Class Participation: Need advice & to vent

[Guest]

Hi Everyone!

 

I'm in need of some suggestions & venting. One of my college teacher's emailed me on Thursday say that she would like to set up a meeting with me and wanted to know what time would work. So I emailed her back saying Tuesday would work and asked what we would be discussing. She emailed me back saying that we would be discussing class participation and the group presentation. So now I'm very worried about it because I know she's not going to call me into say "oh, you are just awesome at participating in class!". I know this worrying isn't good for my baby and I.

 

For me participating in class doesn't mean talking in class. For me participating in class means completing assignments, quizzes, tests, paying attention in class, and actively thinking about what's being discussed in class. I know that I struggle with speaking during class where there is more than one classmate and me in a group. If I could speak more in class I certainly would, but to tell you the truth I don't know why it's so difficult with me. Is it that I'm shy, the anxiety, my experience in K-12th grade of being teased so much in class, that I grew up in a K-12th grade school knowing my classmates since I was in preschool where as in college you change classmates every semester, etc.?

 

I'm scared to death to go to this meeting. Does anyone have any encouragement or suggestions for approaching this meeting? It's bothering me so much that I could see myself crying during the meeting. I don't see my teacher as being fair to be pulling me in when we just have 4 classes left for the semester to tell me that I don't participate enough because I don't talk. I do fine when I'm in a classroom full of kids, but my own classmates is a struggle for me. If she wants to take points off my grade for not talking in class then that's fine. I don't agree with that because to me not talking in class doesn't equal not participating in class, but I really don't wish to be called in to discuss my classroom participation with her.

 

She also said that we would be discussing the group presentation, and I have no idea what she means by that. I did my research with the group, answered all emails to group members, and met at all meetings to prepare our presentation. I discussed the powerpoint during our class presentation and my group members did a demonstration on how word sorting works. I participated in this group presentation, so I don't have a clue what she's going to say about this.

 

Carolyn

[Chemar]

((((((((((((Carolyn))))))))))))

 

try not to worry! you know you have done your best and fulfilled all requirements

 

just try to go in as relaxed as possible and be as honest as possible, just like you have been in your post about it here. once you shine through in person, all will be fine!

 

ps if she doesnt know about the TS or the baby then it may be wise to fill her in for greater understanding

[faith]

Hi Carolyn!

I was thinking about you and was going to ask how things were going. Everything well with the pregnancy? I am curious also about how things are with you healthwise and tics and those issues, since I am guessing you are still abstaining from your usual protocol since ttc? Are you using any supps at this time? And what about your diet, how is that going?

 

Carolyn, gosh, I may just be thinking like a New Yorker but, is it possible this teacher may just want to have the opportunity to have a meeting in order to, well, get the scoop, on your situation, and this may just be an excuse? Are you just beginning to show, or has that been obvious for a while? She/he may just wonder what your situation is, and may want to sort of "be there" for any support that they are wondering you might need? Get my drift? Perhaps because school is only a few months old and they may not know you previously, she/he may be using this opportunity to get to know you better and offer support should you need it, for in the teachers eys you are still a young girl. She may be wondering if you don't want to speak alot because then the other students eyes will be on you, and may be wondering if that is uncomfortable for you? Really, her intentions may be just concern... Oh gosh, I hope I am not making your more uptight about the meeting, but I think its good to anticipate this, at least to be prepared for what you may or may not want to share, you know?

 

If the real issue is the class participation, then just be as honest as you can about what your feelings about it are. I am glad that this person is at least giving you a chance and just not handing out a grade to find out later why she felt you didn't deserve more.

 

Regards

Faith

[Guest]

Thanks Cheri & Faith. I'll try not to worry.

 

Yes, everything is well with my pregnancy. I enter my 2nd trimester on Tuesday! I heard the heartbeat about 4 weeks ago and it was a very healthy heartbeat.

 

Healthwise, I've recently had to be put on Amoxicillin unfortunately for an ear infection. I didn't want to, but natural wasn't working. It turns out that I'm having so much pain because my eardrum ruptured.

 

Tics are okay. They were better when I was on the additional treatments, but they are certainly manageable right now.

 

Yes, I've been abstaining from my usual protocol. As for supplements, I'm taking Kirkman's prenatal vitamin, 25 mg extra zinc, extra b6, extra vitamin c, flaxseed oil, and probiotics. I'm still on the prescription progesterone at once a day, but tomorrow I go have labs drawn to see if we can cut it back to every other day.

 

My diet is okay. I let dairy and wheat back in because with all the morning sickness I wasn't about to mess with trying to push dairy and gluten free menu. I will probably soon try to switch back to the dairy free milk, etc. now that the morning sickness is letting up some.

 

I think the real issue with this teacher is the class participation. She's just that type of teacher. Even from other classmates opinions she is a very hard teacher. I'm a lucky one and get to have her next semester too! No other teachers teach the class that I need in the spring. I'm really not showing that much. It's still at that point that if you didn't know I was pregnant you would never know. If I wear a tighter shirt, you may wonder if I'm eating a little too much junk food or something, but that's about it. I highly doubt that this teacher would suspect pregnancy in me at this point.

 

Carolyn

[Guest]

Chemar & Faith,

 

I thought I'd let you know how the meeting went. I went in and basically my teacher asked me to explain how I thought I was doing with classroom participation. I explained to her that I am shy until I get to know someone. I told her that I do an awesome job with my day-care kids and co-workers. If you asked my co-workers they would probably say that I don't stop talking. I also told her that I will be fine in a classroom of kids. I told her that I grew up in a small school where I knew all of the kids since preschool and during this class I go there for 2 hours a week and that's all. It makes a difference as to how open and talkative I am when I'm around someone 2 hours a week compared to 40 hours a week. I told her that I also have an expeience of being teased as a child which has made me a much more quiet person.

 

The worst thing is that she wrote up a document and put it in my file! I will be approaching an advisor and advocacy person on this. She gave me the document to sign and she asked me if I had ever seen this form before and I told her no. She then asked me if any other teachers had ever given this to me and I again told her no. She sounded surprised. I've been at a community college for two years and this University for almost 2 years and never has anyone ever complained about this.

 

I find the timing of this complaint just a little bit odd. She never approached me about this before now and all of the sudden she does geared with a document to put in my file. I feel that if she was really concerned she would have approached it 10 weeks ago and helped figure out a plan of how to improve my class participation skills. The first approach I don't feel should have been a write up in my file. She should have gave me a chance to work on this.

 

So here's my thought about why she approached it at this time. It's just a thought and can never be proved since nobody knows what's in this teacher's head other than her. I filed an appeal with my school to student teach outside of the school's area because I commute to a school that is an hour drive from my house. In my appeal I listed one of the reasons as needing to be close to my infant's day-care because I'm expecting in May. They had the meeting about my appeal last Tuesday and this teacher contacted me on Thursday with her meeting request. At the appeal meetings they have a teacher, a special ed. department person, along with several other people at the meeting. I really wonder if she was one of those persons at that meeting. Maybe she personally disagrees with me having a baby and so she chose to complain about my classroom participation. To me this makes perfect sense and I really could see her doing this. I really wish that I knew who was at that appeal meeting. I just find the timing very odd and really feel this could have led her to do this. I know from students that have had her in the past that this teacher really targets her students that she complains about. Nobody likes this teacher, but another student had her last semester. This student had cerebral palsy and the teacher was really giving her a difficult time. I know she felt like this teacher had it in for her.

 

Carolyn

[faith]

Carolyn,

Wow wee, that is interesting. I must say I never heard of such a thing like putting something in a student's file about non-participation as in not speaking much? I certainly would have thought a teacher would have a talk with a student in order to help with any issues, such as they do with us parents for our kids having any difficulties, you know they speak to us about it first in an effort to try to improve on that area? Geez, I suppose that is the way of the world out there, everyone is not always going to be on our side. I think i would just chalk it up, I'm sure your grade will not be hindered too much. If that's how this teacher wants to handle it, well so be it. Did she at least give any feedback to you based on what you told her? Did she offer suggestions or at least understanding? Did you offer that you might try in the future for more participation? If you could, maybe just do a little at least so she can't say you didn't try. It does sound like she's not a compassionate person. Carolyn, is the 504 still used for you in college, or no? For if you do have that, I would think this teacher is aware of your ts then and this type of thing should not be an issue. I don't know what else to offer, except to just brush it off as a minor nuisance so as not to get too stressed out, not good for the baby. I guess you will find out sooner or later what that chic's hangup is.

 

Faith

[Guest]

Faith,

 

Yes, I agree. We are training to be teachers so this teacher should have practiced modeling good teacher skills by talking to me first because putting a document in my file. She didn't give me much feedback based on what I told her. She did suggest to talk in large group once 3 out of 4 classes or making a goal to improve this. I think that talking in a large group is too big of a step, so I'm just going to try talking a little more in small groups.

 

My school doesn't have 504 plans, but we do have a disability center where you can get accommodations made. I do have accommodations. The accommodations are related to test taking though.

 

The good news is that I talked to my advisor today and she said that she wouldn't worry about the document. She said that she doesn't know why she waited until now to make this an issue and why she didn't talk to me before writing up a document to place in my file. She also said that this instructor is very new in their faculty and that she doesn't know her that well other than seeing her a few times. She said that this document will just sit in my file that they have in the special ed. department just like the folder from my advisor. She also said that since I'm almost to the end of my program and no other teachers have ever done this to me that this teacher's document doesn't carry that much weight or meaning. She said that future employers, etc. won't see that document. So basically it's safe to just let this go and ignore it. She said that if I'm still worried about it I can go talk to the special education chair person, but I don't think that's needed. I mentioned that I have class with this teacher next semester too, and she said just to be proactive about it by talking to her right away in the semester and saying if she has any concerns to come to me early on in the semester, etc. I was so relieved after talking to this advisor, especially since I didn't have to wait the whole weekend worrying.

 

Carolyn

[faith]

I agree about it not carrying that much weight at all. When I encounter a teacher or boss that is kind of a bummer, best thing is to yes 'em to death and move on, then they kind of leave you alone and go find some bigger fish to fry!

 

 

be well

Faith

[Chemar]

so glad you talked with your adviser Carolyn! and that she managed to reassure you on this.