Last Friday I posed this question to all of my classes as their warmup. The results were not really surprising or unexpected. Quick rundown:
- Majority say I am unfair à no shock there!
- The question stated why and most said because she gives check marks à again no shock and I am sorry nothing is going to change either because check marks are necessary.
- The good kids said I was fair
When I put up the transparency it was so funny. I had kids who REFUSE to do work writing! Everyone can write when it’s criticizing the teacher, but no one can COPY notes. I had kids saying, “A few sentences? Man I can write an essay!” I just laughed and said, “You may write as much as you want in the time given.”
I did like this exercise. I think it gave the students a chance to voice their opinions. Whether valid or not, it makes them feel like the teacher is listening to them. I also got some great feed back.
Although I said I was not shocked by most of the responses, there were several that stuck out:
1. One student in my fourth block who had a major attitude problem with me but has recently been showing me as much respect as she would her mother or grandmother.
“Ms Jones she is okay..She is fair cause she allowed me 2 pull up my grade and I just want to tank you so much..I really didn’t like you at first but know you are a very cool person but thank you again Ms. Jones.”
2. A student who I want to help desperately but needs me by his side the entire class.
“No she isn’t fair cause I don’t get that much help so I just sit here and fall asleep.”
3. Anonymous
“No. You always write checks. Never get nothings done. Don’t let us sit anywhere. Just aint right.”
4. A lovely (black) girl who just misses too much school
“Yes she is because she teaches very great. It’s just that the kids do not want to listen. And I feel that that is not her fault it’s the students fault. In my 4th block I cant get my lesson cause the kids wont shut up and be quiet. To me she’s fair. We just have a load of ignorant black children in our 4th block class.
I plan to make a slideshow for class Monday and at the very end have a couple slides where I pull out some of the responses. I want the students to see that I read what they had to say and perhaps we can discuss things as long as the conversation doesn’t get out of control.
What I have taken from this exercise:
- The kids did point out my inconsistency in giving check marks. I know I need to be fair and everyone who breaks a rule gets in trouble.
- I also do realize that I need to get around to everyone, but this is a balancing act and requires them to change their behavior ie. the reason I can’t make it around to everyone is because I have to stop and deal with behavior issues constantly.
- Some students don’t understand why they get a check mark. I need to be more clear either with my rules and expectations or more clear when I am actually giving a check mark.
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