Hello Mr. Keipopele!
Thank you very much for your kind comments and for sharing
your thoughts with me.
I think you really do have a handle on what the issue is with
your students. They are coming from a recent (and for some,
not so recent) past of failure, and they are certainly
operating from that vantage point. It always seems easier to
justify actions that people seem to expect from you, and that
you expect from yourself, and I think your students are
showing you that.
The best thing I can tell you is to first make sure that you,
as their teacher, are able to find the best in them that they
can't find in themselves. You have to be at first cause in
this situation. Often times, even the teacher is not able to
see in the student what it is they want the student to
achieve. I believe you are different. Think of each of your
students and find the strengths that each possesses. You may
see determination in some, a strong sense of self in
others...even in those who cheat, you can see a clear will to
succeed by any means necessary. There is where you have a
leverage point.
Next, use those strengths and share them with the students.
Let them know that you notice these things about them and help
them turn them into ways to enhance their learning
experiences. Even if you must use the cheating as a point of
reference. You can say to them, "While cheating is not
acceptable at all, I do notice that you have a clear will to
win by any means necessary. So, that tells me, that you will
do whatever it takes to get the job done. Now, since I'm your
teacher, I am committed to helping you use that important
strength in the most powerful way...a way that will help you
to win for the rest of your life, not just to pass a test or a
class. That's if you are willing to show me that you are
serious about doing so."
This, way you have a buy in from them because you are showing
them that they are strong, and that what you will teach them
about themselves will last them past the time period of the
class (which you have demonstrated that they do not care very
much about it seems). They may like the idea of having skills
that they really will use in the long run, especially since
they are older and will readily use them. Once you begin
doing this, (and do it often as far as pointing out their
strengths go) you will find that they are more responsive to
you because they see that you care about them as people, and
you really see that they are valuable.
Please try this daily and let me know the outcome in a couple
of weeks. If you get stuck, you are always welcome to ask me
on the forum boards at www.myclassroomrules.com. Just start a
new topic and ask your questions there!
Talk soon!
Lots of Luv,
K
On 11/12/08, Tshepho Andrew Keipopele wrote:
> Hi Ms Carter
>
> You are really an inspiring teacher. I read your story
> about that class and I felt that it was a really challege
> for u to teach it and actually succeed. There are many
> lessoms that can be learned from your achievement and the
> achivement of your class.
>
> My situation is alittle different. I am a teacher training
> student training for teaching at tetiary level. I read
> that you were teaching essentially a primary class but I
> could identify with the problems that you had.
>
> The students that we train to teach are mostly those who
> have failed junior secondary school or those who have
> completed senior school and thier grades were not good
> enough to qualify for universities.
>
> I have been to my first teaching practice and I encoutered
> the same with the students. They come to class and are not
> really prepared to listen or participate in the class.
> When it is test time they bring some very small papers
> written formulae and notes inside the classroom with them
> so that they can cheat. During the test you can see that
> they have all their minds on finding the opportunity to
> open the small paers so that they can cheat.
>
> If the invigilation is very tight and they dont have the
> opportunity to cheat they alwys fail terribly. I think
> some of the words that you used in your essay like that
> they lack self confidance and that they know that no
> matter what they try they will alwys fail because they
> have the testimony in the form of their grades on their
> certificates is very true. They need to be shown that even
> themselves they can do it like the ones who are admitted
> to colleges and universities.
>
> What is your opinion on this and how can you advice
> someone like me who has to face hese learners and try to
> instill a sense of confidance in them so that they can
> rediscover themselves?
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