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 :)
poster:llrrrpp
thread:668843
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/studs/20060709/msgs/669748.html