tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31777566.post3534706151829545790..comments2023-11-03T08:14:56.099-04:00Comments on Three Sheeps To The Wind: What Option Did I have?Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05036515282312483771noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31777566.post-47002972022852890262007-09-30T11:46:00.000-04:002007-09-30T11:46:00.000-04:00I thoroughly enjoyed this post. Well written and ...I thoroughly enjoyed this post. Well written and relatable. I suspect that any good and passionate teacher of any subject has these similar frustrations. The "I cant...", the "I'll never be as good as [insert name here]...", the "I already know everything..." and the "I'm only here because I have to be not because I want to be..." are far greater in number than the "Ah ha, I get it..." and the "Teach me more..." students. Unfortunately, one has to kiss a lot of frogs to find the prince. However, according to the stories, the prince is always worth it. Just try and think of the inspiriational students you've met when dealing with the frustrating ones. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31777566.post-30258105385738839392007-09-27T00:45:00.000-04:002007-09-27T00:45:00.000-04:00Beth, you have put into words so well my feelings ...Beth, you have put into words so well my feelings about spinning yarn - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thank you.Alpaca Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05032135129663529895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31777566.post-76834352226433537282007-09-26T09:35:00.001-04:002007-09-26T09:35:00.001-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.historicstitcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17370128908373990078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31777566.post-30329548115197307092007-09-26T09:35:00.000-04:002007-09-26T09:35:00.000-04:00You know, Beth, I've been teaching for a long time...You know, Beth, I've been teaching for a long time. If I wasn't teaching other kids to make friendship bracelets out on the playground in elementary school, I was helping a classmate 'get' the classwork. And I totally 'get' what you're saying. I've said it before - you're a great teacher.<BR/><BR/>In graduate school, I taught Rocks for Jocks, aka introductory, non-major, never-going-to-take-another science-class-again environmental geology. (RfJ was the well-known nickname around campus, not the official title!) In the multiple semesters I taught that class, I found that there are so many, many different ways people learn and understand things. When I taught an upper-level lab course for majors only, the majority of the students thought in a particular way, because they'd been trained to think that way. In the non-major class I found such an enormous range of learning styles, I had to adapt my teaching to aaccomodate. I found at least five different analogies for describing geologic processes to the stumped or indifferent students, and found it to be a challenge to find the sixth, when none of my descriptions helped a particular student. Explaining the convection of the mantle, plate tectonics, plasticity of rocks, or even just the flow of groundwater could baffle some of the brightest and smartest business students!<BR/><BR/>The hardest part for me to accept when teaching that class was the fact that most of them didn't really care, and would never share my enthusiasm. Ever. I rejoiced at the one student in a semester who decided to take another geology class because they enjoyed mine. One student. Out of 100.<BR/><BR/>I did make them do the work, though, and learn the minimum required for the course. They didn't always like it, and I even had a senior get into my face and scream at me that beacuse he was a senior business major and top of his class that he should get an 'A' just for showing up.<BR/><BR/>I guess what I'm saying is that sometimes you need to convince your student that there is value in what you have to teach. Just because they came to you doesn't mean they're ready for graduate-level work. They might just be exploring a little. And they might not want to do more than dabble right now.<BR/><BR/>Rejoice in the 1 in 100 that takes to the craft with your passion and enthusiasm. Find more and different ways to address the various thinking styles of your students. And don't take it personally when someone doesn't love it or want to pursue it to a higher level. Be content with what they are willing and able to absorb, and in the knowledge that when (and if) they're ready to learn more, they'll know where you are.<BR/><BR/>The fastest way to turn someone off of something is to insist that they _have_ to do it. On the other hand, you have every right to insist on them producing a paticular product when enrolled in your class. Would I give an 'A' for simply attending? Never! He had to do the same tests, quizzes, and experiments as everyone else. What he didn't have to do was come back for another class.<BR/><BR/>You are a fabulous teacher. I've watched you, I've listened from the other room, pretending to do my own thing, or cleaning something. Not everyone will like you or your craft, though. That's life, and its idiosyncrasies. If they're ready, they'll learn an understand. And if they're not - well - it's their loss.historicstitcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17370128908373990078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31777566.post-31809677624762440952007-09-26T02:23:00.000-04:002007-09-26T02:23:00.000-04:00I'm with baabins. I'm a knitting teacher, and I g...I'm with baabins. I'm a knitting teacher, and I get so frustrated at my students that I want to stab them with their Addis. I always get a few who whine, "But I can't do it! It's to haaaaaaard!"<BR/><BR/>I've had to back off a little on my perfectionism when teaching and realize that not everybody knits like I do, nor do they want to. I knit like a machine; if every stitch doesn't look the same as the next, then it's not right. Teaching a variety of people with a wide range of skills has taught me some measure of flexibility (even if I want to tear my hair out... oh wait... I don't have any).<BR/><BR/>I think it's important to have a good basis from which to learn future skills whether it be knitting, spinning, quilting, etc. That's what I strive to teach. I insist that certain things be done a certain way, and then I tell them that once they master what I'm laying down, they're free to find what way suits them best. With spinning, I insist that people learn how to spin smooth, even yarn. If they can do that, then they can spin lumpy, uneven yarn if that's their bag. Personally, I find it an insult to the roving or top to maim it in such a fashion, but that's just my anal self talking.<BR/><BR/>As deb said, it's difficult to understand why people would want to settle for "just okay". Even though I've become a little more flexible, there are certain things that I don't allow in my sock class, for instance. They have to use a certain type of yarn. They have to use a certain type and size of needle. They have to use a certain type of cast-on. Once they've mastered these skills, the world opens up to them. I've had students go both ways- some of them just quit the class, and others go nuts and push themselves to dizzying heights of achievement. Everybody is different, and even though I might not ultimately do something the same way they do, at least they have the skills to do something any way they want.<BR/><BR/>In the end, I'm willing to compromise on some things; others, I am not. I believe that it's my job as a teacher of any of the fiber arts to show my students the nuts and bolts of how to do something, but I don't insist, for instance, that they hold a crochet hook the same way I do. I tell them that I'm teaching them the way I do things, and then they'll find the way they like as they become more skilled. But they have to start somewhere, and I'm bound and determined to show them the best way I know how.<BR/><BR/>Excuse me while I have myself a little cocktail. The mere thought of teaching that damn sock class next week does that to me.Pam the Yarn Goddesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06657141084842127887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31777566.post-21002841548147585002007-09-25T22:34:00.000-04:002007-09-25T22:34:00.000-04:00Hmm, this is probably one of the reasons I don't t...Hmm, this is probably one of the reasons I don't try to teach things very often. I tend to be a perfectionist and have a hard time understanding why some people are willing to just settle for "okay." I don't expect perfection, mind you, but at least striving for "good," because otherwise, what's the point? But sometimes I force myself to accept that if they're happy, I need to let it go . . . hard though it is! But believe me, I feel your frustration.....<BR/><BR/>(Oh, and I have that book--excellent, if perhaps a little more perfectionist-detailed than even I think is strictly necessary.)--Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00503615321799912549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31777566.post-69059114982734729972007-09-25T21:55:00.000-04:002007-09-25T21:55:00.000-04:00LOVE your blog title!!! LOLLOVE your blog title!!! LOLWindyridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18390232789014998792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31777566.post-78534789129010962652007-09-25T21:05:00.000-04:002007-09-25T21:05:00.000-04:00I've done cat hair! On to new horizons...like...We...I've done cat hair! On to new horizons...like...Wensleydale! I just finished plying it! I *totally* get why you love it now! It's so shiny it looks like it must be silk or tencel or bamboo or something, and it drafts all by itself!! I swear, I didn't have to do a thing, and I have all this pretty yarn! I'll post pictures as soon as I solve my camera issues...Kate A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04862446913952308018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31777566.post-1777660711118978462007-09-25T19:58:00.000-04:002007-09-25T19:58:00.000-04:00I read you post today and I could feel your frustr...I read you post today and I could feel your frustration. I think every teacher who is trying to teach something they are passionate about, gets frustrated sometimes with people. I've even had friends quit teaching something they are gifted at because they are frustrated that not everyone is going to have that same passion or intensity.<BR/><BR/> I learned a long time ago that there are all types of people who have their own agendas or expectations of what they want to learn. Some people just want to relax and not concentrate; some want to continually learn; some are too timid to learn and talk themselves out of it (the "I Can'ts") and some just want the easy way out...if it's work, then forget it.<BR/><BR/>Years ago, I taught quilting at a store and people always amazed me. I'd have ladies who were constantly pressuring themselves because others were sewing faster; I even had one lady want to quit in the middle of a class because she said sewing a quarter inch seam was too hard! Unbelievable! All she had to do was line it up on her machine and I showed her several times and encouraged her. She did not continue the series of classes. It was too much for her. Then there were the ladies who could afford to but chose not to use quality fabric and were constantly upset when someone's quilt looked so much better in quality fabric than theirs did from fabric on the remnants table at Walmart. Go figure! There are all kinds.<BR/><BR/>I try to take in account that we are all different and we all have our challenges. There have been times in my life when I am too overwhelmed with other things going on that I've been an "I Can't" person, or maybe it is just a time where I don't have the next step, enough information, or the whole picture. I try to keep things light in my classes; and keep an open mind because we all struggle with something and we all are on a different journey. My philosophy is that "None of us is as great as all of us" We can all learn from each other.<BR/><BR/>I always try to do my best when teaching others in hopes that they walk away with something that is valuable to them. I used to tell my handquilting students, "You'll find out that you are either going to love this or hate this. Either way, it won't hurt my feelings; it's just an observation and a new experience for yourself." "So relax, and let's try learning something together."<BR/><BR/> As for myself, I always feel that I am a "sponge" while learning. I try to soak up as much as I can at the time. It may be something that I can utilize right away or it may be something that comes in handy later. Either way, if I learn something new or a new way to look at or approach a problem, it is worth it to me.<BR/><BR/>So hang in there, Beth. Do what you love and you'll be doing a great job! There will be people who appreciate learning from your expertise.<BR/><BR/>LeeBAAbinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07221804805576255565noreply@blogger.com