Such a good reminder that we need to be connecting with God around each individual throughout the term as part of the report writing process! For me the uniqueness is found in realising the uniqueness of the individual and the value that God places on them. As teachers we can get so caught up in the pace of the syllabus and in trying to move the whole class forward, and in getting so many reports written, that where a child is weaker - they can be a frustration and sometimes the default setting is to comment on them needing to work harder when really the conversation should be around what will be helpful in getting them to achieve their potential in that area - even if it's not an A!
I can a agree a good reminder but still find it difficult to be unique when I teach half the school computers and only see the students once a week with odd gaps. I will always remember the good ones and the very bad ones that make them selves know. There ends up a big gap in the middle (that gray area) is the most difficult as one knows its a generic response, and the time constants one can not do much else. It does bother me that's its not a true reflection. Takes me ages to sift through all work to get a closer idea. I can see as I am in a lesson how they doing but with one lesson after another one does not remember. Then if they do not save all their work you missing chunks so have to guess anyway. I do like the new method with a LMS system like this one ( Moodle) as its a continuous reporting system so no term reports and gives a better reflection on a students ability's and progress to the student and Parent. I did find with online learning I got to know the students way better than in the classroom. but has its down side too.
Alex, that is a real classroom experience problem. Does anyone have any thoughts on how to tackle this issue???
Hi Caroline.
I found working online I got to know the student's ability way better (by name at least) linking the name to the face was another problem then.
And as the classes were spread over a hole week helped as not limited to 1 hr.
But has its draw backs with only online. Blended approach I'm finding for some students works well. Others just don't bother doing the work (this year is the worst for this problem)
Speaking to other teachers at other schools it seems that gray area is not just a problem to me with classes of ±30.
One of my classes is 8 children I know their abilities and personality's way better than any other class. (Still don't know all their names but know where they sit - I have always had problems remembering names)
I found working online I got to know the student's ability way better (by name at least) linking the name to the face was another problem then.
And as the classes were spread over a hole week helped as not limited to 1 hr.
But has its draw backs with only online. Blended approach I'm finding for some students works well. Others just don't bother doing the work (this year is the worst for this problem)
Speaking to other teachers at other schools it seems that gray area is not just a problem to me with classes of ±30.
One of my classes is 8 children I know their abilities and personality's way better than any other class. (Still don't know all their names but know where they sit - I have always had problems remembering names)
Hi Alex. I agree you have quite a daunting task before you and its quite a challenge when it comes to report writing. Time is a key resource in teaching and it looks like its one you haven't got much of. Finding a solution for time is not easy as the day is only 24 hours and if the timetable can only accommodate you once a week, its hard to stretch that. My thoughts however, go to scripture, even with only 5 loaves and two fish Jesus fed all 5000 and no-one was left hungry. I can understand you are bothered because your desire is to feed all your learners and be able to write meaningful reports for each of them. Maybe you could use your class lists, split the names on the list into groups, in each lesson aim to follow up on the names on a different group and rotate them for each lesson. This helps to follow up on progress and have a personal conversation with each learner and so minimise only knowing the good or the struggling ones. Also you could consider team teaching as both teachers can keep records on different children, then share their progress for report writing. Thankfully you also have the technology there to help you.
Hi Maggie.
Let me clarify a little as maybe as usual what I write and what I'm thinking don't always come out quite right.
Time in a day is not the problem, it's the time I spend with the children is too sort to get to know them. I a few years ago calculated the amount of time I would in theory spend per child per term. (if they came to every lesson allocated). Per child 2,30 min per child per term. Who gets to know someone in that amount of time. In reality it is defiantly less than 2 min/child.
Let me clarify a little as maybe as usual what I write and what I'm thinking don't always come out quite right.
Time in a day is not the problem, it's the time I spend with the children is too sort to get to know them. I a few years ago calculated the amount of time I would in theory spend per child per term. (if they came to every lesson allocated). Per child 2,30 min per child per term. Who gets to know someone in that amount of time. In reality it is defiantly less than 2 min/child.
I agree with you Charmian, if we are not mindful of the reason for writing the report in the first place, we may get caught up the trap of just completing the task without realising the significance of the report in guiding the child's future learning. You are right in noting that writing the generic comment to work harder may even be discouraging for those who are already trying hard. Christian Education requires that we must know each learner, just as Christ knows us personally. If we take time to know our learners throughout the term, we can then write comments which are specific to them, encouraging their growth.