Comments on: Back to School Week: It's a Marathon Not a Sprint http://creatinglifelonglearners.com/?p=518 Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:03:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: April G. http://creatinglifelonglearners.com/?p=518&cpage=1#comment-1045 April G. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:45 +0000 http://www.needleworkspictures.com/ocr/blog/?p=518#comment-1045 I think getting to know your students is an important part of being a successful teacher. The student who just sits in my classroom with no personal interaction may learn, but the one who knows I care about him and with whom I have made a connection will have more of a desire to do well. I am one who has former students as friends on Facebook. I love keeping in contact with them. I have had many students over to my house (especially when I was single), and I make it a goal to get to know my students on more than a surface level. I think this is how we make a bigger impact in their lives, and it enriches my life as well. April Grabanski Walden University I think getting to know your students is an important part of being a successful teacher. The student who just sits in my classroom with no personal interaction may learn, but the one who knows I care about him and with whom I have made a connection will have more of a desire to do well. I am one who has former students as friends on Facebook. I love keeping in contact with them. I have had many students over to my house (especially when I was single), and I make it a goal to get to know my students on more than a surface level. I think this is how we make a bigger impact in their lives, and it enriches my life as well.

April Grabanski
Walden University

]]> By: Lora http://creatinglifelonglearners.com/?p=518&cpage=1#comment-1044 Lora Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:15:09 +0000 http://www.needleworkspictures.com/ocr/blog/?p=518#comment-1044 I agree that getting to know your students is important and should be on going throughout the year. I make sure to continue to keep that personal side in my classroom all year long. It may be as simple as asking what they did over the weekend or keeping up with the sports and clubs they are involved in. I also make sure to go to school events where we can see each other in a different environment. I do not believe in communication outside of the school with any students. I have several teachers who have their students as friends on facebook. That is just too personal for me. I agree that getting to know your students is important and should be on going throughout the year. I make sure to continue to keep that personal side in my classroom all year long. It may be as simple as asking what they did over the weekend or keeping up with the sports and clubs they are involved in. I also make sure to go to school events where we can see each other in a different environment. I do not believe in communication outside of the school with any students. I have several teachers who have their students as friends on facebook. That is just too personal for me.

]]> By: Jim Fawcett http://creatinglifelonglearners.com/?p=518&cpage=1#comment-1043 Jim Fawcett Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:10:13 +0000 http://www.needleworkspictures.com/ocr/blog/?p=518#comment-1043 This entire site is full of great tips, but connecting with your students is especially important in special needs. I hope to use some of these tips and many others that you are suggesting. Thank you. This entire site is full of great tips, but connecting with your students is especially important in special needs. I hope to use some of these tips and many others that you are suggesting. Thank you.

]]> By: Kakie http://creatinglifelonglearners.com/?p=518&cpage=1#comment-1040 Kakie Sat, 12 Sep 2009 05:19:34 +0000 http://www.needleworkspictures.com/ocr/blog/?p=518#comment-1040 Great post and comments to follow. I think that there is an art in learning the best ways to motivate your students. Unfortunately I think many of you don't get the credit you deserve. Thanks for making a difference in the lives of our kids. You make learning fun for them and that is what is terrific! Great post and comments to follow. I think that there is an art in learning the best ways to motivate your students. Unfortunately I think many of you don’t get the credit you deserve. Thanks for making a difference in the lives of our kids. You make learning fun for them and that is what is terrific!

]]> By: Beth http://creatinglifelonglearners.com/?p=518&cpage=1#comment-1041 Beth Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:51:18 +0000 http://www.needleworkspictures.com/ocr/blog/?p=518#comment-1041 Reading this post reminded me, Mathew, that I need to realize that Rome wasn't built in a day. By Wednesday, I'm sure I'll be about 95% physically ready (room arrangement/decor) and about 80% mentally ready. I'm still reveling in the reality of summer even if for one more day. I always feel like I'll love my kids as I get to know them. I teach all girls- first grade. They are so sweet and eager to please. They have many things in common between them, but are so unique and distinct in a myriad of ways. I, however, used to need them to love me back. This isn't the case anymore, I just need them to respect me as I do them...I do not indulge them, because then they feel they can walk all over me. I'm almost 30 years old and for a six year old to have me wrapped around her finger is ridiculous...I will love and nurture, not coddle... Reading this post reminded me, Mathew, that I need to realize that Rome wasn’t built in a day. By Wednesday, I’m sure I’ll be about 95% physically ready (room arrangement/decor) and about 80% mentally ready. I’m still reveling in the reality of summer even if for one more day. I always feel like I’ll love my kids as I get to know them. I teach all girls- first grade. They are so sweet and eager to please. They have many things in common between them, but are so unique and distinct in a myriad of ways. I, however, used to need them to love me back. This isn’t the case anymore, I just need them to respect me as I do them…I do not indulge them, because then they feel they can walk all over me. I’m almost 30 years old and for a six year old to have me wrapped around her finger is ridiculous…I will love and nurture, not coddle…

]]> By: hearing school http://creatinglifelonglearners.com/?p=518&cpage=1#comment-1042 hearing school Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:47:14 +0000 http://www.needleworkspictures.com/ocr/blog/?p=518#comment-1042 it is a marathon and it goes far beyond ice breakers. Getting to know your students, to me, means getting to know them as readers and writers–and continually learning about them throughout the year. Assessing their strengths early and building on them. it is a marathon and it goes far beyond ice breakers. Getting to know your students, to me, means getting to know them as readers and writers–and continually learning about them throughout the year. Assessing their strengths early and building on them.

]]> By: Elona http://creatinglifelonglearners.com/?p=518&cpage=1#comment-1039 Elona Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:56:47 +0000 http://www.needleworkspictures.com/ocr/blog/?p=518#comment-1039 Mathew, It's true that you don't have to like your students to teach them. You just have to respect them. I tell that to my students when they complain about teachers. It's not realistic to expect people to like everyone they come into contact with. I think it's important for students to appreciate this. It's really a useful life skill for student and teacher alike. I know it's helped me. Great post. Mathew,
It’s true that you don’t have to like your students to teach them. You just have to respect them. I tell that to my students when they complain about teachers. It’s not realistic to expect people to like everyone they come into contact with. I think it’s important for students to appreciate this. It’s really a useful life skill for student and teacher alike. I know it’s helped me.

Great post.

]]> By: Lee Ann Spillane http://creatinglifelonglearners.com/?p=518&cpage=1#comment-1038 Lee Ann Spillane Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:47:10 +0000 http://www.needleworkspictures.com/ocr/blog/?p=518#comment-1038 Good point, it is a marathon and it goes far beyond ice breakers. Getting to know your students, to me, means getting to know them as readers and writers--and continually learning about them throughout the year. Assessing their strengths early and building on them. What can kids do spontaneous in writing? How will that determine what I need to teach next? Those kinds of questions are ones that I think about these first few weeks of school. Good point, it is a marathon and it goes far beyond ice breakers. Getting to know your students, to me, means getting to know them as readers and writers–and continually learning about them throughout the year. Assessing their strengths early and building on them. What can kids do spontaneous in writing? How will that determine what I need to teach next? Those kinds of questions are ones that I think about these first few weeks of school.

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