Personal Attention toward Everyone
As my classes are getting larger, I am having a hard time finding the time to be the one on one chef instructor to everyone for everyone. I traveled last weekend and visited another culinary school and talked with one of the older chefs that has been teaching for a long time. I told him my issue and he gave me two great tools that I plan to utilize this upcoming week with my new class. The first tool is to come into the classroom 30 minutes early and just plan on being there for the students. No admin work or anything. Just be there for them. This will make you much more approachable and open yourself up to making those contacts with each student. Another tool he gave me was to use my daily roster as a tool. He puts check marks by the names of the students he makes personal contacts with every day and his goal is to have a check mark by every students name at the end of the day.
Hi Isaac,
What great advice you received from the experienced chef. I always go into my classroom early and just visit with the students. It is as he mentioned it takes the pressure off of students because there is no agenda or course content involved, just talking and responding to questions. The result is that students will ask questions in this setting that they might not in the formal class setting. They really open up and you also get to develop rapport with them.
You some great tools to use. I wish you the best in using them.
Gary
I do the same thing and have found that even the most troubled student may at times be the first to arrive early to discuss issues with the class and or personal issues. This allows me to offer support and positive feed back to them more personally than in the class setting. It’s gratifying for me and the student equally.
Hi Daniel,
Right you are. The help you are giving a student like this is hard to measure in one sense since it may take the entire course or even program before you see that your support has helped that individual to be successful.
Gary
When a new class cycle begins I try to learn each students name within the first two days. As the days progress I call on each student by their first name and try to learn something about their outside interests which I can tie into the lectures and relate to the course material. My door is open 1/2 hr before class and 1 1/2 hr after for anyone needing to ask questions about a personal project or reveiw course material. Working together makes us both succussful
Hi Jerome,
You are doing a great job of establishing a learning environment that is supportive and comfortable for your students. By learning their names quickly and being available for them they know you care about their success.
Gary
It’s almost impossible for me to learn everyone’s name in the class I teach just because I only have them for 4 days, and then I get all new students. So, at the end of each session I ask them to critique themselves, this way I can better instruct what is important to the curriculum and them as individuals on a more personal basis.
Hi Daniel,
I can really understand the name problem when you have students for such a short period of time. Are you able to develop any rapport with the students in such a time span? What are the goals for a course that is set up this way?
Gary
I can develop rapport with the student on their first day by tying in the pervious classes and their future aspirations, then blending the two together in common goals for both the course and the individuals. My next step is to reinforce these goals or solicit solutions to what works, and what doesn’t, and why it does or doesn’t.
I’m lucky to get them at the end of the program. The course puts the emphasis looking at the business through the customer perspective. This is a necessary ingredient for all business. Learners become more aware of the views others, not just their own. For them it’s a self realization, for me it’s a teaching method
I also find that coming in early and being available has really helped with certain students. They may have issues with the material, personal or other issues that they are uncomfortable bringing up in front of other students. It also leaves a time for the go-getters to brush up on fine points ot take the subject to the next level.
The roster is one thing I use alot....I copy it and on day one make notations next to each student's name to remind myself of their situation and particular needs.
Hi David,
I commend you for your efforts in being available to your students. Developing rapport with students really helps classes to go better. When the students know you care about their success and are there for them they strive to work even harder. Keep up the good work.
Gary
