Barry Westling

Hi Kimberly: Good point. Students ma different motivations, and many may be willing to settle for a lesser grade just to get by. Othes strive for the highest grade they can earn. In any event, frequent sharing of progress and giving positive feedback and assistance will tend to help all categories of students. What they do with the information is up to them, but they will appreciate the information if given with care and encouragement. Regards, Barry

Hi Marsha: This is good. A journal can also be more pesonal, allowing a teacher to make observations, personal comments, ideas, reflections or perceptions about themselves or the classses they're teaching or student responses, or better ways to use their time, etc. etc. Looking back over time can be quite revealing and improvements can come freom comparsions over time. Regards, Barry

Hi Marsha: So, we have allkinds. Everyone probably wants to to do their bet (but everyone doesn't want to do the work to earn those grades). Therefore, early intervention, frequent encouragement and status updates can at least provide the potential for studnts to demonstrate their doing their best. Regards, Barry

Hi Marsha: Yes, preparedness does take time. The students will notice this, ad certainly the teacher that puts in the time and effort know it. This shows the students their teacher cares about their learning and successfulness. Regards, Barry

Hi Gina: Yes, I agree. Smooth classes don't usually happen without preparation and effort preceding their delivery. And studets do appreciate when teachers prepare. They feel the teacher knows their stuff and satisfied their learning as well. Regards, Barry

Hi Kimberly: Good reasons. Also, you can make beginning to final learning comparisons. I've used testing to assess different teachers teaching the same material and then rating how similar the students tested (the formal name for this is inter-rater reliabilty). In other words if 5 teachers taught the same material how similar would they grade? Anyway, this is a great tool and more teachers would probably benefit if they used it. Regards, Barry

Hi John: Great ideas on staging learning based on learning levels or skill mastery. Regards, Barry

Hi Rainerio: Good blending of resources. Variety, adding different media to keep and sustain attention, and being creative to use resourses that are interesting (discussion, stories, work related activities)are all important considerations when planning a course. We want to look at it from the student's perspective, too. That is, how would it be to be a student on the receiving end of the planned lesson? Regards, Barry

Hi David: Right - early intervention. Plus, while we're sharing grade information, we can be upbeat, positive, and offerr encouragement and supportive assistance that'll make the student feel better about their learning and themnselves. We want to show we care about their success. Regards, Barry

Hi Rainerio: For me, student centered is like student-focused, where the material we need to teach is individualized or customized somewhat to match the student's learning style or ability. This takes time, thought, and effort, but to the student, it's a worthwhile activity. Regards, Barry