Just a reminder that we do have class on Tuesday, November 10th. And take a look at the RSS feeds I have included in the margin of the blog this week. These are news articles related to teaching and the profession. Please read any of the articles of interest to you.
I believe that the art of teaching is shown in the teacher's ability to have a positive rapport with students. According to Webster's Dictionary, the word rapport means "relation; connection, esp. harmonious or sympathetic relation: a teacher trying to establish close rapport with." Hopefully, your cooperating teacher has a good rapport with the students. Watch your cooperating teacher this week in order to answer the following questions:
What strategies does the teacher use to build and maintain rapport with students? How are opportunities for success provided for each student? Do the students have a positive connection with the teacher?
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The teacher uses discussion circles about literature to bring in reality aspects of the students' lives. The other day in class, they were discussing in a large circle, and it was obvious the students felt comfortable with the teacher because they shared personal stories willingly.
ReplyDeleteSome strategies my teacher uses to maintain rapport with his students is to participate with the students on a daily basis. Every time I enter his class room, he is engaging with his students. By doing this he can build connections with his students. They will always joke around with each other, and continue the activity just as they would if he wasn't there. Opportunities for success are provided for each student because he always participates with every student/group. We are doing aerobics alot when I am at the school and the kids are split up into groups. He will walk around and participate with each group for about 10 minutes. You always see thems sharing laughs but most importantly performing at the same time. Overall I would have to say that they do have a positive connection because or the visual and verbal feedback you get from the students. They all participate on a daily basis and seem to have a good time while doing it.
ReplyDeleteAlly I personally think having group discussions is a great way to establish a positive rapport with your students. Using this type of teaching stragegy allows the students to not only get comfortable with you as the teacher, but to get a better feeling for each other and the different perspectives that your class mates have.
ReplyDeleteMy cooperating teacher seems to have a good rapport with the students. It does not seem like he does anything out of the ordinary or special, it seems that the students respect him and trust him. Maybe this is because they respect him as a teacher therefore it helps them get along with him so well. I will watch more intensly this week in class.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher has a really positive relationship with her students. As preschoolers, it is important that they have a person they can trust and look up to. My teacher will give the students hugs if they need it or to encourage them. It is never inappropriate, but it encourages the students and makes them feel comfortable in the classroom. Preschoolers are always telling crazy stories, and my teacher really listens to them even if she is unsure of what they are talking about. It makes the students feel confident even if their story may not make much sense.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, I think interacting with the students and getting involved in what they are doing is a great way to have a good rapport with students. It makes a student feel like their teacher really cares when they get involved rather than just sitting back and telling students what to do.
ReplyDeleteSarah-I think it is great that the preschoolers can trust their teacher. Listening to students at any age, I think is a major key to having a good relationship between students and teachers.
ReplyDeletemy teacher reads the books that the class reads aloud, so that they know he is going to have to read as well as they will. he doesnt just tell them to read a book and then theyll be tested on it. he goes over it with them so that they are actually taking in the information as well as interacting with the teacher and not just off on their own. each student is allowed to read aloud. they go around the room and read different pages at a time. students can pass, or read. the students have a positive connection with the teacher because the teacher pauses and talks about what they read and asks questions, but has a humorous way of doing so. he is an easygoing guy, but to the point.
ReplyDeleteandrew- i think that a teacher should always intereact with the students. it is impossible for someone to learn if the teacher walks in the class and just writes all of the information on the chalk board and then walks out of the class. that would be terrible...mragh
ReplyDeleteAndrew and Ally- i agree with both of you about group discussions. these are a great way to connect with your students and build community within the classroom.
ReplyDeleteIn my classroom the teacher has a good rapport with the students, their relationships individually and as a whole are really good and seem pretty close. She knows all the students names and calls them by their names personally, she can joke around with them and make them laugh and they make her laugh about certain things. I can tell from what I have seen that they like their teacher alot and how their classroom is set up. They run up to her and alot and want to tell her things, show her things and just say hi to her alot,even other students in different grades that are not in her class this year. To find out and review information about each students likes, dislikes, habits and information about their family lives she structures lessons and activities surrounded around the students sharing information and doing activities involving this. She does these activities with the class as a whole and sits down at their level and engages in a class discussion listening closely to each one and being concerned and giving feedback from her own life.
ReplyDeleteAndrew I think it's really good that your teacher is involved with each activity with all the students and they can play and joke around in a relaxed, fun learning environment.
ReplyDeletemy teacher has a very positive rapport with her students. her class is very casual and easy going but she still maintains control and gets respect from her students. the class always starts with a discussion about whats going on in the news or at school that week. this really builds community among the students and helps the teacher connect with them. she is constantly giving positive feedback about their work and you can tell she genuinly cares about them. overall it seems like the students enjoy the class and have a good relationship with their teacher.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher plays educational games with her students to exercise a certain lesson plan that they are going over. This allows the students to interact with one another and the teacher in an educational manner but with a twist of fun incorporated. Each child is given an opportunity to succeed, because every day there is a revision time frame where children can work one on one with the teacher. They also have a tutor for reading and math; whatever students may need help that week see her. The students and the teacher have a great relationship. The students feel comfortable with their teacher and know she will help.
ReplyDeleteJeff, I like how your teacher doesnt just test the kids over books, but actually talks about them. I also really liked the idea of allowing he kid to read aloud, but then giving them the option to pass if they don't feel comforable so no pressure is put on them.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher develops a close and trusting relationship with the students by always listening to them. They are first grades and talk about really random and irrelevant things but she always stops and listens. She allows the students to confide in her, and she asks them about their lives and problems. It is very apparent that they feel comfortable with her and can trust her with anything. I think this helps with success because the students feel comfortable and confident, they aren't afraid to talk to their teacher or ask her questions.
ReplyDeleteLisa, your teacher and classroom sound pretty awesome! I think that is really great that the students participate in not only educaional group activities but also fun ones. I feel like that is a good bonding experience that helps develop comfort and confidence.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you guys have some great host teachers. I am also glad that you are able to reflect and recognize certain qualities and attributes that the teacher possesses.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher I am working with has a great rapport with her students. She greets each of them at the door every time they come in (morning, after recess, lunch, etc.). She has a comfortable demeaner and her classroom reflects it. She is pretty laid back and allows her students to come to her desk and talk to her whenever they feel they need to. She works with amall groups each day for more one on one in reading and math. She makes accomodations with her time for those with special needs and makes sure that speaks directly to them and calls them by their name. This is a big deal to them and it shows. Even with her casual personality, she amazingly has complete control of her classroom. Her students know the rules. When she is in front of the class or just speaking to them in general, they know it's time to get quiet and listen. While I was there, she had to call a couple of students into the hallway for misbehaving. I was impressed with the way she handled it. She didn't make a scene and they all walked back into class very calmly. She smiles a lot and her personality is just easy to be around.
ReplyDeleteKylie, I think it's great that your teacher listens to her students, no matter what they are saying. Being able to trust or talk to your teacher is a big deal for some kids. I believe, as a teacher, listening is one of the best ways to build confidence in a child.
ReplyDeletemy teacher makes sure to talk to everyone of his students. He will crack jokes and he will try to make every one of his students feel comfortable. this works with most of his students some are not so thrilled with him but fort he most part all of his students enjoy him being their teacher.
ReplyDeletekylie, i think its important for the teacher to be a great listener as you said not just with first graders either. my teacher is a high school teacher and i think it makes the students feel at ease knowing they could go and talk to him whenever they needed to.
ReplyDeleteIt seemed the other day that the teacher was having problems with his classes. The students have seemed to be cooperative for the past two days i was there. This time they were talking and being disruptive in the classroom. Maybe the kids were just hyper, but the teacher had lots of problems calming them down.
ReplyDeleteMy host teacher maintains a good rapport with her students by allowing them to share random stories with the class. Not only does she listen to everything they have to say but she also shares some stories with them, sometimes they joke around and I can tell the kids trust her. She seems to know the students very well. When they misbehave she calls them over to talk to her about why they where doing what they where doing and talk about not repeating it again.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I think what you mentioned about how your host teacher handles misbehavior is very important. Making a scene in class would probably be the worst way to address misbehavior, it would probably just encourage it, so I think that what your host teacher does by calling them out in the hallway is a really good way of doing it. It addresses the problem without having to involve the entire classroom or having to put a student on the spot in front of everyone.
ReplyDeleteI am in a Physical Education class... it is really hard for my host teacher to mantain order because of the naturality of the class... looks like that my host teacher just call their parents all the time in order to control them...
ReplyDeleteKylie, I think that is very important as a teacher to build confidence with the students, with confidence and trust it is easier to teach and encourage education because the students like you and believe you.
ReplyDeleteIn the Class i have been observing I have seen lots of particapation because of the age group you have stay with these younger 4th grades more than the middle school or high school level because it seems there attention changes very easily compared to older students.
ReplyDeleteIt also may depend on the active they are in. depending on if they are in the classroom or at the gym. In the gym the classes seem like they just need direction because they are badly wanting to get away and do the activities.
ReplyDeleteMy host teacher seems to have a great rapport with her students. They are kindergarteners and they always share their little stories with the class. Every morning they having "writing time" where they write a sentence and draw a picture to go along with it. The teacher tries to get around to see everyone's picture and hear their story during the time period. She also encourages the students and praises them for working on their classwork like making letters and counting to 100 at home. When the students mess up on counting or something in class she always tells them they are doing a great job and will do better next time. The students love the encouragement and really look up to her.
ReplyDeleteSarah- your classroom sounds a lot like mine. The kindergarteners I'm working with are always wanting to share their stories, a lot of which are crazy, cute, and obviously made up. Just listening to their stories makes them feel important. Little kids are always easy to make happy. Just giving them the smallest bit of attention makes them feel special. That's one reason I chose to teach young kids!
ReplyDeleteI think my teacher has a very good rapport with her students. I have noticed in my classroom that when the teacher is talking to her students instead of calling them "students" or anything else she calls them friends. I think that this makes the students feel more comfortable around her to be themselves. Also if a student is struggling she gives them one on one time to help them catch up whenever they have free time throughout the day. I feel that the students have a very positive connection with their teacher. If there is ever a problem they are always able to talk to her about it.
ReplyDeletekylie- i think it is very important for students to feel they are able to confide in their teacher about anything going on in their life whether it has to do with school or not. I think that this shows your teacher has great rapport with his/her students
ReplyDeleteMy host teacher maintains a good rapport with his students by constantly seeking input from them. He will ask what they think this part of the music should sound like, or what they need to do, or how it makes them feel. Sometimes he will tell them a relevant story. At the beginning of class, while students are taking out their instruments, he might ask one of them how their day has been or what they did over the weekend. If something isn't going right with the music he'll encourage them to keep trying. The students respond really well, and I think they like the fact that he cares enough to ask how they're doing.
ReplyDeletethe teacher i have been obseving seams to have a good relationship with his students . he makes the classroom comfortable and makes the sudents want to learn. he is also young which may have something to do with it as well.the students respond well to the teacher because they dont have to sit through a boring lesson every day
ReplyDeletekylie made some good points.. i belive that as well especially when the students feel comfortable
ReplyDeleteEmily- I think it's great that your teacher encourages the students. Reinforcement is so important to younger students, especially kindergartners. They like to have feedback like that. I think it helps to keep them interested in school.
ReplyDeleteA teacher does not build rapport by being just the "boss" or the one in charge. A teacher builds rapport by being a friend and taking a sincere interest in the students, their lives, and their success. My middle school teacher builds rapport with the students by listening to the students and their stories/thoughts/ideas. He tries to relate to the students.... he laughs and tells his own stories. His students have a very positive connection with him simply because they know he wants to influence their lives in the best way possible. He makes it so they want to interact with him and trust him.
ReplyDeletemost of my teachers during the time that i have been in school i have been able to connect with my teachers. i think it is of the most utmost importance for a teacher to connect with the students in someway even if it is on the most basic level.
ReplyDeletei agree with Laura about the teacher needs to be the students friend, with bounds of course. if the teacher builds a good rapport with their students so that the student feels comfortable with them to tell them things.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Sam's comment, I totally love that the teacher asks for input from his students. That would make the students feel important to the class/lesson. It says that he trusts their opinion.
ReplyDeleteTeachers will actually remember the students' names. Say, "Hello," or, "Hi," to them outside of class. The teachers could get to know the students well and be able to help them with the subjects they're weak in. Students usually will have a positive connection unless they are very disrespectful.
ReplyDeleteJeff, I think that's pretty good of the teacher to do. I'm actually planning on teaching English Literature and would always choose a new book for each year. So that I could read and enjoy them along with the students.
ReplyDeleteMy cooperating teachers are all P.E. teachers. When it comes to dressing out they will usually encourage the student in any way to dress out. One day a student was wearing athletic style sweatpants, but he had forgotten his gym shorts. The teacher allowed him to wear his sweat pants so he could still participate in the activity. He could have not allowed the student to participate because he wasn't changing, but instead, chose to allow him to do it that day. All the teachers I have observed make it known to their students that they care about their safety and grade for the class. The students and the teachers seem to have great relationships for the most part. They joke around with each other and seem to enjoy the time they spend together.
ReplyDeleteNicole V. I like the fact that your teacher has the ability to make it a layed back environment, and get respect from her students.
ReplyDeletei have three teachers that i work with. it being the preschool level its nice to get all the help you can get. when the one teacher comes in at 12 everyday the kids get so excited to see her. yelling out her name and trying to tell her as many stories as they have. she connects with everyone asking them about past stories and their families she really knows every kid and all of the kids know that. she knows how to work with the kids as well like how to ask them to do something or to get them to understand a lesson better. she makes sure she gives a little time to every kid and also the most important thing is she stays in contact with the parents. the best thing she did i think was in the start of the year she asked each kid what they want to learn about and they went over it with their parents.this keeps the kids excited to learn and also involved with the teacher and class.
ReplyDeletei think its good that p.e teachers try and help kids because for a lot of kids p.e is hard and they hate it. the dressing out thing is always a big problem in my school they had ones u could rent out they would wash them everynight even better kids could stay after school for extra credit and wash them this. with the rental ones it stopped the i left it at home to get out of class.
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