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Wake me when it’s over!

Posted by: mrmadden | 16 April 2008 | 8 Comments |

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There I was, sitting in Sister Barbara’s English class, wondering how it was possible for the minutehand on the clock to move backwards!  No! No!  Impossible!  This class can’t possibly be longer, can it?  Sister Barbara is nice and all, but, man! is this class a complete snore!  Why?  Why did I end up here?  How come I didn’t get Brother Krolokowski’s class?!  That guy makes a phone book interesting.  Plus, kids say that they actually learn something; that they do stuff that actually helps them for next year’s classes.  Errgghh!

Wait, did she just call on me to read?

Yep, true story.  Junior year, Cathedral High School.  Was the class boring?  I don’t know, that is what I remember, anyway.  Was Sister a poor teacher?  Not really, she just did dull stuff.  She made learning about writing and literature a major chore.  It was like she was teaching us the way that she was taught, which I guess makes sense.  But, she was high school student, like, thirty years before us.  Now, I know that the language hasn’t changed a ton, but c’mon, kids have!

That is truly how I thought about classes such as that:  The teacher was usually an okay person, but they were teaching us in a way that I, at least, didn’t connect with at all.  I had to make my mind “fit” to how the teacher wanted it, even though that made the class harder for most of the kids.  And when it became a bit too tough, a lot of students threw in the towel and checked out.

So, what makes a boring class?  What makes an interesting class?  What do you think teachers do, or have done in your academic experience, to let kids learn best?   Or, what advice would you give a teacher to help them reach more students, and have more kids do better in thier subjects at school?

Remember, when people ask me what students think about something, I tell them to go ask a student.

So here I am, asking the experts.

under: 6th grade, MadLinks, alumni, literature, schoolstuff
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Mr. Madden!!

I would just like to compliment you on your blog! It looks great, and I found this blog interesting!

Well, there isn’t any advice I would give to you because you are a great teacher! You make learning fun and interesting! I wish I could have you as my teacher again! :)

Some teachers just really bore students out of their mind. Its crazy! They don’t really get involved with the students. They just stand their and talk. It’s a lot more fun when the teacher puts life into what they are teaching us about!

See you around,
Ashley :)

   By: Ashley!! :) on 17 April 2008
at 5:24 pm

Things That Make a Boring class
1. The teacher
2. The subject
3. When the teacher talks slow
4. When you do the same things, in the same exact order every single day
5. When you don’t know what the heck the teacher is talking about

Things That Make an Exciting Class
1. when the teacher can relate to the students
2. When the teacher is relaxed and has a sense of humor
3. When you actually are interested in the subject they are teaching
4. the teacher isn’t mean
5. When the teacher is up-beat

So basicly, a good or bad class depends ALL and the teacher

Delanie O.

   By: Delanie O. on 18 April 2008
at 5:52 pm

The two things I think that make a class boring are repetitiveness and when I can’t relate to a subject.
I always hated doing fractions because it seemed like every year since 4th grade we had to learn the same thing…..only maybe if we were lucky we would get to learn some “new” thing about fractions.
And then I don’t like learning about stuff that I can’t relate to because I just don’t apply it anywhere and then I just basicaly forget it. That’s I don’t like social studies or “world history” as they call it now. All I see is a bunch of dead guys that couldn’t possibly affect me now.

Tess

   By: Tess on 22 April 2008
at 7:10 pm

When I know that I don’t like a particular class, it’s not always because it’s boring. The way a teacher presents the subject is a huge factor. The teacher might think doing this or assigning that is interesting and fun, but truthfully this and that are mostly likely just plain dreadful. If the teacher doesn’t change things up and make schoolwork and homework things that you want to do, then it will just go down from there. The teacher needs to relate to the students and make them feel comfortable. Yelling at the students and talking to yourself about the strangest things definitely do not help (believe me). A class would be so much more fun and intriguing if the teacher spent the first five to ten minutes of class talking casually to the students. If you start the class off with assignment after assignment, a student’s interest in the subject will begin to drift away.

Kaitlyn S.

   By: Kaitlyn S. on 25 April 2008
at 4:22 pm

First off i would like to apologize for not visiting the blog more often, so sorry mr.madden.
Secondly I beleive all my classes are boring, and im not really sure why. I guess its because teachers dont want to get to know the students and have fun. When you can tell that a teacher doesnt want to be in the class just as much as you, it makes the class long and boring. My advice would be to get involved with the kids and just have fun, and still learn a little……

   By: jessi N on 27 April 2008
at 12:23 pm

Jessie, Kaitlyn, Ashley, Delanie, and Tess, you have my thanks! Those are some of the best comments I have ever received. Truly!

So, I ask myself: What makes these comments so interesting to read? I think that reason is that you people are being so very honest–which I am always so grateful for–but also because your insights as students help me think about my own teaching.

I wish that other former students would chime in with their comments about this topic–hint, hint. Even if you read these comments and think yours would be the same–it wouldn’t, I guarantee it!

So, before we move on to another topic, and even if we do, could I get you people to ask your peers to give this posting a peek and jump into the voice pool?

I am always very interested in what makes a decent class. I know what it feels like to have a lesson totally bomb–some of you have witnessed that firsthand. What you say here only serves to help me become a better teacher. Of that, you can be sure.

###(Also, feel free to comment on what other commentors have to say. It is great when you agree or disagree with what another student says. I don’t always catch everything that people write, so jump in!)

   By: mrmadden on 27 April 2008
at 3:21 pm

What I thinks makes a class interesting is if you can realte to it. Otherwise you’re sitting there with your head in the clouds.
Tess

   By: Tess on 27 April 2008
at 4:52 pm

Tess, et al (and others),

You people make great points about how teachers can lose kids during a class.

Help me out: What does it take for a teacher to connect to a class? Or, what does it take for you guys to relate to a teacher/subject?

I know that there is way more than one answer. Secretly, this is where I count on your individuality!

Why else would I be asking?

Paging: More voices! More voices!

-Mr. M

   By: mrmadden on 27 April 2008
at 8:14 pm

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