by Jake Hollingsworth // Seoul, South Korea // www.JakeHollingsworth.net
New students need our help. They need extra attention and support. It just makes sense.
BUT…
Every student is different. What about that new little girl in your classroom?
- Does she want extra attention, or does she want to blend in?
- Does she want you to help her with every new exercise, or does she want to figure it out herself?
- Does she want you looking over her shoulder, or would she rather you back off?
- Does she want the other students staring as you try to help her, or does she want to be just like them?
New students, especially children and teenagers in a classroom setting, are usually a bit nervous and self-conscious. Though we can all agree they need extra attention to be brought up to speed with the rest of their classmates, it can also be a deterrent to success. We as teachers can serve our new students better by understanding what we do that causes them to be uncomfortable. Being a new student in school can be tough enough without the added (though unintended) segregation in our classes.
