritten social norm that seems to pervade most high school classes.

If we change this social norm more students will leave the class room with an understanding of the topic.  Instead of just sitting in the class confused they will ask questions that will help them understand.  Students will also take risks when answering questions which will help them learn from their mistakes.  I have no doubt that the learning will truly increase in the class room if we could just break down this social norm.

So the purpose of the blog is not to provide an answer to this problem but rather seek from you the reader solutions to the problem.  I would like to break this social norm in my class next year.  I want when I ask are their any questions for hands to fly up, when I ask a question that twenty students know the answer that they raise their hands, that the social norm becomes you need to raise your hand in this class.

If I think of most of the things that I do in class that work they were suggested to me by students.  So please take the time to answer the question and provide me with feedback to change the class room environment and break down this social norm.

Don't Panic

A couple of days ago a friend of mine started to rant to me about how unfair it was that his son was rejected from Harvard.  He told me how many extra curricular activities his son participated in, how great his SAT scores were, and also had an awesome GPA..  He ended his rant with what more do they want from this kid and what happens if he ends up at Towson?  I think he was looking for empathy instead he received this message in return.

My first words were don't panic.  I know many students who did not go to their first or second choice of schools and had a great college career.  The truth is that your number one choice is based on not a lot of information, maybe a quick visit, and the reputation of the school.  I have believed for a long time that the STUDENT is more important than the school.  All schools allow you the opportunity to learn and be successful.

Secondly, I expressed that this was probably the first time in his son's academic career that he was rejected.  While nobody likes rejection, it is good that it happens while he is still at home getting support from both his parents.  Students often see rejection letters as signs of failures where the truth is that just being in the hunt is quite an honor.  A school like Harvard get 10,000 applicants all who can handle the workload.

My next point was about Towson.  I know one of the brightest students I have ever taught went to Towson.  She was set to go to NYU when her funding disappeared, and she had to go to Towson.  She was angry about it and went to Towson with a horrible attitude.  After two months she loved the school, felt very challenged academically and has finished her PHD in psychology.  My point being that you can find your way at all schools. 

I then told him that if the purpose of going to college is for his son to learn, to grow, to find his passion that he will be able to do this anywhere.  The truth being that if he does not go to a high priced school he might truly find the flexibility to follow his dreams and not fall to economic pressures that going to a high price school sometimes puts on its students.

My last piece of advice was to tell his son to find his passion the next four years and stop working on his resume.  Join activities that you like or you think you will like but do not do them because you think future employers want to see them on your resume.  Follow your heart and you will end up in the right place.

I ended with pushback on any or all of these comments.  I invite you to do the same.