How well do you know your students academically? How well do you know your students personally?
In what ways? Are these equally important? Explain your reasoning.
As a kindergarten teacher, I feel it is very easy to get to know my students personally. Young children love to tell you about their lives. They are very open. Our school also does family looping. So if I taught the oldest child in a family, I would most likely teach all the younger children as well. The theory behind that is that families are able to feel a connection with the teacher and vice versa. We do a standards based report card, so I feel that through the year I get a good feel for how the students does academically as well. Are they equally important? I feel that connections are most important. I believe students will try harder and achieve greater academic success when they feel comfortable with me and know that I want the best for them.
The American education system prioritizes completion above all else, pushing the time constraints to their max to complete the standards. Above healthy exercise, socialization, etc. The system makes it difficult to develop real lasting deep connections with 100+ students, in a packed 50 minute daily session. Many students are very open about themselves and their lives, but many are not, so it is difficult to know everybody personally.
Academically, I feel like I have a strong understanding of my students. I can easily recognize their work and articulate their growth. Personally, it has been the best this year because I now teach juniors and seniors, which means I have taught some of these kids for more than two years. It has allowed me to get to know them better. I think it is important to understand BOTH sides of a student. I also think knowing them personally allows them to excel academically as well because they feel comfortable with you. I have enjoyed following my students, and I will grab a few freshmen classes again to do the same thing in a few years.
I think it is so important to know students both personally and academically. I teach every student in the 8th grade and I only get to see them for 38 minutes per day. This means that I have over 185 students this year split into 6 sections. I see a few of them multiple times a day if I have them in my homeroom, study lab or WIN group. I try my best to get to know all of the students personally by doing get to know you activities at the beginning of the year, standing at the door every day as they enter the room, spending time with them after school as they wait for a bus, or just simply asking them questions and trying to connect with all of them at least a little bit each week. I know this class a lot better because my son happens to be in my class this year, which means I go to a lot of after school events and see many of them outside of school as well. I also know this class academically pretty well also, as I am constantly assessing them to see if they have mastered the standards. I do believe that the personal connections are actually a little bit more important than the academic connections at this stage. Middle school is all about building relationships. If I have a good relationship with a student, they are much more willing to put in the work in my class because they know that I truly want the best for them.
I think it is equally important to know your students both academically and personally. At the start of the year, I am immediately able to look through data to know my students academically. To get to know them personally is not as an easy as looking at table or graph and also takes more time. I usually have a quick sheet parents fill out at the start of the year to help me get to know their child. And then as the year goes on I refer back to that sheet but also find ways to build relationships with my students. I think it is important to know both because it can greatly impact the classroom atmosphere. For one, it can help me prepare lessons by thinking about what would be an appropriate challenge or activity as well as understanding what my students may connect with more.
How well do you know your students academically? How well do you know your students personally? In what ways? Are these equally important? Explain your reasoning.
With being with my students all day, as their first grade teacher, I know my students very well academically. It’s tough at the beginning of the year to know where they are at academically, but as learning begins and challenges arise, I’m able to know where each student is at academically. Throughout learning units, I do pre/post tests and that gives me a good idea where students are at academically.
Also, with being with my first grade students all day, I’m able to learn more about them each day. I’m with them all day and conversations do strike up or they tell me something that they want me to know. By the middle of the year, I’m able to know my students on a personal level and I hope they are able to learn more about myself too.
I believe that knowing where students are academically and knowing them personally are equally important because they go hand in hand. If you know the student personally, you know how they respond to challenges and you know they respond to certain situations. When academics come in, you can respond to that child in a way that you know them personally. Such as, if you know that addition and subtraction is challenging for them, you can respond in a way that works for them, such as giving them a 3 minute break or giving them encouragement. All students respond to challenges differently and knowing students on a personal level, can impact how you respond to them.
In my current role, I don't spend the day with a set class of learners in my own classroom. This does make it harder to get to know learners personally because I spend far less time with them in comparison to what I did when I was in the classroom. For my send out instruction, I see learners groups of learners in 7 different buildings for 40 minutes at a time, once a week, every other week. At the start of the year I did a few team building sessions which allowed me to see how learners interact with others, take on challenging tasks, recover from mistakes, and deal with conflict. I could use that information to help guide my instruction and planning. In the past when I was teaching in my own classroom, I loved that our program would provide the opportunity to loop with our learners. Having two years to work with students was invaluable to their learning and to the classroom environment. Not only did I know their academic strengths and challenges, but I knew their personalities, interests, and families. This allowed me to better plan for my learners and allowed them to achieve more. I feel that knowing learners personally and academically are equally important. Connecting with learners on a personal level allows insight as to why they may be having challenges in the classroom or how we can best help them achieve their full potential. I also agree that it's important for learners to feel seen individually each day. Even taking a few minutes to individually greet students and connect with them can make an impact on their attitude and success.
How well do you know your students academically? How well do you know your students personally? In what ways? Are these equally important? Explain your reasoning.
When I was teaching kindergarten, I felt I got to know my students well over the course of the year. I do feel that it is necessary to know your students academically, especially if you differentiate. However, as you get to know your students better, sometimes that gives you a glimpse into why they may perform the way they do. I felt that the more connections I made with my students, the better the effort I would receive. Kindergarteners want to please their teachers most of the time but there are instances that you will have a difficult student and if you can find a way to relate and connect with them, that may be the reason they want to come to school and on top of that, maybe they even want to do good and work hard at the task at hand instead of acting out or being defiant. Having said all of that, I do feel that the more you know about your students the more invested I became as a teacher as well.
When in an elementary classroom, I feel like I am able to get to know students well both academically and personally. Because students are in my care for a large portion of the day, it allows for time for both of these areas to become very familiar. I try to use lulls in the day to get to know my students better on a personal level- asking about their weekend while waiting for others to join our small group, chatting in the hallway while we wait for students to use the restroom, morning routine to check in about recent happenings, and recess to check in on friendships and play. Facilitating instruction and all that goes with it helps me to keep up with how they are doing academically. Checking papers, seeing their work & hearing their thinking in small groups and whole group learning usually provides me with a good pulse on how students are doing academically. I think that both are important, but sometimes it may be more beneficial to lean into knowing your students personally first, especially at that age level. It can help you be more engaging when presenting materials, because you can tie in student interests to lessons. When students feel like you care about them, they will, in turn, care more about what you have to say. These reasons and more can help them be engaged in your classroom and help them academically.
As a kindergarten teacher, I would say that I know my students well academically. I spend every day with them in all subject areas, so I feel like I am easily able to know where they are at. I would say that I know my students personally as well. Students at this age are very willing to share about themselves. I am also pretty involved in our community, so I get to see my students participating in events outside of school. We also have a question of the day during our morning meeting and by asking them a question and having them each share their response, I get to learn more about them as well.
I would say that they are both equally important to know as a teacher. It is important to know where a student is academically so that you know how to help them or what you can teach them next. It is also important to know students relationally, because students will try harder when they know that you care about them. This definitely helps them to be more engaged in your classroom.
I think it's equally important to know your students personally and academically. When I was teaching 7th & 8th grade, I was teaching 160+ students. It was definitely an advantage to have students for 2 years because I was able to get to know them better and see them progress academically. It all just took time. I remember the struggle I felt with wanting to get lots of work and grading done during homeroom and study hall, but also recognizing that those are great opportunities to talk with students more. With teaching writing, I got to know my students a lot better through what they shared in their essays and journals. It was definitely a window into their interests and their home lives. On top of that, their writing obviously showed me where they were academically as well. Overall, I do think it's a balance of knowing students personally and academically that makes a great teacher.
Academically, not so much. Effort and success in band doesn't always translate to other classrooms. I know where all my kids are in relation to a band classroom very well. Personally, there are some kids I know very well, others not as much. I'm very introverted and like keeping to myself, so being involved in my students' lives has been a learning experience for me. Additionally, some kids are more motivated musically and that makes it much easier for me to get to know them well, whereas some kids are very standoffish around teachers and it is harder to get to know them.
I believe they are equally important as the primary purpose of us as teachers is to teach students academically, but I know that one of the best ways to keep students motivated and engaged is to get to know them.
How well do you know your students academically? How well do you know your students personally? In what ways? Are these equally important? Explain your reasoning. I know my students very well academically. I am the Title I teacher along with the testing coordinator in grades K-6. I am looking at their data, progress monitoring and talking with the teachers. I only get 25 minutes with the students (1 on 1 or small group) on a daily basis so I try to focus on learning during that time. I also believe that I know my students very well personally because we live in a small rural area where everyone knows everyone. I also am friends with many of my students [parents. I think that it is equally important to know your students academically and personally. Kids need to know that you care about them not just at school but also about what happens to them outside of school.
As a teacher, I knew my students both academically and personally, and I believe both are equally important. Teaching in a small school as the K–12 art teacher meant I had about 85% of my students from kindergarten all the way to graduation. Because of that, I really got to know them—their strengths, struggles, personalities, and learning styles.
I also knew most of their families, which helped me understand my students even better. In a small school, relationships matter, and those connections make a big difference in how students learn and grow.
I strongly believe in teaching the whole student. When you know who your students are as people, you can support them better in the classroom. Those relationships were one of the most meaningful parts of my teaching career.
I think I know my students really well academically. I can sometimes pick up on understanding just by looking at a student. I also try to make it a point to check on every student, regardless of how well they perform, during work time so I can help those who don't look like they need help or raise their hands. I stress the importance of communication in my classroom because I can't read their minds to know if they are struggling or not, so I try to foster a safe learning environment to support this. I also think I know my students pretty well personally. I try my best to have personal conversations with them about sports or extracurricular activities to get to know them better. The beginning of the year is an important time for this, but also maintaining it throughout the year by attending sporting events or asking about pets or family members. Knowing your students academically and personally are equally important because they are, hopefully, able to trust you with both of those things. I want my students to feel comfortable enough to ask questions when they are struggling, but also feel comfortable enough to talk to me about things that may be happening at home as well.
I think I know my students both academically and personally after about one month into our semester. One interesting trend I have noticed is that my brightest stars in my contect area: art, often struggle in other content areas or behaviour. For these reasons, I often wait a few weeks to check their academic backgrounds and grades. I am more often surprised that my "stars" struggle in other aptitudes so I am grateful that they are shining in my class. Ways that I get to know students include: making contact with each student, every day by checking in with daily "desk checks", using their names ( and working hard to remember them early), smiling and giving positive feedback. I also do Mindful Monday check ins: where they can write about their weekend, answer questions if they would like to, and give little art reviews to check for understanding. I often find out new things about students with these forms and can make better connections with them that way. I also don't judge students' prior or current grades or behaviours. They often find the art room to be a safe and welcoming place to express themselves and I want to honor that.
I knew my students very well academically while I taught special education. I feel that I needed to know to help students be successful in my classroom as well in general education classrooms and in life. Having smaller groups allowed me to know my students personally very well. We built a safe space environment in my class and I am very grateful to have known my students so closely as a student and as a person. We talked about sports, family, goals, pets, hobbies, life, sports, vacations, etc. I tried to make it to extracurricular activities as much as I could throughout the school year and even now as a former teacher. I feel that knowing students academically and students personally are both equally important as academics showcases where a student is heading and personal knowledge showcases how to help a kiddo get there. I think knowing both sides can help a teacher respond with empathy and strategy to different situations. This was one thing that I found very lucky with my small groups was getting to know both sides.
Before students are "mine," I don't know them very well academically. I have an opportunity to view their standardized test scores and am made aware of which students are receiving special education services. Since our school is one building housing all 12 grades, previous teachers are willing to share strategies for the best methods for instructing upcoming students. They also often share frustrations about gaps in the skill bases of those students. Even though that data can be very helpful in getting to know a student academically, I try very hard not to "label" students before they are in my classroom. Fortunately, once they enter my math classroom, I have the pleasure of instructing them for an average of 4 to 5 more years. This presents an abundance of data, with which I get to know my students very well. Living in a rural area has the benefit of knowing students and their families. Being involved in the community allows for meeting and spending time with future students from nearly birth until they join my classes. To assist with getting to know my students personally, I often implement surveys about their likes, dislikes, qualities and favorites. I'm not able to memorize every detail about every student, but I attempt to remember at least one thing about them and then visit with them about non-school related subjects. Many of the students attend our weekly Youth Group, of which I am an adviser, and several attend the same church as me. I'm fortunate to be able to get to know my students so personally. Getting to know your students both academically and personally are equally important. We must strive to know them academically so we can enhance their strengths and build on their weaknesses. If we know their learning styles, we can differentiate our instruction to meet more students' needs. By knowing students on a personal level, we can help them feel more comfortable and safer in our classrooms. All of these work together to give students the best environment for learning and growing.
Since I teach mostly sixth grade, I do not really know my students academically or personally. After the first few months you get an idea of their academic level and where the challenges will take place. Personally you can get to know your students based on the activities they are in or by the writing that they do. Then you can talk to the students about their interests and create a connection. These are both important for your room environment.
By this time of the year, I know my kids academically very well. As the year starts, all we see are grades and comments from other teachers, but as we all know, that can vary from teacher to teacher. Once you start teaching, you can really start to figure out which students can get work done on time, which students work better in groups/work better independently. You figure out which students work better sitting in one area or moving around the room, etc. As far as personally, most of my kids I know pretty well also. I could tell you which students are in music, sports, clubs, etc. I do a question of the day and that really shows kids that I want to know more about them than just what their grade is. This leads to conversation all of the time about a sports team or a movie that was just played in theaters, or just remembering to ask them on Monday what their weekend was like. Yes, even 8th graders like to talk to their teachers as long as it's done the correct way. I think they go hand in hand because when a student knows their teacher cares about them, they will go above and beyond what you expect. I believe the phrase "kids don't learn from someone they don't trust" comes into play a lot in the education world. Show the 8th graders you care, and they will do about anything you ask!
As a preschool and early childhood special education teacher, I spend a lot of time interacting and playing with my students throughout the day. During play and hands-on activities, I’m able to observe their academic skills such as language, problem-solving, and early literacy or math concepts. I also get to know my students personally by incorporating their interests into activities and conversations. When students see their interests reflected in the classroom, they are often more engaged and motivated to learn. I also communicate regularly with their families, which helps me better understand each child’s strengths, needs, and personality. I believe knowing students academically and personally is equally important. When teachers understand both, they can create learning experiences that are meaningful, supportive, and better tailored to each child’s development.
As a third grade teacher in a small school setting, I am blessed to know each of my students well academically and personally. In multiple settings within the classroom, I am able to observe each of my students in their academics. I connect with our title teacher and special education teacher to help my students with their individual needs. I communicate with parents weekly through a newsletter and an online platform. At the start of the school year, we do many ice breakers and an All about Me poster to get to know each other. I enjoy learning what interests each of my students, helping me understand what motivates them in their learning. I believe that knowing your students academically as well as personally are equally important in helping each child be successful in their learning.
I am the Dean of Students for our online program, so I have a good idea where students are at and their academically and I also feel I have a good relationship with these students. Our staff does periodic progress updates on our high school students to track their progress which helps me to address students who need more attention academically. I travel out to the Colonies that are enrolled in our program fairly often, and our staff does some traveling out also. Yesterday one of our staff members and I spent 1.5 hours at one colony and 1 hour at another. This time provides the chance for our staff to evaluate the students progress in their courses and also to spend relational time getting to know them on a more personal level. We also have communication with our students through an email system. I have always felt that real learning can not take place, or at least at a limited level, unless there is a true relationship between teacher and student.
I strive on making connections and getting to know my students from the start. Knowing my students personally such what they like, what they don't like, what makes them happy, what makes them angry, who they live with, if they have pets, etc. are all things I look forward to learning. I have found that when I know my students personally, I have fewer behavior problems. I feel I know my students just as well academically. Many of my students see other teachers throughout the day. We are in constant communication about those students. When there are any academic or behavior concerns, I bring my students to a CARE team meeting, where fellow coworkers help me and we bounce ideas off of each other. They always say it takes a village and I'm lucky to have that village.
When I was a classroom teacher, I feel as though I got to know my students pretty well as I had them everyday and could tell when something was wrong. Being in a small school helps know my students personally, in fact that I think I could list the name of almost every student in our school (k-12). It also helps being the 6-12 principal in a k-12 building that I can walk around and pop in every classroom to great students and staff. Knowing our students at such a young age helps get to know them as they grow through our building. It also helps that I coach grades 5-12 in a variety of sports, as I get to know students / athletes outside of the typical classroom / school building in the fact that they have a different side of them when they are at practice / game. Academically, I do not know my students like I did before when I was in the classroom full time. I do teach classes (4 throughout the year) to seniors and juniors, and I do have some knowledge of their academics as I review their district, state and federal assessments. It also helps that I have conversations with my staff about students’ academics on a regular basis. I personally believe that knowing your students academically is important, but I believe that knowing them personally is more important. I believe this because if a students feels comfortable coming to school, feels comfortable opening up (with any school employee) and feels safe, then we will get the best version of them. I believe that if we know a student personally (things going on in their life both good and negative) we can better understand what they are going through and help them better academically. I am not saying that we adjust curriculum, but maybe if we know a kid struggles in the morning with behavior and attention, and we know them personally, may their behavior is tied to hunger and that if we can provide them a snack, we can get better behavior which will mean more time on task, which will improve academic performance.
It is very important for me to get to know my students right from the get go! Making connections with my students and creating a safe, respectful, and joyful classroom community is a top priority for me. Students really want to be listened to, especially in this day and age. I do many things to welcome students and get to know them; many of them were in the book. I do an interest survey, a get to know me activity and later play it as a game, for example, "this person's favorite snack is watermelon." Then classmates guess and we get to know each other, including myself. I also have them play "human bingo" that was mentioned. I get to know what is special/unique to each of them. I feel connections and them feeling respected and listened to needs to be a priority before learning will take place. The saying -kids will remember how they felt more than what you taught - sticks with me as a teacher. I also strive to know each child academically by, of course, assessments that guide my teaching but also by working in several different settings and using several different types of assessments. I love being able to work one on one with students and in small groups. I also gain a lot by watching them work together as a team and I'm more of a facilitator/guide. Whole group discussions and learning is also great. I feel it's important for students to learn from each other as well. I have students share reports or other learning activities they've accomplished, as well as, help each other with tasks. Students learn by teaching others. As a teacher I keep in mind the individuality of each of my students personality and personal situations and adjust accordingly on a day to day basis. I feel knowing students personally is a prerequisite to getting to the academics. Although, they are both important, one has the power to influence so many facets to learning. Knowing students personally could be considered more effective for fostering long-term academic success, engagement, and even behavioral improvement. It could be considered the foundation upon which academic instruction is built. It is what motivates students to engage with and enjoy what they are learning (curriculum) and feel safe in the classroom.
I have the privilege of knowing my students for many years and I would say I know them well academically. I know how they learn best, when to push and when to wait, I know many details about their academics and it's a joy to have been with them for so long.
Personally knowing my students definitely takes time, and I believe I know them well. I know what they are interesting in, sports, karate, piano or singing; and just knowing their likes / dislikes helps me feel like I can connect with them on a more personal level.
I think they are both important because you are teach the whole child; not just how well they can perform in school, but you are teaching and they are learning how to become whole, wise children who can problem solve, have self confidences and know their strengths and weaknesses.
Getting to know your students academically and personally are both important. When I was teaching, I also used the BINGO game that was described in this chapter as a first week of school activity. I had parents fill out a form at open house that helped me get to know the quick basics of likes and dislikes of the students for a starting point. I did my best to incorporate activities that would allow me to get to know my students more personally, not just at the beginning of the year, but also throughout the year to continue building that relationship. I feel like the more I knew about my students personally, the more I understood or knew them academically. I taught in a small school and did some extra curricular programs, so I feel like I also had the advantage of knowing most of my students prior to actually having them in my classroom.
I 100% agree that getting to know your students academically and personally are both important. If you can do both you can create a trustful connection that the motivated students will appreciate and the unmotivated students will buy into to put in the the effort to learn. On day one of class I have the students fill out a simple questionaire about themselves, family members, where about they live, are they originally from the area and then I ask them draw at least 3 pictures that descibe themselves or their hobbies. A quick read and some visuals quickly help me to be able to learn about the student and make a connection. I leave them all in class folder and get the folder out everytime they come to class. And during the first or second class period I administer a pretest (for a completion grade, great way to start the semester with an A) and that way I can potentially assess the students academic ability.
I have nine students I know academically better than the other 70 students I have. These students are in my Tiwahe (family) which is like a homeroom. They are all Juniors and Seniors and we work together to successfully complete high school. My other students I know mostly their mathematic skill and knowledge, since that is what I have them for. I do not know many of my students personally except for their interest in sports. I really feel I need to find a way to learn more about them in the short time I have them. I do find I get to know them better if I have them a second year. I very much believe that knowing students both academically and personally are very important and equally so. The majority of my students are economically challenged and getting to know more about them would help me identify more of their needs.
Getting to know students academically is important, but knowing them personally and showing care can raise the levels of their academic achievements and possibilities. We do a good job in my school of rationally sharing student information and concerns among staff. For the most part, we attempt to be proactive in directing student learning and skill development. I have learned not to take any student for granted. Often I have been surprised when learning takes a different path or longer than what is usual or expected. I believe that I have been lucky to spent 34+ years in small schools. Staff/student relationships are valued. It seems that all student make connections and are able to make solid personal and academic growth. When personal connections are very strong, students really can excel in the classroom, extra-curriculars, and in confidence and ability beyond the school.
As a physical education teacher, I feel that I have a good grasp of their ability levels. I try my best to get to know my students personally but it is very easy for students to get lost in the shuffle of my large roster numbers. One advantage that I have is the benefit of having many of my students for 3 years in a row. I have learned that I can start simple by addressing them by their name and then taking smalls steps to get to know little things about each them throughout the years. Those small steps will help them feel better connected to me throughout our time together.
While knowing where my students abilities levels are at is important to help guide my lessons, it does not outweigh knowing the child on a personal level. If students feel seen and valued in my classroom they are going to be more likely to want to learn from me and put forth the effort to succeed in class.
As educators we know our students academically because of the day to day activities and continuous assessing we do in the classroom. But building those relationships and learning what your students love can help connect you with them. Learning interests can get you to find that perfect book to get a student into reading or help you find a great read aloud. When your students know you care about them they will more likely take chances and grow.
In my personalized learning group, I feel I know my student's academically very well. We are continually looking at their data as they travel between four classrooms for math and have the potential to travel between classrooms for reading. We are constantly updating math and reading data, looking over areas of struggle, areas that students are having an easier time in etc. We are able to follow mastery checks in math, daily work and exit tickets that give us an insight into how the lesson went for them that day. In reading, we are meeting with small groups several times a week, completing fluency work and running records. We are also watching CORE for our struggling readers whose NWEA score tell us they may need more assistance in phonics and morphology. As far as knowing my students personally, I feel I know my students very well. Students enter our cohort as 2nd graders. I am able to interact with them when they come into my room for their math standards. I am able to see them as third graders as they come into my room for their math standards AND those that are a bit higher in reading, they can come into my room during our reading block. I am able to get to know them as they spend time in my room so by the time they get to my classroom at 4th graders, I have a relationship built with them already. It's wonderful!
For the last 15 years, I have been teaching students who fall into a triangle of schools with students moving from one to another, back again, etc. depending on guardianship, sports, etc. The two schools that I've been at are smaller than the third school. Because some students stay in one school and others move about, teachers get to know these students over the years. There are also a lot of family relationships between the schools. Academically, because I've had smaller groups, I get to know that students' work very well and know where they struggle and excel which helps a lot with knowing how to help them understand content. I briefly taught elementary music, spent years as a k-12 librarian and taught MS and HS in a variety of areas (except math :-) so I get to know our kids very well academically, but very importantly, I get to know our kids very well personally over the years, through families/relatives, etc. I think both academically and personal knowledge of my students can make such an impact in letting our kids know that they are seen and cared about on all levels. The relationships that can develop are so important and rewarding for staff and our students.
As a kindergarten teacher, I feel it is very easy to get to know my students personally. Young children love to tell you about their lives. They are very open. Our school also does family looping. So if I taught the oldest child in a family, I would most likely teach all the younger children as well. The theory behind that is that families are able to feel a connection with the teacher and vice versa. We do a standards based report card, so I feel that through the year I get a good feel for how the students does academically as well. Are they equally important? I feel that connections are most important. I believe students will try harder and achieve greater academic success when they feel comfortable with me and know that I want the best for them.
ReplyDeleteThe American education system prioritizes completion above all else, pushing the time constraints to their max to complete the standards. Above healthy exercise, socialization, etc. The system makes it difficult to develop real lasting deep connections with 100+ students, in a packed 50 minute daily session. Many students are very open about themselves and their lives, but many are not, so it is difficult to know everybody personally.
ReplyDeleteAcademically, I feel like I have a strong understanding of my students. I can easily recognize their work and articulate their growth. Personally, it has been the best this year because I now teach juniors and seniors, which means I have taught some of these kids for more than two years. It has allowed me to get to know them better. I think it is important to understand BOTH sides of a student. I also think knowing them personally allows them to excel academically as well because they feel comfortable with you. I have enjoyed following my students, and I will grab a few freshmen classes again to do the same thing in a few years.
ReplyDeleteI think it is so important to know students both personally and academically. I teach every student in the 8th grade and I only get to see them for 38 minutes per day. This means that I have over 185 students this year split into 6 sections. I see a few of them multiple times a day if I have them in my homeroom, study lab or WIN group. I try my best to get to know all of the students personally by doing get to know you activities at the beginning of the year, standing at the door every day as they enter the room, spending time with them after school as they wait for a bus, or just simply asking them questions and trying to connect with all of them at least a little bit each week. I know this class a lot better because my son happens to be in my class this year, which means I go to a lot of after school events and see many of them outside of school as well.
ReplyDeleteI also know this class academically pretty well also, as I am constantly assessing them to see if they have mastered the standards. I do believe that the personal connections are actually a little bit more important than the academic connections at this stage. Middle school is all about building relationships. If I have a good relationship with a student, they are much more willing to put in the work in my class because they know that I truly want the best for them.
I think it is equally important to know your students both academically and personally. At the start of the year, I am immediately able to look through data to know my students academically. To get to know them personally is not as an easy as looking at table or graph and also takes more time. I usually have a quick sheet parents fill out at the start of the year to help me get to know their child. And then as the year goes on I refer back to that sheet but also find ways to build relationships with my students. I think it is important to know both because it can greatly impact the classroom atmosphere. For one, it can help me prepare lessons by thinking about what would be an appropriate challenge or activity as well as understanding what my students may connect with more.
ReplyDeleteHow well do you know your students academically? How well do you know your students personally? In what ways? Are these equally important? Explain your reasoning.
ReplyDeleteWith being with my students all day, as their first grade teacher, I know my students very well academically. It’s tough at the beginning of the year to know where they are at academically, but as learning begins and challenges arise, I’m able to know where each student is at academically. Throughout learning units, I do pre/post tests and that gives me a good idea where students are at academically.
Also, with being with my first grade students all day, I’m able to learn more about them each day. I’m with them all day and conversations do strike up or they tell me something that they want me to know. By the middle of the year, I’m able to know my students on a personal level and I hope they are able to learn more about myself too.
I believe that knowing where students are academically and knowing them personally are equally important because they go hand in hand. If you know the student personally, you know how they respond to challenges and you know they respond to certain situations. When academics come in, you can respond to that child in a way that you know them personally. Such as, if you know that addition and subtraction is challenging for them, you can respond in a way that works for them, such as giving them a 3 minute break or giving them encouragement. All students respond to challenges differently and knowing students on a personal level, can impact how you respond to them.
In my current role, I don't spend the day with a set class of learners in my own classroom. This does make it harder to get to know learners personally because I spend far less time with them in comparison to what I did when I was in the classroom. For my send out instruction, I see learners groups of learners in 7 different buildings for 40 minutes at a time, once a week, every other week. At the start of the year I did a few team building sessions which allowed me to see how learners interact with others, take on challenging tasks, recover from mistakes, and deal with conflict. I could use that information to help guide my instruction and planning.
ReplyDeleteIn the past when I was teaching in my own classroom, I loved that our program would provide the opportunity to loop with our learners. Having two years to work with students was invaluable to their learning and to the classroom environment. Not only did I know their academic strengths and challenges, but I knew their personalities, interests, and families. This allowed me to better plan for my learners and allowed them to achieve more.
I feel that knowing learners personally and academically are equally important. Connecting with learners on a personal level allows insight as to why they may be having challenges in the classroom or how we can best help them achieve their full potential. I also agree that it's important for learners to feel seen individually each day. Even taking a few minutes to individually greet students and connect with them can make an impact on their attitude and success.
How well do you know your students academically? How well do you know your students personally? In what ways? Are these equally important? Explain your reasoning.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was teaching kindergarten, I felt I got to know my students well over the course of the year. I do feel that it is necessary to know your students academically, especially if you differentiate. However, as you get to know your students better, sometimes that gives you a glimpse into why they may perform the way they do. I felt that the more connections I made with my students, the better the effort I would receive. Kindergarteners want to please their teachers most of the time but there are instances that you will have a difficult student and if you can find a way to relate and connect with them, that may be the reason they want to come to school and on top of that, maybe they even want to do good and work hard at the task at hand instead of acting out or being defiant. Having said all of that, I do feel that the more you know about your students the more invested I became as a teacher as well.
When in an elementary classroom, I feel like I am able to get to know students well both academically and personally. Because students are in my care for a large portion of the day, it allows for time for both of these areas to become very familiar. I try to use lulls in the day to get to know my students better on a personal level- asking about their weekend while waiting for others to join our small group, chatting in the hallway while we wait for students to use the restroom, morning routine to check in about recent happenings, and recess to check in on friendships and play. Facilitating instruction and all that goes with it helps me to keep up with how they are doing academically. Checking papers, seeing their work & hearing their thinking in small groups and whole group learning usually provides me with a good pulse on how students are doing academically.
ReplyDeleteI think that both are important, but sometimes it may be more beneficial to lean into knowing your students personally first, especially at that age level. It can help you be more engaging when presenting materials, because you can tie in student interests to lessons. When students feel like you care about them, they will, in turn, care more about what you have to say. These reasons and more can help them be engaged in your classroom and help them academically.
As a kindergarten teacher, I would say that I know my students well academically. I spend every day with them in all subject areas, so I feel like I am easily able to know where they are at. I would say that I know my students personally as well. Students at this age are very willing to share about themselves. I am also pretty involved in our community, so I get to see my students participating in events outside of school. We also have a question of the day during our morning meeting and by asking them a question and having them each share their response, I get to learn more about them as well.
ReplyDeleteI would say that they are both equally important to know as a teacher. It is important to know where a student is academically so that you know how to help them or what you can teach them next. It is also important to know students relationally, because students will try harder when they know that you care about them. This definitely helps them to be more engaged in your classroom.
I think it's equally important to know your students personally and academically. When I was teaching 7th & 8th grade, I was teaching 160+ students. It was definitely an advantage to have students for 2 years because I was able to get to know them better and see them progress academically. It all just took time. I remember the struggle I felt with wanting to get lots of work and grading done during homeroom and study hall, but also recognizing that those are great opportunities to talk with students more. With teaching writing, I got to know my students a lot better through what they shared in their essays and journals. It was definitely a window into their interests and their home lives. On top of that, their writing obviously showed me where they were academically as well. Overall, I do think it's a balance of knowing students personally and academically that makes a great teacher.
ReplyDeleteAcademically, not so much. Effort and success in band doesn't always translate to other classrooms. I know where all my kids are in relation to a band classroom very well. Personally, there are some kids I know very well, others not as much. I'm very introverted and like keeping to myself, so being involved in my students' lives has been a learning experience for me. Additionally, some kids are more motivated musically and that makes it much easier for me to get to know them well, whereas some kids are very standoffish around teachers and it is harder to get to know them.
ReplyDeleteI believe they are equally important as the primary purpose of us as teachers is to teach students academically, but I know that one of the best ways to keep students motivated and engaged is to get to know them.
How well do you know your students academically? How well do you know your students personally? In what ways? Are these equally important? Explain your reasoning. I know my students very well academically. I am the Title I teacher along with the testing coordinator in grades K-6. I am looking at their data, progress monitoring and talking with the teachers. I only get 25 minutes with the students (1 on 1 or small group) on a daily basis so I try to focus on learning during that time. I also believe that I know my students very well personally because we live in a small rural area where everyone knows everyone. I also am friends with many of my students [parents. I think that it is equally important to know your students academically and personally. Kids need to know that you care about them not just at school but also about what happens to them outside of school.
ReplyDeleteAs a teacher, I knew my students both academically and personally, and I believe both are equally important. Teaching in a small school as the K–12 art teacher meant I had about 85% of my students from kindergarten all the way to graduation. Because of that, I really got to know them—their strengths, struggles, personalities, and learning styles.
ReplyDeleteI also knew most of their families, which helped me understand my students even better. In a small school, relationships matter, and those connections make a big difference in how students learn and grow.
I strongly believe in teaching the whole student. When you know who your students are as people, you can support them better in the classroom. Those relationships were one of the most meaningful parts of my teaching career.
I think I know my students really well academically. I can sometimes pick up on understanding just by looking at a student. I also try to make it a point to check on every student, regardless of how well they perform, during work time so I can help those who don't look like they need help or raise their hands. I stress the importance of communication in my classroom because I can't read their minds to know if they are struggling or not, so I try to foster a safe learning environment to support this. I also think I know my students pretty well personally. I try my best to have personal conversations with them about sports or extracurricular activities to get to know them better. The beginning of the year is an important time for this, but also maintaining it throughout the year by attending sporting events or asking about pets or family members. Knowing your students academically and personally are equally important because they are, hopefully, able to trust you with both of those things. I want my students to feel comfortable enough to ask questions when they are struggling, but also feel comfortable enough to talk to me about things that may be happening at home as well.
ReplyDeleteI think I know my students both academically and personally after about one month into our semester. One interesting trend I have noticed is that my brightest stars in my contect area: art, often struggle in other content areas or behaviour. For these reasons, I often wait a few weeks to check their academic backgrounds and grades. I am more often surprised that my "stars" struggle in other aptitudes so I am grateful that they are shining in my class. Ways that I get to know students include: making contact with each student, every day by checking in with daily "desk checks", using their names ( and working hard to remember them early), smiling and giving positive feedback. I also do Mindful Monday check ins: where they can write about their weekend, answer questions if they would like to, and give little art reviews to check for understanding. I often find out new things about students with these forms and can make better connections with them that way. I also don't judge students' prior or current grades or behaviours. They often find the art room to be a safe and welcoming place to express themselves and I want to honor that.
ReplyDeleteI knew my students very well academically while I taught special education. I feel that I needed to know to help students be successful in my classroom as well in general education classrooms and in life. Having smaller groups allowed me to know my students personally very well. We built a safe space environment in my class and I am very grateful to have known my students so closely as a student and as a person. We talked about sports, family, goals, pets, hobbies, life, sports, vacations, etc. I tried to make it to extracurricular activities as much as I could throughout the school year and even now as a former teacher. I feel that knowing students academically and students personally are both equally important as academics showcases where a student is heading and personal knowledge showcases how to help a kiddo get there. I think knowing both sides can help a teacher respond with empathy and strategy to different situations. This was one thing that I found very lucky with my small groups was getting to know both sides.
ReplyDeleteBefore students are "mine," I don't know them very well academically. I have an opportunity to view their standardized test scores and am made aware of which students are receiving special education services. Since our school is one building housing all 12 grades, previous teachers are willing to share strategies for the best methods for instructing upcoming students. They also often share frustrations about gaps in the skill bases of those students. Even though that data can be very helpful in getting to know a student academically, I try very hard not to "label" students before they are in my classroom. Fortunately, once they enter my math classroom, I have the pleasure of instructing them for an average of 4 to 5 more years. This presents an abundance of data, with which I get to know my students very well. Living in a rural area has the benefit of knowing students and their families. Being involved in the community allows for meeting and spending time with future students from nearly birth until they join my classes. To assist with getting to know my students personally, I often implement surveys about their likes, dislikes, qualities and favorites. I'm not able to memorize every detail about every student, but I attempt to remember at least one thing about them and then visit with them about non-school related subjects. Many of the students attend our weekly Youth Group, of which I am an adviser, and several attend the same church as me. I'm fortunate to be able to get to know my students so personally. Getting to know your students both academically and personally are equally important. We must strive to know them academically so we can enhance their strengths and build on their weaknesses. If we know their learning styles, we can differentiate our instruction to meet more students' needs. By knowing students on a personal level, we can help them feel more comfortable and safer in our classrooms. All of these work together to give students the best environment for learning and growing.
ReplyDeleteSince I teach mostly sixth grade, I do not really know my students academically or personally. After the first few months you get an idea of their academic level and where the challenges will take place. Personally you can get to know your students based on the activities they are in or by the writing that they do. Then you can talk to the students about their interests and create a connection. These are both important for your room environment.
ReplyDeleteBy this time of the year, I know my kids academically very well. As the year starts, all we see are grades and comments from other teachers, but as we all know, that can vary from teacher to teacher. Once you start teaching, you can really start to figure out which students can get work done on time, which students work better in groups/work better independently. You figure out which students work better sitting in one area or moving around the room, etc. As far as personally, most of my kids I know pretty well also. I could tell you which students are in music, sports, clubs, etc. I do a question of the day and that really shows kids that I want to know more about them than just what their grade is. This leads to conversation all of the time about a sports team or a movie that was just played in theaters, or just remembering to ask them on Monday what their weekend was like. Yes, even 8th graders like to talk to their teachers as long as it's done the correct way. I think they go hand in hand because when a student knows their teacher cares about them, they will go above and beyond what you expect. I believe the phrase "kids don't learn from someone they don't trust" comes into play a lot in the education world. Show the 8th graders you care, and they will do about anything you ask!
ReplyDeleteAs a preschool and early childhood special education teacher, I spend a lot of time interacting and playing with my students throughout the day. During play and hands-on activities, I’m able to observe their academic skills such as language, problem-solving, and early literacy or math concepts. I also get to know my students personally by incorporating their interests into activities and conversations. When students see their interests reflected in the classroom, they are often more engaged and motivated to learn. I also communicate regularly with their families, which helps me better understand each child’s strengths, needs, and personality. I believe knowing students academically and personally is equally important. When teachers understand both, they can create learning experiences that are meaningful, supportive, and better tailored to each child’s development.
ReplyDeleteAs a third grade teacher in a small school setting, I am blessed to know each of my students well academically and personally. In multiple settings within the classroom, I am able to observe each of my students in their academics. I connect with our title teacher and special education teacher to help my students with their individual needs. I communicate with parents weekly through a newsletter and an online platform. At the start of the school year, we do many ice breakers and an All about Me poster to get to know each other. I enjoy learning what interests each of my students, helping me understand what motivates them in their learning. I believe that knowing your students academically as well as personally are equally important in helping each child be successful in their learning.
ReplyDeleteI am the Dean of Students for our online program, so I have a good idea where students are at and their academically and I also feel I have a good relationship with these students. Our staff does periodic progress updates on our high school students to track their progress which helps me to address students who need more attention academically. I travel out to the Colonies that are enrolled in our program fairly often, and our staff does some traveling out also. Yesterday one of our staff members and I spent 1.5 hours at one colony and 1 hour at another. This time provides the chance for our staff to evaluate the students progress in their courses and also to spend relational time getting to know them on a more personal level. We also have communication with our students through an email system. I have always felt that real learning can not take place, or at least at a limited level, unless there is a true relationship between teacher and student.
ReplyDeleteI strive on making connections and getting to know my students from the start. Knowing my students personally such what they like, what they don't like, what makes them happy, what makes them angry, who they live with, if they have pets, etc. are all things I look forward to learning. I have found that when I know my students personally, I have fewer behavior problems. I feel I know my students just as well academically. Many of my students see other teachers throughout the day. We are in constant communication about those students. When there are any academic or behavior concerns, I bring my students to a CARE team meeting, where fellow coworkers help me and we bounce ideas off of each other. They always say it takes a village and I'm lucky to have that village.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a classroom teacher, I feel as though I got to know my students pretty well as I had them everyday and could tell when something was wrong. Being in a small school helps know my students personally, in fact that I think I could list the name of almost every student in our school (k-12). It also helps being the 6-12 principal in a k-12 building that I can walk around and pop in every classroom to great students and staff. Knowing our students at such a young age helps get to know them as they grow through our building. It also helps that I coach grades 5-12 in a variety of sports, as I get to know students / athletes outside of the typical classroom / school building in the fact that they have a different side of them when they are at practice / game. Academically, I do not know my students like I did before when I was in the classroom full time. I do teach classes (4 throughout the year) to seniors and juniors, and I do have some knowledge of their academics as I review their district, state and federal assessments. It also helps that I have conversations with my staff about students’ academics on a regular basis. I personally believe that knowing your students academically is important, but I believe that knowing them personally is more important. I believe this because if a students feels comfortable coming to school, feels comfortable opening up (with any school employee) and feels safe, then we will get the best version of them. I believe that if we know a student personally (things going on in their life both good and negative) we can better understand what they are going through and help them better academically. I am not saying that we adjust curriculum, but maybe if we know a kid struggles in the morning with behavior and attention, and we know them personally, may their behavior is tied to hunger and that if we can provide them a snack, we can get better behavior which will mean more time on task, which will improve academic performance.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important for me to get to know my students right from the get go! Making connections with my students and creating a safe, respectful, and joyful classroom community is a top priority for me. Students really want to be listened to, especially in this day and age.
ReplyDeleteI do many things to welcome students and get to know them; many of them were in the book. I do an interest survey, a get to know me activity and later play it as a game, for example, "this person's favorite snack is watermelon." Then classmates guess and we get to know each other, including myself. I also have them play "human bingo" that was mentioned. I get to know what is special/unique to each of them. I feel connections and them feeling respected and listened to needs to be a priority before learning will take place. The saying -kids will remember how they felt more than what you taught - sticks with me as a teacher. I also strive to know each child academically by, of course, assessments that guide my teaching but also by working in several different settings and using several different types of assessments. I love being able to work one on one with students and in small groups. I also gain a lot by watching them work together as a team and I'm more of a facilitator/guide. Whole group discussions and learning is also great. I feel it's important for students to learn from each other as well. I have students share reports or other learning activities they've accomplished, as well as, help each other with tasks. Students learn by teaching others. As a teacher I keep in mind the individuality of each of my students personality and personal situations and adjust accordingly on a day to day basis. I feel knowing students personally is a prerequisite to getting to the academics. Although, they are both important, one has the power to influence so many facets to learning. Knowing students personally could be considered more effective for fostering long-term academic success, engagement, and even behavioral improvement. It could be considered the foundation upon which academic instruction is built. It is what motivates students to engage with and enjoy what they are learning (curriculum) and feel safe in the classroom.
I have the privilege of knowing my students for many years and I would say I know them well academically. I know how they learn best, when to push and when to wait, I know many details about their academics and it's a joy to have been with them for so long.
ReplyDeletePersonally knowing my students definitely takes time, and I believe I know them well. I know what they are interesting in, sports, karate, piano or singing; and just knowing their likes / dislikes helps me feel like I can connect with them on a more personal level.
I think they are both important because you are teach the whole child; not just how well they can perform in school, but you are teaching and they are learning how to become whole, wise children who can problem solve, have self confidences and know their strengths and weaknesses.
Getting to know your students academically and personally are both important. When I was teaching, I also used the BINGO game that was described in this chapter as a first week of school activity. I had parents fill out a form at open house that helped me get to know the quick basics of likes and dislikes of the students for a starting point. I did my best to incorporate activities that would allow me to get to know my students more personally, not just at the beginning of the year, but also throughout the year to continue building that relationship. I feel like the more I knew about my students personally, the more I understood or knew them academically. I taught in a small school and did some extra curricular programs, so I feel like I also had the advantage of knowing most of my students prior to actually having them in my classroom.
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree that getting to know your students academically and personally are both important. If you can do both you can create a trustful connection that the motivated students will appreciate and the unmotivated students will buy into to put in the the effort to learn. On day one of class I have the students fill out a simple questionaire about themselves, family members, where about they live, are they originally from the area and then I ask them draw at least 3 pictures that descibe themselves or their hobbies. A quick read and some visuals quickly help me to be able to learn about the student and make a connection. I leave them all in class folder and get the folder out everytime they come to class. And during the first or second class period I administer a pretest (for a completion grade, great way to start the semester with an A) and that way I can potentially assess the students academic ability.
ReplyDeleteI have nine students I know academically better than the other 70 students I have. These students are in my Tiwahe (family) which is like a homeroom. They are all Juniors and Seniors and we work together to successfully complete high school. My other students I know mostly their mathematic skill and knowledge, since that is what I have them for. I do not know many of my students personally except for their interest in sports. I really feel I need to find a way to learn more about them in the short time I have them. I do find I get to know them better if I have them a second year. I very much believe that knowing students both academically and personally are very important and equally so. The majority of my students are economically challenged and getting to know more about them would help me identify more of their needs.
ReplyDeleteGetting to know students academically is important, but knowing them personally and showing care can raise the levels of their academic achievements and possibilities. We do a good job in my school of rationally sharing student information and concerns among staff. For the most part, we attempt to be proactive in directing student learning and skill development. I have learned not to take any student for granted. Often I have been surprised when learning takes a different path or longer than what is usual or expected. I believe that I have been lucky to spent 34+ years in small schools. Staff/student relationships are valued. It seems that all student make connections and are able to make solid personal and academic growth. When personal connections are very strong, students really can excel in the classroom, extra-curriculars, and in confidence and ability beyond the school.
ReplyDeleteAs a physical education teacher, I feel that I have a good grasp of their ability levels. I try my best to get to know my students personally but it is very easy for students to get lost in the shuffle of my large roster numbers. One advantage that I have is the benefit of having many of my students for 3 years in a row. I have learned that I can start simple by addressing them by their name and then taking smalls steps to get to know little things about each them throughout the years. Those small steps will help them feel better connected to me throughout our time together.
ReplyDeleteWhile knowing where my students abilities levels are at is important to help guide my lessons, it does not outweigh knowing the child on a personal level. If students feel seen and valued in my classroom they are going to be more likely to want to learn from me and put forth the effort to succeed in class.
As educators we know our students academically because of the day to day activities and continuous assessing we do in the classroom. But building those relationships and learning what your students love can help connect you with them. Learning interests can get you to find that perfect book to get a student into reading or help you find a great read aloud. When your students know you care about them they will more likely take chances and grow.
ReplyDeleteIn my personalized learning group, I feel I know my student's academically very well. We are continually looking at their data as they travel between four classrooms for math and have the potential to travel between classrooms for reading. We are constantly updating math and reading data, looking over areas of struggle, areas that students are having an easier time in etc. We are able to follow mastery checks in math, daily work and exit tickets that give us an insight into how the lesson went for them that day. In reading, we are meeting with small groups several times a week, completing fluency work and running records. We are also watching CORE for our struggling readers whose NWEA score tell us they may need more assistance in phonics and morphology. As far as knowing my students personally, I feel I know my students very well. Students enter our cohort as 2nd graders. I am able to interact with them when they come into my room for their math standards. I am able to see them as third graders as they come into my room for their math standards AND those that are a bit higher in reading, they can come into my room during our reading block. I am able to get to know them as they spend time in my room so by the time they get to my classroom at 4th graders, I have a relationship built with them already. It's wonderful!
ReplyDeleteFor the last 15 years, I have been teaching students who fall into a triangle of schools with students moving from one to another, back again, etc. depending on guardianship, sports, etc. The two schools that I've been at are smaller than the third school. Because some students stay in one school and others move about, teachers get to know these students over the years. There are also a lot of family relationships between the schools. Academically, because I've had smaller groups, I get to know that students' work very well and know where they struggle and excel which helps a lot with knowing how to help them understand content. I briefly taught elementary music, spent years as a k-12 librarian and taught MS and HS in a variety of areas (except math :-) so I get to know our kids very well academically, but very importantly, I get to know our kids very well personally over the years, through families/relatives, etc. I think both academically and personal knowledge of my students can make such an impact in letting our kids know that they are seen and cared about on all levels. The relationships that can develop are so important and rewarding for staff and our students.
ReplyDelete