To reinforce the importance of these small changes, we had our annual faculty PD day and our speaker,
Dr. Luis Ponjuan from Texas A & M, said, "the Magic Formula for teaching: KNOW YOUR STUDENTS' NAMES. Know and use their CORRECT name." He also gave some practical advice, "Don't say, 'I'm never going to remember that' or 'can I call you ______ instead?' Repeat their name after they introduce themselves, 'I really want to say it correctly, can you teach me?'" with the reminder that It's ok to practice pronouncing names correctly.
He was an engaging speaker with plenty of great advice about things faculty can do to create the best conditions for students to succeed. He introduced me to the idea of microaffirmations "to counter balance microaggressions that people face; they show that faculty care and respect them." and he listed these eight suggestions (slightly paraphrased, based on my notes):
- Say their name, correctly
- Know their story
- Learn to listen
- Confront microaggressions
- Encourage them to share
- Appreciate their funds of knowledge
- Create safe spaces
- How am I going to be more humble as a professor
If you have an opportunity to hear Dr. Ponjuan speak, I highly recommend it.
Near the end of his presentation, he said, "You don't have to be the sage on the stage, you just need to be courageous" and that's exactly what this month's discussion is all about!
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Jennifer Ackerman
Jefferson CTC
Louisville KY
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-04-2022 13:44:49
From: Kelly Spoon
Subject: IMPACT in Action - Small Changes for a Big IMPACT
Agreed that just knowing student names is so important. Students always seem impressed that I learn all their names and it's such a little thing. To help with this, I have used name tents that I pass out each class - I know it seems a little K-12, but I tell students it's so they learn each other's names too. I always tell them how I end up in some meeting at school and it's far too late for me to figure out a colleagues name that I should already know.
I also like Jennifer's note about due dates. This Spring semester, one of my exams ended up being due on Mother's Day. After realizing, I decided to reach out to extend the deadline for anyone who had plans or needed more time to study. I even sent personal messages to the students who had shared that they were mothers and to a student who I knew was caring for her mother who was ill to wish them a happy mother's day. At the end of the class, one of them emailed and included this in her message "I appreciated so much when you reached out on mothers day to me to extend my exam. That's not something I ever would have asked for myself, so it really meant a lot to me that you thought about me and reached out." I likely spent less than 10 minutes sending emails, posting an announcement, and adjusting the close date in Canvas… and students saw that I cared more about them than an arbitrary deadline I had set at the beginning of the semester.
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Kelly Spoon
Associate Professor
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego CA
Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2022 08:38:15
From: Vicki Todd
Subject: IMPACT in Action - Small Changes for a Big IMPACT
In my face to face classes, my goal every class is to say my students name during class twice. This does not count calling roll. It's a challenge at the beginning of the semester but it connects me to students. Having those connections makes it easier for students to reach out for help because they have a relationship with me.
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Vicki Todd
Southwestern CC
Sylva NC
Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2022 20:58:51
From: Kelly Spoon
Subject: IMPACT in Action - Small Changes for a Big IMPACT
What is something small you've changed in your classroom that has had a big impact on student success?
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Kelly Spoon
Associate Professor
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego CA
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