Encouragement and connecting with students

Last year I did something that I really feel was very successful and so I'm trying it again on Monday.

What I did was print out gradesheets for all of my students (well at my last school with classes of 40, I did a class or two at a time). Then I sat down at home one night and wrote comments on all of them. I started with some positive comments of encouragement. I pointed out their successes. Then I continued with one or two things that I felt they could work on. And ended by asking them a specific question, asking them what I could do to help, or telling them to keep up the great work.

Then I handed out all of these grade sheets and asked that all students respond to my comments. I told them that they could answer questions I had asked them or tell me anything they thought I should know about them or the class.

I got the best responses ever from different students. Some of them had excellent suggestions. Some of them told me that X and Y really helped them and that I should do more of X and Y. Some of them admitted their responsibility. And some even seriously made a plan to improve. The activity was probably one of the best things I could do in such large of classes to truly connect with each student.

Well, as we finish the semester (only 11 class periods left before finals), I want to give my students this year that encouragement and make sure that they know that I am there for them. I want to point out their successes and push them a little on what they need to improve. I'm really hoping for another excellent response to doing this.

I'll update when I start getting responses back.

Classes that put a smile on your face

My Spanish I kids are amazing this year. They work hard. They ask the best questions that truly show they are thinking. I often hear them practicing Spanish in the halls. The work they do is quality. They are just fun. They are what make my day almost every day.

And then on top of it I got to teach one of my favorite lessons today (conjugating verbs). So that class was just fun today.

I have learned this year that it is so important to sit back and just smile on a regular basis. My first hour class was slowly getting started this morning and one girl says "We should have a half day on Wednesday" (we have Thur and Fri off already this week for teacher convention). And so I just chuckled and said "Why don't we take the whole week off?" It was a very light hearted way to start the day. A way to connect with the kids and start the way in a positive mood. One kid then responded with a smile "We'll go talk to Mr. Principal and tell him it was your idea."