Student Introduction

My first lesson on Friday went quite well. I began by providing a few minutes for the students to think of a couple questions they wanted to ask me about myself, then I opened myself up to any and all questions, providing honest answers. I've done this before, and it can be anxious, but seems to work well. Toughest question I was asked: "Do you have a record?" Answer: "No." Which is true, though admittedly not the entire truth.

As expected, I was either asked or was able to guide towards "Why did you become a teacher?" I prepared for this by asking the students to list all the American wars they could, and as expected, the war of the Philippines was left out, prompting me to discuss how it was left out of my public school education as well, and launch into my desire to teach (and thereby learn) truth about history and the importance of critical thinking. Led a discussion about the complexities of grading and what that means, finished up with asking them to tell me what they have in common with me, what they want me to know about them, and how they learn best as an exit task. I'm logging some of the responses here for my own reference later.

What do you have in common with Mr. Coker?
-Don't like unhelpful questions (I think I'll label these as "dead-end" questions..)
-Dogs, cats, pizza x8
-enjoy history, critical thinking, teaching x9
-have a nickname we won't share (yet.. i'll get there)
-vegetarian

What do you want Mr. Coker to know about you?
-interest in Japan
-have a [insertgrade] despite/because of working hard x3
-no plans for career
-hunt animals, but use all of it
-music interest
-anger management issues
-lots of energy, like to talk a lot x3
-easily distracted
-soccer
-exterior reputation as hard to control but keeps most matters to self x3
-"I think you don't know my name yet because you called on me by nodding" (that's actually true... much to my shame. I knew everyone else's, but blanked on hers and left my seating chart across the room)
-very opinionated x3

How do you think you learn best?
-taking notes x2
-hands-on, games x9
-visuals x6
-groups x3
-'away from annoying people'
-discussions x11
-background music
-repetition/redoing work x2
-writing responses
-not bookwork x4
-flexibility x2


Needless to say, it's a pretty diverse group, though there are some common factors that will help me guide my planning.

Misc. thoughts:
A student who stutters and trips over her responses when called on in discussion is able to speak clearly and concisely when given a moment to write her thoughts first - I may give her a small notepad in order to scribble some thoughts before she speaks.