Barry Westling

Barry Westling

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Robert: True, we can "teach" professionalism" a little bit each day by being good role models as exemplified by being on time, prepared, having all our resources together, lesson and quiz ready, etc. Also, looking clean, dressed well (shoes shined) plays a part. Being approachable, patient, showing courtesy and respect will usually translate to mirror action by bthe student. Regards, Barry
Blanche: Sometimes sharing scores, points, grades is sort of like blah, blah, blah (as the student hears it). To inhance making it more meaningful, adding a personal touch (suggestions or advice), and also showing genuine care through encouragement, praise, and being positive about the possibility of improvement. By showing interest the student can feel that their teacher cares about their successfulness. Regards, Barry
Blanche: Wonderful way to always have an activity that can done with little preparation. Regards, Barry
Amy: Journals can do a lot; sometimes it takes numerous entries before one can recognize a pattern. Other times, just a record for future reference serves the purpose. Reflection on general principles and broader personal values can be memorialized using a journal. One thing, I think this is one of the more under used tools that could benefit teachers and work towards creating improvents that help student do better. Regards, Barry
Jeff: If a student is doing poorly, informing them where they stand could diminish further effort to improve and even give up trying. I think whenever we share grade and class performance information, we should use that opportunity to also encourage, show interest, give suggestions and/or advice, and in other ways, show we care and are interested in helping the student succeed. Regards, Barry

Rachel: This sounds like a great idea. I would add that if the material is important, why is it not included in the required curriculum? Another way to look at it is to assign those "extra chapters", and reward the students that took the time to complete them by non-point based recognition, such as naming students who turned in the EC, or reading from the submitted work and crediting the student that submitted it. The thing about EC is it is often arbitrary, and some students can feel it's unfair (gives some students an advantage because it's not required). As… >>>

Shalika: My view on EC is it should be very, very limited. I don't believe substituting the performance of defined learning objectives with arbitrarily set "points" because the student failed to earn all of the points (learning objectives) they should have. For me, it's like a parent: we don't help our kids by lowering our expectations or being lenient. Tolerent, compassionate, patient, helpful, encouraging - sure. But the student has to assume ownership for the expectations we've given them. Regards, Barry
Shalika: Good for you. For me, transfering knowledge from teacher to student is the goial, and preparing for the workplace is the objective of the educational process. Regards, Barry
Shalika: I believe all good teachers have at their core some internal desire to be helpful, to share something they have with others, in short, to care, as you state in your post. With that, we can motivate, encourage, stimulate and display interest, and create in students a desire to learn, and provide a basis for lifelong learning too. Regards, Barry
Mariann: Attendance would be one of major reasons students might seek EC. Since attendance in school and most workplaces is so important it would seem illogical to award or "reward" students for one undesirable characteristics by giving EC. Your policy underscores that principle. Regards, Barry

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