15 Analytical

Blog 15 working on analytical writing:

 

·       A category that I am working on

 

o   Using language to motivate students in order to create a positive classroom environment

 

 

 

·       The feature on the category are the actual words that teachers use to help motivate students not give up or get so frustruated in Science class

 

·       Examples of the language that the teacher used to motivate the students include:

 

o   “ you let me down” “ I’m proud of you”

 

o   Mental approach from teacher: “treat them like family” “ they are an extension of your family”, “ try not to back them into a corner” “ they know who cares for them””

 

o    speak to them like an adult”( there are crossroads, and the windows of opening and yu can create opportunites for yourself, but this is the time when windows can start closing and the dreams that you had like owning a sports cars or going to a big name school or play football, the windows of opportunity may start closing now

 

o   If they make a good case for themselves we can do something about it

 

o   Im here for you

 

This category appears in relation to discussing students that are struggling with his or her grades, or with personal issues.

 

With respect to my research question, I would say that having and showing compassion and sincere interest in the students success is central to using language to motivate the student . This requires that the teacher be more than someone who delivers the curriculum, in order to motivate students and create a positive classroom environment the teacher must provide exhibit caring, friendliness, understanding, dedication, and dependability (Ryan and Patrick 440)

 

Conflicts or confusions

 

I:” if gender plays a role on how you motivate students…respect is especially with middle school boys”

 

ST: not so much..gonna see a lot more tears from girls at this age..struggle with being perfect”

 

It appears that these are conflicting statements. Boys need to be respected and will challenge the teacher, but girls are emotional and seek perfection. I imagine that approaching an emotional girl is different than approaching a boy seeking respect. Although both approaches may be in response to the ongoing social issues that middle school student have, gender probably plays a large role in how you motivate a student.

 

Contradicts the points I want to make

 

In Excerpt 2:

 

I: I have a follow-up question for you. Do you think you have been effective in creating a positive classroom environment and motivating students?

 

ST: ah. Over the last few years I have not felt very effective. With all the new guidelines. Regulations that they want us to follow. Feel like we’re putting kids on a factory line where being directed at how to assemble them so you’re getting the same model of production with each kid. Instead of treating the kids as if they’re different, but when you look around this room we used to pride ourselves on diversity but, we’re still getting the top kids with the top kids get and were giving the bottom kids with the bottom kids get the parents is still getting what they want in terms of what they think is right for their kid there isn’t much collaboration going on with the teachers and the administrators. I was taught that that’s a local thing

 

 

 

“ST” went off topic and began to address the school district and its role in declining education, specifically relating to special education students. “ST” began addressing the school curriculum doesn’t fit the special students needs and the curriculum should be “modified” to adapt to the needs of the special needs student.