attention and retention
if a student feels ignored they are less likley to push thru hard times, giving just a little attention to each student keeps them engauged and more likley to press on.
Yes making them feel that you do care about them encourages them feel that yes they can susceed.
I once had a student that often slept missed time or misbehaved in class. I pulled him aside one day and talked with him in regards to his conduct. He said," No teacher here cares about me and I just cannot wait to get out of here so what does it matter". I let him know the reason I was speaking to him was strickly because I cared and the school cared. From then on he changed completely.
That's awesome. Some student's can turn around if a little attention is shown. It's nice to hear that your student corrected his course due to your kindly input...
I love this job because I generaly care about people and enjoy helping them. I am always ready to ask a student how things are going, or help one in need of extra attention. If a student is having trouble, there must be a reason for it, and I want to know if there is anything I can do to help.
I just ran into a student today in a Chick Filet store, who had dropped out some time ago. He recognized me even though he hadn't been in one of my classes. He told me that he dropped because of the travel time and distance which caused him to be late. If someone could have known at the time maybe they could have helped.
If we take the time to ask we will get answers and can most likely find a way to help the students.
This is a great example of attention = retention. Sometimes we may be the only positive attention a student receives during their day.
Giving attention sometimes requires prioritizing what a person should do. If you are swamped in work, do you put attention to students at the top of the list? It is easy not to do so. I think about the receptionist at the school who is taking phone calls, answering student questions, booking assessment times, checking the student registration system....How easy it might be to try to keep on top of all these tasks and not step back, push some things back and give attention to the student standing in front of you. I see this for myself when a student comes to see me without an appointment. I have tons of work to do and am in the midst of something. I want to say that the student needs an appointment, but when I remind myself that my first priority is the student and see that student, I realize that often the student is feeling insecure about something,needs reassurance, and this takes only a minute or two.
Calling the students by their first names helps you develop a repor with them.
Lucy,
I'm sure several people feels the same as you have described when they have tons of work to be completed and a student arrives unexpected. We may sound as if we are giving the student priority, however our body language might show something different. So we need to make sure our facial expressions and body language are welcoming for that student.
John,
This is a great way to build rapport with our students. Another way is to simply ask about their families or classes. This lets them know that we care.
John,
This is a great example. You are definetly an intelligent heart.
I agree and I love my job also. Instead of spending my lunch breaks with the other instructors, I will hang out with the students at their break areas. Most newer students will feel intimidated at first, but there are usually a few students who will seek me out at break just to ask questions about their cars or just to say hello. The newer students then realize that I am not out there to scrutinize what they are doing, I'm just there to have some conversation with different people. Not suprizingly, I have had some students that I really didn't know open up to me about their problems and I feel that it makes a difference in the student body if they see that there is someone that is here to help them, instructor or otherwise.
Daniel,
This is a great way to connect with students. I found this to be a great way as well, but I would attend the football and basketball games and sit in the student section. It was amazing how some of the problems I had in classes with various students seemed to work out.
I too feel as though we need to see or spot the students that need that interaction between student an teacher to make them feel as they are needed in class as well. This just makes them feel better about themselves and also makes all of us feel better, that we are able to make that difference for them. This will hopefully make them want to come to class and participate.
John,
Attention is very important and attention can simply be a "hello" or eye contact. I find that some students don't like the direct attention in the classroom, this may need to be done at break or individually.
Before I started teaching if you had asked me if I was good with names I would have told you absolutely not! But after teaching for 5 years getting two new classes every six weeks I have found that I am actually pretty good and putting name and face together. I goal is to have the class down by the end of week one. Being able to speak to the students and call them by their names is the first step in connecting with them. I also start each class with some activity to help me get to know them a individuals and find out something extra that I can use to talk with them.
Scot,
Learning students' names is a must. Thanks for pointing this out.
Jeffrey Schillinger
