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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on July 20, 2006, at 23:57:49
My math lecturer said today that I was good at it. I immediately said to myself, "Oh, she's saying that to be nice and make me feel good." That's what I told my therapy group tonight, too. They all kinda looked at one another and laughed, and our T said, "Teachers don't say things like that to be nice."
So, what do you all think? I'm still thinking it's mostly that she wanted to say something nice to me, and in response to something I said she saw a chance? Anyone?
Thanks...
Posted by cloudydaze on July 21, 2006, at 0:09:41
In reply to Do teachers say things just to be nice?, posted by Racer on July 20, 2006, at 23:57:49
Some teaches *might* say things to be nice, but i don't think a teacher would tell you that you were good at a subject if you were not. If she said you were good at it, she meant it. Teachers wouldn't make that stuff up.
You're just gonna have to accept that you're good at math! :)
-cloudy
> My math lecturer said today that I was good at it. I immediately said to myself, "Oh, she's saying that to be nice and make me feel good." That's what I told my therapy group tonight, too. They all kinda looked at one another and laughed, and our T said, "Teachers don't say things like that to be nice."
>
> So, what do you all think? I'm still thinking it's mostly that she wanted to say something nice to me, and in response to something I said she saw a chance? Anyone?
>
> Thanks...
Posted by Racer on July 21, 2006, at 18:12:50
In reply to Do teachers say things just to be nice?, posted by Racer on July 20, 2006, at 23:57:49
I noticed today, when I got together with some other students in the class to study together, I felt very confident about word problems! lol She said I was good at word problems, and -- Prest-O Change-O -- now I am!
lol
Felt good. Now to do about a zillion more of them before we get together to study again tomorrow... And before the midterm on Monday...
Signed,
Racer Who Likes Math And Is Confident About Word Problems!
Posted by cloudydaze on July 22, 2006, at 15:34:02
In reply to Whether or not she was just being nice..., posted by Racer on July 21, 2006, at 18:12:50
Posted by llrrrpp on July 23, 2006, at 16:10:41
In reply to Whether or not she was just being nice..., posted by Racer on July 21, 2006, at 18:12:50
When I teach, I don't say things just to be nice. I say things that will help a student make progress. If his self-confidence is the thing that is limiting his progress, I will tell the student things to help him recognize his strengths. If the student has few apparent problems with self-confidence, I will try to offer constructive criticism, and I might be a little bolder. Occasionally a student's progress is limited by his arrogance. This is tricky. In my experience, the student's peers often try to put the student in his place and then it's up to me to try to protect the student and help him realize that he has strengths and weaknesses like everyone else.
I would never distort a student's abilities just to be kind. If kindness were my intention, I would comment on how they always show up on time, or their backpack is really cool or something like that.
-ll
p.s. congrats to Racer on being word-problem-queen :)
Posted by javableue on July 24, 2006, at 22:20:10
In reply to Do teachers say things just to be nice?, posted by Racer on July 20, 2006, at 23:57:49
I don't think most teachers would say something like that just to be nice... if they say a student is good at a subject when that isn't in fact true, there is just too much potential for harm. I know I've had lots of teachers say things just to be nice (commenting on character, other aspects of my life, or even just the way I wore my hair that day), but in the end there was always that "Well, you do need to work on 'x' a little more" if it was needed.
I hope your midterm went well. (Was it in fact today?)
jb
Posted by Racer on July 25, 2006, at 18:52:56
In reply to Re: Do teachers say things just to be nice? » Racer, posted by javableue on July 24, 2006, at 22:20:10
I didn't do nearly as well as I would have liked. It was largely stupid stuff -- flipping signs, misreading problems, etc. It upset me a good deal, actually. I'm about to post over on Psychology about it, but I had a short period of thinking of dropping the class and taking it again in the Fall.
But, I kinda got over it. Taking the absolute number of points I lost on this exam, adding them to the absolute number of points I lost on quizzes and homework, I'm still in the running for an A, so I'm working on being OK about it for that reason.
I'll let you know if it ever works...
Posted by Racer on July 27, 2006, at 19:14:34
In reply to Do teachers say things just to be nice?, posted by Racer on July 20, 2006, at 23:57:49
Today, my lecturer gave me my latest quiz back, and we talked about my mistake a bit -- just didn't simplify quite enough -- and I don't know how it came up, but she told me I was very fair! lol I told her I was the one who made the mistake, and she still thought it was nice of me not to be upset with her! She really is very sweet.
I think she'd just had a complaint made against her, though. One of the students who is maybe not doing quite as well in the class was sitting just outside the associate staff area, and the lecturer was being spoken to quite seriously by one of the administrator types from the Maths department. I could hear a bit as I walked by on my way to the ladies room, and it was certainly about what it would take for her to get a passing grade. I hope it was only informational, because truly she is a good teacher.
She did point out, even, that the people who scored under 50% on the midterm had options to improve their grades -- and that most of the people with scores above 80% were spending considerable time in the math lab...
It's nice to get compliments. She even said that she might come by my complex to meet with my study group before the next midterm! lol How many of you have known lecturers who make house calls?
Posted by llrrrpp on July 27, 2006, at 19:20:33
In reply to I got a different kind of compliment from her, posted by Racer on July 27, 2006, at 19:14:34
That's true dedication. high standards and committment to helping students meet them. Lucky you!
-ll
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