Comments on: The nicest compliment http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/ A weblog about teaching English & integrating technology Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:09:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Dawn http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/comment-page-1/#comment-744 Dawn Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:25:09 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/#comment-744 Mercedes, Gracias! ma'am Mercedes,
Gracias!
ma’am

]]> By: mercyskye http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/comment-page-1/#comment-743 mercyskye Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:11:48 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/#comment-743 I think that sums up how some of us felt in your classroom even 16 years ago. It is quite encouraging not only to know that you haven't lost the touch, but to know that students are still willing to share their impressions with you. I used to work with someone who said "Adults are just big kids that know stuff," which is of course viewing things from the other way around. That you are "an adult who knows things" probably says as much about your leadership as it does your teaching ability (two separate, but complimentary, things IMO). People, and students especially, don't like being told where to go or what to think... but if they can be willingly led to those areas, and be allowed to take their own journey with you, then you become less of an "authority" and much more like a guide. I think that sums up how some of us felt in your classroom even 16 years ago. It is quite encouraging not only to know that you haven’t lost the touch, but to know that students are still willing to share their impressions with you.

I used to work with someone who said “Adults are just big kids that know stuff,” which is of course viewing things from the other way around. That you are “an adult who knows things” probably says as much about your leadership as it does your teaching ability (two separate, but complimentary, things IMO). People, and students especially, don’t like being told where to go or what to think… but if they can be willingly led to those areas, and be allowed to take their own journey with you, then you become less of an “authority” and much more like a guide.

]]> By: tednellen http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/comment-page-1/#comment-740 tednellen Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:15:16 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/#comment-740 there is something cool about this, dawn. for me is that you have achieved that level of transparency. there is nothing wrong with being a teacher. i still think it is the most important job in the history of man. that you appear to the student as an adult who knows things is a great compliment from that level, cool. but never ever, consider being a teacher negative or degrading. it isn't. it is the noble profession. there are lots of adults who know things, but they can't teach. that is crucial, dawn, please don't forget that. there is something cool about this, dawn. for me is that you have achieved that level of transparency. there is nothing wrong with being a teacher. i still think it is the most important job in the history of man. that you appear to the student as an adult who knows things is a great compliment from that level, cool. but never ever, consider being a teacher negative or degrading. it isn’t. it is the noble profession. there are lots of adults who know things, but they can’t teach. that is crucial, dawn, please don’t forget that.

]]> By: Christian Long http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/comment-page-1/#comment-739 Christian Long Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:34:29 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/#comment-739 My wife -- a middle school principal/teacher -- still considers the following to be the best student-said compliment she's ever received: "You're just like us middle school kids, 'cept you have power and can get things done." You should feel very honored by what your student said! A wonderful moment, "teach" title or not. My wife — a middle school principal/teacher — still considers the following to be the best student-said compliment she’s ever received:

“You’re just like us middle school kids, ‘cept you have power and can get things done.”

You should feel very honored by what your student said! A wonderful moment, “teach” title or not.

]]> By: Sam M http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/comment-page-1/#comment-736 Sam M Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:47:47 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/#comment-736 I'm glad you appreciated what I said so much, enough to blog it. It's honestly really refreshing, especially as a senior, to walk into a room where teachers are actually worried about teaching more than Webgrader and staying below the radar. It's nice that you ask us stuff because you want to know, not because it's required in your curriculum outline. I’m glad you appreciated what I said so much, enough to blog it. It’s honestly really refreshing, especially as a senior, to walk into a room where teachers are actually worried about teaching more than Webgrader and staying below the radar. It’s nice that you ask us stuff because you want to know, not because it’s required in your curriculum outline.

]]> By: Amerloc http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/comment-page-1/#comment-735 Amerloc Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:42:48 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/#comment-735 I was going to say something about how lucky you are to hear something so wonderful from a student, but then I considered how much work you've put into creating an environment where that remark is possible, and I realized that attributing it to luck would be an insult to both of you. So congratulations and heartfelt thanks. I was going to say something about how lucky you are to hear something so wonderful from a student, but then I considered how much work you’ve put into creating an environment where that remark is possible, and I realized that attributing it to luck would be an insult to both of you.

So congratulations and heartfelt thanks.

]]> By: Marcia http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/comment-page-1/#comment-734 Marcia Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:56:17 +0000 http://dhogue.edublogs.org/2008/02/20/the-nicest-compliment/#comment-734 When I was working with student teachers, we had lots of talk about discipline. They were inordinately worried about their effectiveness in terms of discipline, though occasionally there was indeed one who needed to worry. But I always told them that when they could get to the point where they could regard themselves as part of the class, and to the point of knowing they were all learners, then they could stop worrying about discipline. That would take care of itself. Though you aren't talking about discipline, you are talking about coming together, you and they into a sort of "us" state. That's the best time of teaching. "A place where we could come to just learn things together" is that state. I love that. When I was working with student teachers, we had lots of talk about discipline. They were inordinately worried about their effectiveness in terms of discipline, though occasionally there was indeed one who needed to worry. But I always told them that when they could get to the point where they could regard themselves as part of the class, and to the point of knowing they were all learners, then they could stop worrying about discipline. That would take care of itself. Though you aren’t talking about discipline, you are talking about coming together, you and they into a sort of “us” state. That’s the best time of teaching. “A place where we could come to just learn things together” is that state. I love that.

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