Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.
~Abigail Adams
The other is the idea of expectations. This too came from a discussion I've had recently with my students. We were talking about the things that affect our perspective. It was easy for all of us to see that expectations of an event or interaction has a powerful impact on our perception of it.
So these two ideas have bounced around in my head for about twenty-four hours, and since there is very little else in my head, it was only a matter of time before they eventually collided. I've had so many learning experiences in which I've "sought" learning "with ardor", and it is an incredible experience every time it happens. I've seen some students experience this in my class, but it is far more rare. Because it so rarely happens in my class, and I firmly believe it is possible and should happen (You could say I have an expectation that it will happen), I tend to get disappointed. The reality of my students' learning doesn't match my expectation, so my perception tends to be that I am failing my students. My class must not be challenging or engaging because 100% of my students are not inspired to actively engage in the learning process 100% of the time.
When I manage to jump off of the hamster wheel long enough to think about this, it really bothers me. As an educator, I put a tremendous amount of pressure on myself to make learning this wonderful, even magical, experience for all of my students. I know that I am not alone, because as I watch the education reform debate unfold, I see an incredible willingness of my fellow educators to accept massive amounts of blame for the students who fail to learn. Don't get me wrong, we should never stop trying to reach every student, but when I read comments and hear conversations in which teacher react to students failing, I hate hearing it turn into a feeling on helplessness on the part of the teacher, and I realize I do the same thing. As a profession, I think our enthusiasm for student learning sometimes causes us to have unrealistic expectations about outcomes, and when those expectations aren't met, we tend to have the perception that we've massively failed.
Do not misunderstand me. I am not advocating for lower expectations for ourselves or our students. If anything, this is just a reminder to me to step back occasionally and try to get a better handle on my expectations and how well I really am meeting them on a daily basis. I need to keep myself from dwelling on each student who fails as an indication that I am ineffective, and I need to spend more time understanding the little victories I achieve on a daily basis. I don't need to change my expectations, I just need to make sure I am looking at them in a way that allows me to achieve a better perception.
I love the blogs you post because you are always up front and just point out the most random things. I also like this article because i think that your expections are just fine the way they are.
ReplyDelete--Davida Holderman ; 3rd Hour
Well there should not really be any expections for the classes, I think if someone wants a decent grade they should try harder and if they fail, it is not the teachers fault that the student did not care enough to try. I say let them fail and have to repeat the year that just makes them look like the idiot. But on the other hand the people who are failing and actually try those are the people who really need the help. That is just what I think.
ReplyDeleteI don't belive that 100% of the students are not inspired to engage in learning 100% of the time. Yes there are a lot of students like that but not all of them. Not all students are going to be engaged in the same subject. Therefore you can't say that 100% of your students are not activley ingaged in the learning experience. On the otherhand all students and teachers alike should be activley attempting to do there best in every subject.
ReplyDelete-- Chelsea Witmer hr.3
I agree that the things that we have right now in this world keep us from learning and listening in class or to our teachers that are there for us and no one else. Now A days we have technology. If we need anything we just get on there a look up something. Sometimes if you think about it we don't use our brains for anything. The students that care actually pay attention in class and do there work. others thing its whatever and leave school behind. they text in class.Teachers try and encourage them but at some situations it doesnt really work well.
ReplyDelete*Fize Selimoska third hour
Like someone else said, there are those people who try and those people who are too lazy to do anything, and if what they get is what they desierve, they should just deal with it. Some people though may be either having other problems or may have too much other stuff going on.
ReplyDeleteI agree totally with your expectations for you students. You care a lot about your job,and you seem to care a lot about whether we do our job well as students, and that is to get good grades, and I really appreciate that for you.
ReplyDeleteI agree completly with your expectations of your students. I can tell in our creative writing class that you want us all to do well and when we don't you can tell it upsets you. But coming from the student, there are sometimes things that get in the way. Teachers only have to deal with one class and we have many other subjects and tests.
ReplyDeleteAleah Smith - 2nd hour.
I think that your expectations are easy to agree with. I love how you have to work for a grade, rather than getting the highest score possible all because we did the work. But it is hard to focus on one thing all of the time, when we have other classes And maybe we give 100% effort because sometimes a person's best doesn't seem like it because of their ability in that class.
ReplyDeleteKelsey Keller ; 3rd hour.
I think that your expectations are good, because it teaches us how to be resposible. This reminds me of the time in class when you were talking about how all the kids get a trophy after a game, when only one team wins. Everyone should get a grade based on the quality of their work. This is like completion grades; if you have all of the work done, you get a 100% on that assignment. This doesn't help us to learn or become better students. They way you teach and grade things is great, and I can tell there is a lot of time and thought put in to the activities we do in class.
ReplyDelete-- Cassie Kemper ; 3rd hour.
I feel like no expectation is too big for someone to accomplish. If someone really cared they would try their absolute hardest to finish it. Anyone can accomplish something if you try your hardest, even in school.
ReplyDelete-Brianna Blair 5th hour
You shouldn't let expectations ruin your day. They tell me as long as I'm still trying and learning I am succeeding. I love the quote, "to be a great teacher, you need to have fun being one.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the exspectations that you have for students. You are a teacher and you want the best for your students because when they exceed, your exceeding. You are one of my favorite teachers because of the way you love to have fun in the classroom. Very good post.
ReplyDeleteMaddie Johnson -Creative Writing; 2nd hour.
I think that all teachers want their students to do best in that class. I don't think that you should let your expectations ruin your day because some students don't live up to your expectations. If a student wanted to live up to your expectations they would try, but not all students just decide to give up. Some students do try but they sometimes do not get it right, which makes it harder for them to move onto another subject. I do not think that you should let your expectations ruin your day. You are a very good teacher!
ReplyDeleteKylie Knight --- Applied Comp --- 7th Hour :)
- I think that no matter how great the teacher is, the student has to want to learn because you can give them all the information and make the class great, but if they don't try or put in the effort then it doesn't really matter how great your learning process is.
ReplyDeleteStudents have to want to learn to get anything out of a class. It doesn't matter how great the teacher is if a kid doesn't want to learn anything there not going to get anything out of the class.
ReplyDeleteBrittany Swanson :) 1st hour
No matter how bad or good the teacher is the students still have to want to learn while they are in school. If they don't what are they post to do in their lifes. Nothing?
ReplyDeleteLizzie Bishop
I think that it is a good thing to have high expectations but don't actually count on them always going to be good in the end. A child actually has to want to learn and try to be able to do it. A teacher can only do so much for them. If someone does not want to learn or apply theirselves they won't do it.
ReplyDeleteA kid needs to be motivated to learn and want to do well in school. No matter how hard a teacher tries they won't be able to have their expectations met by the student if there is no desire whatsoever to learn. I think it's normal for everyone to have expectations. You just need to be aware of who is going to met them and who isn't even going to try.
ReplyDeleteLogan Farnham - 7th Hour
We ourselve's as kids shouldn't have to have a teacher lower thier own expectations for us to do better in a class. We chose the class a year ahead of time, so if thier failing. It's thier own fault, not yours. You shouldn't have to help us out on something we chose to do ourselve's. We're old enough to know better then to not do something for the class and just blow it off. But there are still a few people out there that rely on the teacher's help to make it through without failing.
ReplyDelete^ Brady Smith, 2nd hour Creative Writing
Delete^ Brady Smith, 2nd hour Creative Writing
DeleteI think that all teachers have expectations for thir students and some of the students just choose not do what is expected of them half the time. But there are also students who struggle and you don't always realize it because they don't speak up or ask for help because they may think that someone might judge them or think differently of them.
ReplyDeleteDakota Simpson 6th hour
I know how teachers have big expectations but fpr most students don't like to ask for help. i konw i don't like to ask questions because it makes me feel dumb.
ReplyDeleteTony Harris 7th hour
I agree with the paragraph and I also agree with stepping back and grabbing a hold of your expectations, but a student failing is a student failing its not your fault or anyone else's fault. It's simply the student's fault. Teachers are doing what they are supposed to... Teach, and students are encouraged to do what they are supposed to by learning.
ReplyDeleteAlex Fenza 1st Hour
i think expectations are the reason students may not try... if expectations are lowered which many arent students wouldnt have to try as hard but i don't know, your expectations for your class are good.
ReplyDeleteRonnie Brown 2nd
That Abigal Adams is one smart girl! What a great quote :)
ReplyDeleteThings that change my perspective are major important events that happen or tragedies.
I think that if people have higher expectations they are willing to strive more for better things in life. If people don’t want to try then they have to accept what they get out of life.
ReplyDelete-Erin Marietta 2nd hour
I agree with you Mr. ogle you really should not change your expectations just because a student fails. The only thing I would say is to maybe try explaining things to students in a more simple or better way ya know. Or it may not be your teaching ways ( which are some amazing powers) =) but the it is probably the student and them not caring or having trouble at home.
ReplyDeleteThere really shouldn't be any expectations in any classes. Because if the student starts declining in class, if they want help they will ask or try to get some help at some point. Teachers don't need to be sorry for students having bad grades but to keep on encouraging the class as a whole, not just a single student, and keep on encouraging and teaching the way they are, don't let up as a teacher. Be like a football couch getting his team ready for the second half of the game when his team is "down in the dumps" and get them going!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you set your experctations to high.
ReplyDeleteJk-7th hr
I think that your expectations aren't too high and i think that you are going a very good job of trying to help students understand what you are teaching. I do have one thing to say though, if you think that your students aren't going that good I do think that if you didn't make the grammer quizzes worth 50 percent of their grade that might help those grades out. I know that I personally get worried before big tests and I will sometimes choke and I bet that I am not the only student that is like this. I look forward to see what you decide amd hope you realize that you are doing a great job. I have already learned more in a quarter than I learned the entire last year so you are doing something right.
ReplyDeleteDanny Allanson 1st hour
I believe that in a certain light perhaps they might, in life our expectations are the center of our wants and needs and if those wants and needs are not met we are naturally negitivley affected. Perhaps a separation between personal expectations of what you students do and how that reflects on you as a teacher and your personal mood is needed in the workplace, furthermore the personal connection to your work may simply be too much and may be beneficial for both you and your students to take a step back and sometimes let events unfold as they may, just purely to save yourself frustration.
ReplyDeletei think the exceptation of learning from the teacher should be high because i know that if i want to go to college then i need to pay attention more than just sit and do nothing
ReplyDeletesincerly, shalyn phillips
I think every teacher has expectations for their students. All teachers should want their student to do their best and have to work for a grade instead of the teacher giving a good grade that they didn’t earn.
ReplyDeleteJeff Robinson
Every Student should be honored to have a teacher who cares and has high expectations for students. However there is always room for improvement. For example if a student misses an assignment, perhaps a more efficient way to work with a student might be to sit the student down and ask "okay what happened here?" by asking this you might be able to not only get a reason like an overload of scholarships but you will also be able to communicate with the student that you care enough about what’s going on in their life, are still willing to work with them and care even though they did not meet your expectations. Sometimes simple acts like this increase motivation, and might ever higher the bar for expectations which is always a good thing. : )
ReplyDelete-Tiffany
All teachers have some expectations for their students, they all want what is best for the most part. It is clear that some teachers are more caring of their students than others. Some teachers know their subject, preach & teach it and then move on. It gets what is needed across, but we all know that most kids would rather have a class discussion. A lot of students, including myself would rather start with one thing that is relevant to the topic and go from there, sharing experiences, sharing wisdom sharing ideas. Learning stuff from others that is not taken word for word out of a book is okay sometimes. Going a little off topic to get the bigger picture is okay. Students benefit more from that, in more than the way of just learning the knowledge for the test. I think that more teachers need to realize that.
ReplyDelete-Madison Gates 5th hour
I think that your expectations are perfect honestly. What's the point in making a class so easy that students can slip by and not learn a thing? All teachers just want the best for their students. As long as you are trying your best, you're succeeding. :)
ReplyDelete-Samantha Moore 7th Hour
I believe that as an educator, you must have certain expectations or else every student will just do the minimum and expect to pass. If they don't put forth any effort then why should they be allowed to pass? Teachers just try to do as much as they can for students to be successful in life.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a tremendous thing that you feel so strongly about the way you teach your students. I'm not saying this problem is in our school, but I feel that are teachers all over the U.S. that just don't care about the way they teach their students. Some teachers just want to get through the day, even if it means not doing a single thing to help their students. I am the same way. When I'm doing something, and my expectations don't match what actually happens, I feel like a failure. There have many times that I have felt like I'm just a failure in school and in everything else. I have thought that other people also thought of me as a failure, and it took me a while to realize that I'm not always a failure. Sometimes, I just have my expectations too high.
ReplyDeleteAs I have listened to you talk about this same subject to yourself, teachers, and in our class as well I have come to the realization that maybe you should lower your expectations however not your standards. Kids should still be pushed to do their best everyday, encouraged, and helped. If you are having trouble getting them to comply you shouldn't expect the effort from them, but should still hold them to the same standard. I feel that as a person you know you've done all that is possible for one of your students and when they still don't succeed you take the blame. There is only so much you can do to help your students and if they don't take the initiative you shouldn't have to feel responsible.
ReplyDeleteTeachers shouldn't put all the blame on them selves when students don't want to learn or if they aren't doing well in the class. Students won't learn if they don't want too.
ReplyDelete