Monday, August 20, 2007

First Post: Expectations

What are your expectations of me as your teacher? What can I do to help you succeed? If you need help brainstorming, think back to a teacher who has inspired and challenged you. How did that teacher help you find success?

23 comments:

KariB said...

My basic expectation for you is to make the class fun. I will not enjoy, therefore not learn, in any class if I am bored. One thing that helps me succeed is when every aspect of the class is organized. Exapmles of this include notes presented in an organized fashion and and discussions with at least some resembelence of structure. The other thing I really like in class is simplicity, especially with assignments.

KylieYoum said...

I would agree with Kari's statement of making class fun. It's really hard to learn when you don't feel optimistic about a class, and especially if it's a class you could get a lot of homework in or feel some struggles with comprehending the information.

I also appreciate it when there's not a gray area when it comes to explaining your expectations or the outline of things you want us to write. That makes us SO confused, and then we stress about things that otherwise wouldn't be very stressful.

erikaw said...

My expectations of you as a teacher are to explain things throughly and to make them easy for us, as your students to understand. You can also make sure that no one is confused before you move ahead in class. To help me succeed, you can challenge me in many different aspects and make sure that I am doing well and understand everything that I need to get done so that I am not confused. I also agree with what Kari and Kylie said about making class fun, and being VERY SPECIFIC when giving out assignments.

Kjerstinl said...

I agree with Kari also with the expectation to make class fun. I also like a variation of ways to learn, not always the same thing everyday. I also think that we should have more time to do hands on activities (as hands-on as you can get with english) because I think that helps me understand in an alternate way.
Otherwise, I really like the example you have set so far, so please continue!

Laurab said...

I would say that my first expectation for this class is for it to be fun, like what Kari said. If I am not having fun, or am bored, then I will not want to try my best in the class. Also, I would like the teacher to be able to be open to problems that the students have. You need to be approachable, and we as students are only human, so we are going to make mistakes sometimes, or not have time to fully complete an assignment once in a while. I also agree with the fact that you as the teacher need to be extremely specific about instructions. If you say, "Be creative, suprise me", then you should grade the assignments accordingly. I really like how you tell us exactly what to do on assignments, so that there isn't any confusion, and like Kylie said, we don't freak out.

matt f. said...

Yeah, I agree with Kari also, what a surprise! Anyway, I like a fun learning environment too. I also like when the teacher uses multiple ways of teaching, such as using the laptops. It is also nice when the assignments are relative. I find it very hard to work on a big, long, involved project that will not further my learning at all and just give the teacher another grade to put in the grade book. However, you have done all of these so far Mrs. Leclaire, and your class is one of my favorite this year.

zachf said...

I agree with Kylie, making the class fun and exciting to go to everyday will give us all an incentive to work harder in American Lit.

I expect you as a teacher to have your expectations of us laid out so we know exactly what you want from us. I just want to know the requirements so I can take those and run with them making my work better.

Declan "Danger" said...

I also think the class should be fun. Original, i know. But i agree with matt on the whole extremely long project thing. i'm not really interested in having a project just for the sake of having a project. Other than that, i think we'll all have a good year

Anonymous said...

I agree with most everyone here in saying that a fun class is always a better class than one that is, well, not fun. Everyone is more alert and ready to learn when they are not busy day dreaming due to lack of interest in the class. Basically, its nice when you want to pay attention, because you are interested, rather than forcing yourself to pay attention because you should.
In addition, I always find it extremely nice when a teacher is understanding. Im not saying accepting excuses, but just listening to us and trying to understand where we are coming from. It is greatly appreciated when a teacher takes into account what is going on with their students, in and out of school.
Busy work typically is no fun for teachers or for students. It would be nice if we strayed from busy work.
And lastly, projects. It would be wonderful if we received scheduled time to work on projects during class time.
Thanks.

bawachmu said...

One of my favorite things to do is read. Most of the time, I don't even mind if it's an assigned book; I just love to read. Considering the course is entitled, "American Literature," I hope that you can give me plenty of things to read, and that you can make the discussions about them as fun as the book itself.

Hannah J said...

My expectations of you as a teacher would probably just be for you to be patient and understanding, which you seem to be already! So high five! =]

And I pretty much love our classroom environment already. You make it comfortable and I feel like I can voice my opinions without being scrutinized. Everyone gets along and we can have good discussions already with it just being the beginning of the year. Usually no one would want to talk, but not our class!

And by the way, great name Declan! (are you sure it shouldn't be dandelion? haha)

jordanc said...

As a teacher, I expect you to make learning fun. By making whatever we do fun, it will be more memorable, therefore helping us succeed.
I love teachers that are funny and don't do the same thing everyday. You already do that so I am pretty happy! :]

jimmym92 said...

I agree a lot with kylie and erika. I really can't think of anything to add besides giving less homework on weekeds than during weekdays if possible.

blair said...

I agree with basically everyone above me.:)
Maybe a better word for fun would be interesting. I like learning about things that I find interesting and actually want to know. I like the way things are going right now. The way you give us a little bit of freedom so we can do things they way we are most comfortable, but also have guidelines that keep us all together.
I don't like really late notice assignments, for example assigning an essay on Friday and having it due on Monday.
That is really about it. I am really enjoying your class so far and am looking forward to the rest of the year!

briang said...

As a teacher this year I expect you to make class interesting and fun. That is, I would like you to try different methods in your teaching. We already started knew ways of learning last year with the creation of fishbowl and the use of laptops, but new styles are always helpful in making the class more fun and interesting. To help me personally succeed, and I believe others would agree with me on this statement, it would be helpful to fully explain things and to help me understand some of the literature we are working with. Some pieces we have already read and are going to read confuse me sometimes. It would just be nice to be able to discuss it with you and other students to help me understand and succeed. If class is boring and I don't understand, I am basically doomed to be unsuccessful.

And as far as past teachers, I think it is safe to say that Smith challenged me.

ShannonH said...

As a teacher, I expect you to treat us as adults. I don't think anything should be "dumbed down" or changed because of our age, but to treat us like you were trying to prepare us for college and the real world, because that is where we will be someday. I think you should allow us some freedom, but still control and guide the classroom. We should be able to learn from our classmates as well as you.
Shannon

chelseah said...

As my English teacher, I would like you to help make learning fun, and to allow some freedom in class. For example, give us "open-ended" assignments, so that we are able to take things and do them without a set of rules to follow. If you make the class fun, and help us through it, and make sure to really explain things, (at least for me) that will help me succeed. I also agree with Kari, I am a fan of simplicity, I guess enough details to help you understand the assignment, but not so much that I get confused.

Unknown said...

I love what Kylie said about your expectations in writing. As wonderful as teacher's trying to make us think and decide for ourselves is, we need to have a solid base as well. There HAS to be a very solid expectation and topic that we can expand on in our own ways from there. I love when a teacher gives various prompts to choose from. Not just one prompt and not no prompt. That gives creative choice as well as being very thought provoking and MUCH less stressful in our hectic lives. I would imagine that it also makes it somewhat easier for you, though I can't say for sure.

Now I have blabbed about an offshoot...My expectations of you as a teacher are too make class interesting and fun but also ACTUALLY teach and challenge us. A lot of teachers forget the teaching and focus solely on the challenge and fun part and it isn't the most important parts. So everything needs to be OBVIOUSLY relevant not just blurry. I might also add that so far I have had no issue whatsoever with your teaching. Please continue.

kenna_d said...

My expectations from you personally is for you to push me to what you know is my best, even if I moan about it. I also like it when I can trust my teacher and my classmates, because that makes discussion time, in my opinion, a much better and more open experience. It is also great when we get to interact with each other. I like it when things are organized also, and when you tell us what you expect of us in a straight forward manner.

In order to help me succeed, I would just ask that you tell me exactly what you want from me, I don't want any gray area, like Kylie said. Also, I really like it when teachers make themselves available and approachable. You already feel really comfortable to me so I doubt you are going to have to work very hard at that last expectation

kfasold said...

My expectations for this class is for me to view different prespectives on our many assignments and how to apply that skill to life in general. All I need to exceed is patience from you because it might take me longer to understand some things.

hannahs said...

I expect you to create a comfortable learning environment where I feel comfortable asking you questions. I do not always understand assignments, and I succeed the most when I feel comfortable asking my teacher to further explain concepts. Also, I agree with Karib about making class fun. I expect my teachers to go beyond lecturing, and make class interesting. Moreover, I enjoy classes where the teacher has students participate in engaging activities that require students to speak out and share their opinions. Fish bowls are a good example of what these activities might look like. Finally, when a teacher assigns work, I would expect them to consider what I have turned in and give me feedback. I realize that both teachers and students are very busy, but if I spend the time on assigned work, then I would hope the teacher would spend their time grading it and comment on my work.

EmilyH said...

Like everyone else in the world, i agree with kari. A fun and varied learning environment is what i expect from you, which will in turn, help me to learn better as a student.
Something i don't like about classes is when we have to do creative assignments that we work hard on, often sacrificing other homework for, and then they get put on a wall and not even graded. And I know, I know, it's not about the grade, but i feel like it is a waste of my time to spend energy on it and not have it count for something. I disagree with kylie when she said she does not want a grey area. I love it when everything is not specified and confined. it gives us much more creative freedom and room to play with thoughts and ideas. As long as you don't grade the grey areas as if we had specific instructions,this method really helps me to write a better paper than when i am confined to specifil rules and regulations.

Chelsea said...

As my teacher I hope that you will listen to me, try to understand me, and help to become a better writer. To help me succeed, you can correct me when I'm wrong and edit my writing and works in order that I may become better. Also, encourage me in my pieces. I hope that you would be willing to help me when I need it. I expect you to be honest with me. I would like it if you would give me feed back and not simply letter grades. Thank you so much for already doing all of these things that I look for in a great teacher.