Monday, December 14, 2009

Comfort

Is there a correlation between a students comfort in a classroom and their achievement?

A boy I taught last year is telling me he is not dong well this term because he doesn't feel comfortable with the new teacher and the new class. Could this really be true?

Last year, this kid did great verbally but it was a real challenge to get him to do well on exams. (He did pass the class and the regents.)

4 comments:

Kim Hughey said...

I have to say yes to this one, especially with at-risk students. I think many students need to feel they are in a warm and caring environmnet before they will take risks.

I spend a lot of time at the beginning of the year trying to establish this type of environment.

mathman42 said...

I joke around a lot but care enuf to keep on top of them ... which many don't like.


They have to feel that effort counts but perfection, though a goal, is rarely achieved.

lgm said...

Oh, yes this is true.

Trust also has to be there. They have to know that the test is fair and they have a chance of passing if they put the effort in. As soon as they are tested over material that is supposed to be review but was never taught in previous years, they are gone. They know it's impossible to catch up.

Anonymous said...

I think this is true. It was atleast with me. But i am a girl. :)) But it depends from person to person. I am a college sophomore with a dual major in Physics and Mathematics @ University of California, Santa Barbara. By the way, i came across these excellent geography flash cards. Its also a great initiative by the FunnelBrain team. Amazing!!!