Talking To Middle School Teachers
Plan Ahead for a 5 Minute Conversation, Ask Specific Questions
Apr 26, 2007
Have your ever noticed that talking with teachers is sometimes difficult to do? For middle school students the challenge becomes even greater given the number of classes that occur each day and the minimal amount of passing time students have to move to their next class. When is the best time to catch a teacher with an important question or concern?
Set the Stage
- Either before class begins or as you gather your things to leave, take 1 minute to ask your teacher the following question, "Is there a time today or tomorrow when I could talk with you about a question I have?"
- Resist the temptation to have 2-minute conversation between classes, particularly when your question has to do with information you don't understand or a concern you have about the other students in class.
- If you are really looking for a quality answer to your question, wait until you have 5-10 minutes of uninterrupted time with your teacher.
Often times, teachers will arrive early in the morning or remain in their classes during lunch or after school. Either of these times gives you an opportunity to have their undivided attention for a few minutes. Email and phone calls are other ways to communicate questions or concerns; however, having the face-to-face conversation minimizes the possibility of misunderstandings that email messages and phone calls can trigger.
Prepare for Progress
With a potential time slot on the schedule, think about what you want to ask and the information you hope to receive. Do you have a question about something you are learning and don't understand? If so, come prepared with specific questions about the content. A statement like, "I don't understand any of this," doesn't help your teacher understand where you need assistance. If homework is the challenge, bring specific questions or problems you don't understand. Questions about tests should be focused on learning the information you missed rather than making a plea for a better grade; unless you are concerned that your test was graded incorrectly.
Untapped Resources
- At times you may have questions or concerns about the other students in your class or about the school in general.
- Your teachers can help you with serious concerns like bullying and generally, have an incredible source of knowledge to share with you about common middle school concerns.
- Most teachers see an average of 150 students pass through their classroom doors each day. Multiply the 150 students by the number of years your teacher has been at the school and you have a person with a lot of middle school experience.
- Use your teachers as resources for learning more than just the curriculum. You might be surprised by what they know.
- Finally, take the time to check in with your teachers, even when you don't have questions or concerns. Sometimes the most rewarding conversations begin with a simple question like, "How are you?"
Read more about talking with middle school teachers here.
