Dear Teacher,
Hi. It's me...one of your students. I sit in the third row, in the 5th seat - everyday. Do you know me? We've never really talked much...in fact, hardly at all as I think about it. Today - did you know that I already knew some of the information that you were "sharing," but you slowed down so much in order to go through every single point on your notes in the beginning of the class, that I just got bored and started writing a letter to my grandmother. You didn't even notice. I guess you thought I was taking notes about what you were saying.
I actually read the materials that you'd assigned. I was even a little excited because I thought maybe we would do some sort of activity where I could better connect the dots. I had a teacher last year that did that, and wow....what I learned. I learned a few other things too...like how to have a good discussion when everybody has different viewpoints. I liked that...it was fun, and it made an impact on me. I did really well in that class. And I made some new friends. Some of them are actually in this class.
Reading the materials you assigned - well, the stuff was a bunch of theory. I couldn't quite get how to apply that theory and work through the rest of the assignment. Someone did ask you a question about how to take the theory and connect it to our assignment, but you just seemed annoyed...and said we would talk about that later, after you finished this part of the lesson. That person looked discouraged. I could tell he wasn't getting it either. But we finished up with what you wanted to get through by the end of the class.
I went home and read it again...I still couldn't figure out the application. I didn't want to ask you because you never answered the other guy. I know that I learn best when I can read it first, by myself.... but then have discussions or something to help me understand. I need to know how what we are doing connects to me, how do I make it real for me...once I get it, I really get it.
How can I make sense of something that I don't understand and that's totally new to me in the first place? Isn't that why you are the "teacher"? I know I have to do my part..and I think I have. I just don't think you're holding up your end of the bargain.
There are other people like me in this class. I know...because they were in that other class I mentioned. It seems, though, that you always teach the same way. I know that girl on the front row...she likes what you are doing...she seems to know all the answers...when you actually ask us questions. And you seem so happy when she gets it right. What about the rest of us? Don't we deserve the chance to get it right too? Isn't this class for me...so I can learn? Or is it for you, so you can teach?
Your Student...
You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives. ~Clay P. Bedford
