I wanted to incorporate more than just writing in my blog, so I went on a search for a video. I came across one that is a "Letter to Teachers," and I found it compelling enough to write a blog on it:
I really enjoyed this video. I found it very interesting, and rather compelling. It seemed that everything the students said, I thought at one point or another myself as a student. For example, when the girl said "just because I sit in the back of the class, don't assume I don't want to learn." This exact experience happened to me in my TE 150 class. My professor called my back table slackers, when really I am just a very shy person so I don't like to sit in the front. I was very offended by the comment because I work hard in school, and never not try on any project. He soon realized this after our first paper, but I still don't feel that that judgement was appropriate. This example and many others flowed through my head as I watched the video. I could match real life circumstances to every plea the student gave. It shows just how realistic this video is, although some might say teachers aren't like that. Yet, I know of quite a few teachers that are like that. One of the quotes that interested me the most in this video, was the one where a student basically said "when you give up on me, I give up on myself." This one hit me hard, because I know what it's like to feel like someone gave up on you. Students go through this everyday. They can try as hard as they like, but they still might not understand it. And then the teacher gets frustrated and doesn't try anymore. It makes students feel worthless and lose all confidence they once had. I hope and pray that I will never turn into a teacher that these students are describing. I have a passion for this, and only want to be able to help students to go further in education. I am making a promise to myself that I will actually listen to the message these student's aresending. i think it is very valuable information that every teacher should listen to. With that, I hope everyone watches this video, and realizes the meaning of the content. Let's make our job worthwhile, and allow students to reach their fullest potential!
This is an extremely empowering video. One my favorite quotes is one that caught your attention as well. The student in the video said something similar to "When you give up on me, then I give up on myself." It is such an amazing feeling to know that I can make this much of an impact on my student's lives, simply by believing in them. However, this means that I am going to have to work extra hard to make sure that I do not have biases towards any of my students and what they can acieve.
ReplyDeleteThis is especially applicable to my field in deaf education. Often teachers of deaf children are estatic if one or two deaf children in their class pass the MEAP, because generally their deaf students do not pass. This is simply not acceptable because deaf students can do anything that hearing students can, they just need us to recognize this and expect more out of them. In addition, often teachers are satisfied if they have a seventh grade deaf student who is reading at a fifth grade level because, on average, deaf student's don't ever make it past a fourth grade reading level. As teachers, we simply cannot be satisfied with students perpetuating the norm of substandard achievement. We need to recognize our students' potential and push each and every one of them to be the exception, rather than the stereotype of what a deaf child (or even a hearing child) can achieve.
I also liked the quote that said something along the lines of, "Push us and challenge us, even when we complain." I have found this to be especially true within my own academic career. The classes that I have learned the most from were not necessarily the "fun" classes. In fact, I may not have enjoyed them at all while I was in them, but I had to push myself to the edge of my learning limits every day, and as a result, when I look back on these types of classes, I remember them as being very valuable.
I am really glad somebody found this video as empowering as I did. It is amazing how one little clip of students talking can get so much across. I also agree with the quotes you brought up, especally the "push us and challange us, even when we complain." I am always so irritated and so stressed in the classes where I actually have to put in a ton of time and effort. As a student, you always want the fun class and the easy class. But I know also as a student, that I learn the most when I am pushed to do more work and put in more effort. Therefore, as a teacher I know that I can't let studetns slack if I really want them to learn. Although, I hope I can find a way to push students to work their hardest, while also making it somewhat fun.
ReplyDeleteI really, really, apprecciate what you said about deaf children in education. Although I am not going into that field, I completely agree. I took the begginners sign language course here at MSU as an elective, and I was astounded by how many people think they are so incapable. It is just amazing to me that teachers can be satisfied by these criteria, when these students can accomplish so much more if they were jsut given the encouragement to do so. It is very comforting to know that teachers like you are coming up through the system to give these kids encouragement, and push them to do the best they can do, and not the best people think they can do due to their disabilitiy!