Mom: Elementary: I liked to read Middle: Mythology, and geography Secondary: History, especially the stories, not so much the dates College: Psychology, nutrition, building self-confidence/esteem
Me: What is challenging for you to learn?
Mom: math
Me: Are you a fast or slow learner?
Mom: depends on how I'm learning it. If I have to read it, it takes longer, than if someone explains it.
Me: How does your learning differ now from when you were younger?
Mom: I like being able to choose what I learn, and not have to be tested on the information
Me: What classes do you remember and why? Negative and positive
Mom: Hated elementary math--the teacher would make individuals come up to the class and write a problem on the board and solve it while everyone watched. I could never keep up. She handed back the exams starting at the beginning of the row, so everyone could see your scores if you sat at the back. I always felt stupid.
My favorite was also math. The teacher spent some extra time with me, until it clicked, and I felt really confident
Also a psychology class. We interacted a lot, doing trust exercises, and talking a lot.
Me: Which teachers stand out in your memory? Why? Characteristics? What could teachers do differently?
Mom: a science teacher that was hunched over and cross-eyed. Everyone made fun of her, but she loved teaching and worked individually on a project with me and I really appreciated it.
In sixth grade, there was a boy who teased me relentlessly. He lived behind me and saw wellfare checks in the mail. He always called me welfare girl after that. My teacher heard him one day and sent me out of the class. She must have talked to the class about being more compassionate, because I didn't have as many problems after that. Also she praised me a lot.
Take time to get to know each student individually. Approach them uniquely with the knowledge that needs to be taught. Personalize your communication with them by using their name, or touching their shoulder.
Me: What is the mode/style in which you learn best?
Mom: Visually--through charts or drawings. Not auditorily.
Me: What frustrates you in terms of learning?
Mom: Time limits or tests
Me: How do you overcome challenges in learning?
Mom: Try to break the information down. Do a little bit at a time, or ask for help.
Me: How do you decide what to learn?
Mom: Things I feel a connection with. I'm attracted to uplifting things--spiritually, emotionally. It needs to have meaning to me.
Me: What would be your favorite thing to learn? Why?
Mom: Energy work because I'm fascinated by the unseen and how it effects our lives.
Me: Do you have a childhood memory of learning something?
Mom: My mom taught me how to knit. The first time I rode my bike. The first time I swam. Learning how to read and put words together.
Me: Do members of your family have similar learning styles?
Mom: My sister and mom were very smart; they could just read something and get it. My brother was more tactile.
Comparison: I was surprised that my mom said she liked reading as much as I did as a child. I was heartbroken to hear stories about her being teased. I had heard bits and pieces before, but in the context of what we're learning about how to reach low SES students, it's worse. Children in poverty have enough to go through without being bullied. My suspicion that our learning styles are similar was confirmed, though our choice of subject preferences are divergent. I heard myself in her answers much more than I did in my husband's answers from last week. Interestingly, though, I thought to myself when hearing his answers that if our son could take this interview, I bet he would have similar responses.
Brittinie Gleave
ReplyDeleteJournal # 3
Interview with mom
Me: What do/did you enjoy about learning
Mom:
Elementary: I liked to read
Middle: Mythology, and geography
Secondary: History, especially the stories, not so much the dates
College: Psychology, nutrition, building self-confidence/esteem
Me: What is challenging for you to learn?
Mom: math
Me: Are you a fast or slow learner?
Mom: depends on how I'm learning it. If I have to read it, it takes longer, than if someone explains it.
Me: How does your learning differ now from when you were younger?
Mom: I like being able to choose what I learn, and not have to be tested on the information
Me: What classes do you remember and why? Negative and positive
Mom: Hated elementary math--the teacher would make individuals come up to the class and write a problem on the board and solve it while everyone watched. I could never keep up. She handed back the exams starting at the beginning of the row, so everyone could see your scores if you sat at the back. I always felt stupid.
My favorite was also math. The teacher spent some extra time with me, until it clicked, and I felt really confident
Also a psychology class. We interacted a lot, doing trust exercises, and talking a lot.
Me: Which teachers stand out in your memory? Why? Characteristics? What could teachers do differently?
Mom: a science teacher that was hunched over and cross-eyed. Everyone made fun of her, but she loved teaching and worked individually on a project with me and I really appreciated it.
In sixth grade, there was a boy who teased me relentlessly. He lived behind me and saw wellfare checks in the mail. He always called me welfare girl after that. My teacher heard him one day and sent me out of the class. She must have talked to the class about being more compassionate, because I didn't have as many problems after that. Also she praised me a lot.
Take time to get to know each student individually. Approach them uniquely with the knowledge that needs to be taught. Personalize your communication with them by using their name, or touching their shoulder.
Me: What is the mode/style in which you learn best?
Mom: Visually--through charts or drawings. Not auditorily.
Me: What frustrates you in terms of learning?
Mom: Time limits or tests
Me: How do you overcome challenges in learning?
Mom: Try to break the information down. Do a little bit at a time, or ask for help.
Me: How do you decide what to learn?
Mom: Things I feel a connection with. I'm attracted to uplifting things--spiritually, emotionally. It needs to have meaning to me.
Me: What would be your favorite thing to learn? Why?
Mom: Energy work because I'm fascinated by the unseen and how it effects our lives.
Me: Do you have a childhood memory of learning something?
Mom: My mom taught me how to knit. The first time I rode my bike. The first time I swam. Learning how to read and put words together.
Me: Do members of your family have similar learning styles?
Mom: My sister and mom were very smart; they could just read something and get it. My brother was more tactile.
Comparison:
I was surprised that my mom said she liked reading as much as I did as a child. I was heartbroken to hear stories about her being teased. I had heard bits and pieces before, but in the context of what we're learning about how to reach low SES students, it's worse. Children in poverty have enough to go through without being bullied. My suspicion that our learning styles are similar was confirmed, though our choice of subject preferences are divergent. I heard myself in her answers much more than I did in my husband's answers from last week. Interestingly, though, I thought to myself when hearing his answers that if our son could take this interview, I bet he would have similar responses.