Monday, August 13, 2007

This is NOT Education as Usual

What are qualities of good teachers? What are qualities of good students? What expectations do you have of this class? What expectations do you have of me as your teacher?

What does it mean to have a professional learning environment? What does it mean to be a producer of information versus a consumer of information?

Make sure to address all parts of the questions as well as comment on one another's reactions.

71 comments:

NickB said...

I think that some good qualities of teachers are the ability to incorporate new technologies into the classroom, to be able to teach kids with different learning styles, and to be enthusiastic about his/her subject. A student needs to be open-minded, hard working, as well as organized to be a good student. Some of the expectations that I have for this class is to challenge my weaknesses and to improve my strengths. I expect for you to help the class achieve those goals.
To have a professional learning environment, everybody has to know that what they're trying to learn and be able to know how to learn it. Also, students help each other, so it makes it easier to learn I think to be a producer of information, you have to thoroughly understand the information you're given and make conjectures and questions about the information.

meganu said...

I think some qualities that good teachers posses are the ability to make learning enjoyable and to be able to make their learning environment more comfortable. To me, there's nothing worse than having a teacher who lectures everyday and doesn't joke with the class. Good students must be open-minded to new experiences, be willing to join in class discussions, try their best, and be organized. I expect this class to be a new experience. I have never had a class where we use laptops and create blogs. As my teacher, I expect you to challenge me. I want to have to think things through and work hard to maintain a good grade in your class.
In a professional learning environment, everyone in the class has to learn and understand the subject. It doesn't matter if the teacher jokes around, just as long as everyone understands what they are learning. Producers of information take what they learned and put it to good use. They ask questions and comment on ideas during class. Consumers of information take in everything the teacher says but they don't share their own ideas or ask questions.

jordanh said...

I think that what anyone can expect out of a teacher is respect, a good backround, and good ability. But I think that we can expect more from Mrs. Smith because she expects more out of us. She expects us to be organized, hard working, and studious, which is what should be expected of everyone. But she also expects our BEST work and to exceed our own expectations. She also provides a "professional" learning environment which will help us easily be studious and good wrokers and producers of information compared to a consumer of information. The difference here is that a producer of info takes info and makes more info from it. A consumer just takes info for what it is. So I believe that in Honors English I can expect much from the teacher, environment, and myself.

Lukez said...

Good teachers not only present students with the information that they need to succeed on projects and tests in a class, they also provide students with the means to find out things without the direct answer from that teacher. A good student has qualities such as being able to absorb as much information as possible. They also should come prepared for class all of the time. They should be eager to learn and ready to participate in class. In this class I expect to learn more things bout writing and also about intergrating technology into the writing that I do. I hope that as a teacher you will help me as much as you possible can.
A professional learning enviornment includes a minimal amount of interuptions and a lot of working. It can include some joking but not to a point that it cause the class to slow down a lot. A consumer of information only takes the information that they learn and uses it. A producer of information takes the information that they learn as uses it to create even more information for others to learn as well

ZachH said...

Good teachers are willing to sacrafice. Good teachers will make every attempt humanly possible to help a student. They are always willing to listen and nigotiate. They make sure that what they are teaching and their methods of teaching are relevent. They incorporate projects that cater to all learning styles. They make learning fun.

At the same time, good students are respectful and reliable. Good students don't wait until they are falling behind to ask questions. They immediatly seek help when they don't understand a concept. Plus when good students do seek help, they make sure to do so in a respectful manner by arranging a time that works for them and the teacher.

As my teacher I expect you to help me when I have trouble and to be there to explain something to me. While i recognize it is my job as a student to get help when I need something, I expect you to point out errors in my work and tell me if what I am turning in is not satisfactory.

A professional learning enviroment is a safe enviroment for students to ask questions and learn concepts. It is not a room filled with distractions, but it is an area when learning is fun.

A producer of information is someone who fully delves into what they are learning. Someone who is excited to learn. It is someone who can process their learning and comprehend information.

A consumer of information is someone who listens, takes notes, and can recite trivia facts back easily, but doesn't fully understand the subject. It is someone who can give you an answer, but can't explain how they got to it.

A consumer takes in the information and memorizes it, but a producer takes in the information and understands it.

Anonymous said...

Good teachers have the ability to present the concept being taught in a understandable way, are able to communicate with students so they know exactly what is expected on an assignment, have an energy that fills the classroom and rubs off on their students, enjoy teaching and working with kids, have a desire to get to know their students, and have considerable knowledge of the subject they teach.

Good students put forth their best effort on every assignment, are respectful to their teachers, are proactive, responsible, and come to class with a smile.

I expect you to help me grow as a writer, to learn A TON in your class, to get to know me and I you, to offer help whenever I need it, to challenge me, and to have fun=)

A professional learning environment is one in which you understand what you are being taught, where you must learn and not just memorize material, you are ALWAYS encouraged to succeed, you feel comfortable, the teacher cares about the students, and help is always available.

A producer of information is someone who creates and supplies material, while a consumer just sits back and uses the material of producers instead of making their own.

Anonymous said...

I really liek what zachh said about how "a producer tkaes in information and understands in and a consumer takes in the information and memorizes it". That is totally true!

amyw said...

Good qualities of teachers include taking a new approach to a subject and making learning fun and not mundane. Students must be prepared, organized, respect the teacher, and have a desire to learn. I expect this class to challenge me in a way that I haven't been challenged before. As my teacher, I expect you to do the same thing. A professional learning environment must have students who are serious about learning and who are willing to learn and understand the subject. A producer of information understands the information and uses it, where a consumer of information just understands the information and doesn't do anything about it.

Anonymous said...

I think good teachers are the ones that teach you both in the classroom and out. They should be able to help you with your academic studies but should also help you grow and mature throughout the year as a person. I agree with Megan U. when she says she dislikes teachers who don't joke with the class.

Good students respect their teacher by getting their work done as well as paying attention in class. They also encourage their classmates and theirselves to succeed. Most of all, good students are willing to learn.In response to Nick B., although it helps to be organized, I don't think you have to be organized to be a good student. It just helps the quality of your work.

I expect this class to be challenging and insightful as we are working with technology a lot.

I think you will be a fun but challenging teacher. I also think that you will help us to grow as students and people but won't coddle us or prevent us from learning through our own experiences.

A professional learning enviroment is organized and supportive. It has to be fun but not out of control. I agree with Luke Z. that is shouldn't be frequently disrupted.

Producers of information take what they know to form new knowledge and new connections. They usually think at higher levels than other people. Consumers of information seem to "mooch" off of other's advancements without putting in much effort.

Brian c said...

Some good qualities of a teacher are to be cheerfull, helpfull to students and fellow workers, and able to inspire students to do their best. The expectaions I have of this class are to be challenged, to learn new how to apply the knowledge we learned in class to my every-day life, and to have fun! The expectaions I have of my teacher are that she should know the subject well, to teach students to apply knowledge to their lives, and to increase their own knowledge along with the class's.

To have a professional learning environment means t olearn in a mature atmosphere and to be treated as such.

To be a producer of information versus a consumer means that you make/dicover/invent new information and procedures instead of using established things.

josed said...

The qualities of good teachers are patience, trust, small amounts of lenience,kindness, and attachment to their students. As good students, the qualities we should show are: respect, responsibility, flexibility in thought, and self advocacy. Without the students having the latter qualities, we are as reliable to learn as wooden blocks. Teachers that don't have the former qualities are recording machies playing a message. I expect this class to be a near perfect class: we have a witty and kind teacher, along with some students who have proven themselves capable of excelling beyond previous expectations. As my teacher, I expect you to help to contribute to the professional learning environment, and to, as nickb said, help the class achieve goals. Nickb is correct to expect that,as are we all, because that's what any teacher should inevitably

A professional learning environment is one where students and teachers work hard, with some production. Professional learning relies on professional LEARNERS: a group of students willing to learn and to learn like mature adults, and a teacher who is able to learn about the group and can create an ideal learning environment centered around both individual and group needs. A consumer of information is like a bad teacher: a recording machine, except someone hit the record button. A producer of information can be described in the following way: They stand on the shoulders of other people to see farther than before. Producers take what's given to them and apply it: they don't just memorize. Teachers are the people who let us see farther, but we have to figure out how to use what they taught to better our vision. That is truly what it means to be a producer of information verus a consumer. I disagree with meganu's views on what a consumer is, because consumers can ask questions, but they are limited to "I don't get it" or "I don't understand."

mitchs said...

Some of the qualities of good teachers are to know a lot about their subject and be able to teach it well, to make themselves available to help outside of class, and to make the class fun. It's hard to do well in a class when it's really boring. Good students are responsible, they do all of their work and pay attention in class. They have to work pretty hard too. I expect this class to be a lot less boring than the past English classes I have taken. I like that we use computers more in class. I really didn't like writing a couple of entries in a notebook every day. I expect to learn a lot in this class. As my teacher, I expect you to be in class most of the time, to help out with any questions I have, and to make the class interesting.

To have a professional learning environment means to have an environment where you're focused on learning without many distractions. Also, the kids in the class have to help each other learn. It doesn't hurt to do something fun every once in a while though. If you are a producer of information, you are creative and come up with your own ideas, or your own way of doing things. If you are a consumer of information, you pretty much copy what someone has done and maybe change the word around a little bit.

stephenf said...

Teachers. There are the good, the bad, and the ugly.It would appear that a large topic that has been brought up as a quility is to incorperate new technologies into the classroom. Though this is a good quility that a teacher could have it would not be entirelyy fair to o students who lack the skills to utilize the technology. For instance a student may enter into a Honors class and have done extremely well with the writing and testing but lacks the ability too use the technology that is a requirement for the class. I do agree with Nick when he says a teacher should enjoy the subject being tought. Teachers should provide oppurtunities and challenges where students need to work from scratch. However the teacher should not leave the student hanging or lost and needs to provide ways of assistance that works for the student. Another quility that I look for in a teacher is that of a friendly relationship of teacher to student and student to teacher. I feel it must go both ways. If there is no bond then the student might have a harder time finding a way to interact with the teacher. Though a teacher may teach, and a student may learn, they may always learn more. I expect great things from this class and an on going challange to better ourselves and each other from the knowledge we gain and the friendships we make.

A producer and a consumer may be one in the same. We must consume but not only give back what we take but to improve, refine and make something of the knowledge we have take. Only then can we produce something better. There is a saying "Wisdom is a circle. What we recieve we must give back" and this is all the more true in schooling going into adult hood. We consume the information given to us in school and produce a usually better life after graduation. To have a good learning environment you must have an understanding of the subject but you must also be able to engage yourself in the subject and not just take the information. Work with others to understand the task given and work for a common goal in the classroom.

Louiseb said...

I think that some of the good qualities in teachers are to help kids understand things through hands on activities rather that just making them memorize facts and take notes out of books. When kids are offered the opportunity to learn that way they will most likely be more involved and get more out of the lesson. Another good quality in teachers is to teach their students about their subject so that it relates to the students life, that way the students are more inclined to learn because we know the things we are learning have a purpose.

I think that one of the best qualities for students is to respect their teacher. I agree with Maddie H. when she said that they can do this by getting their work done as well as paying attention in class. Most of all, a good student is devoted to learning, they will get the assignments done and they will have the desire to learn.

I expect that this class will be challenging but fun. I also think I will learn lots of things about technology in this class.

As our teacher I expect that you will help us learn this year by showing us how to do things but I also think that you will show us how to learn through our own experiences.

To me a professional learning environment is a place where everyone is involved in learning, there are no major distractions and even if you dont know how to do something you have to be willing to learn how.

Producers of information are the poeple who take old information and make new connections, ask questions, and add new thoughts to expand on that information and make it into something new. Consumers of information are the people who listen to the information that the producers give them and don't expand on in they just sort of absorb it.

seanb said...

1. I think qualitites of good teachers include helping struggling students and always answering questions. it is also a good qualitty to do ither things then just read. an example would be class discussions

2. I think important qualities good students should have are always being on time and always turning in their homework.

3. I have high expectations for this class realizing that we are in highschool means that we should be preparing for college and their are no easy rides if u wanna be the best that you can be.

4. My expectations for the teacher are that she should help struggling students and take time for them. I also expect that she prepare us not only for next year but for college to.

5. A proffesional learning enviroment is when everyone takes things seriously and does not fool around.

6. A producer of information is one who makes things happen or someone who has ideas and challenging ideas. Unlike a consumer of information who either follows any idea blindly or is not willing to share their ideas

August 21, 2007 3:12 PM

melissaz said...

Teachers, they somehow resemble fingerprints, they all are different with their styles and techniques. I think the really special "fingerprints" (teachers) are able to give the students responsibilities and trust them with it. They give each student the structure and ask us to fill it in with our own spin on things. They make the classroom a fun place to learn and allow our minds to just expand and they are willing to push us just enough. Good students can take the responsibilities and make something great out of them. They put their own "two cents" in and sometimes even add another. They have a want and eagerness to learn. My expectations of this class are similar to whitneys'. I want to learn as much as possible from the class but also from you and to be pushed, with some fun also thrown in the mix. A professional learning environment is where any student, no matter where they are in their journey, can reach their highest potential. A producer of info. is able to take all of their knowledge and turn it into something that everyone can use. A consumer basically is "spoon fed" that information from the producer.

Ryad said...

I think a good quality of a teacher is one that interacts with the class. I agree with meganu said about teachers who just lecture all day. I like it best when teachers talk with the class and really take the time to understand what the students want. I expect this class to stretch my writing abilities to their limits. I would rather be challenged then bored. A good student will come up with their own ideas instead of regurgitating what their teacher said. I expect my teachers to be there for me when I need help and to explain things in a way that makes sense to me.

KatherineM said...

I think all teachers should be respectful, friendly, understanding, and enthusiastic about the subject they’re teaching. Teachers should be able to make the class interesting, so that students will want to learn more.

Students should be focused, hard working, organized, and prepared. They should participate in class, and look for extra help if it is needed.

I expect to learn a lot this year and improve my writing skills. I haven't used computers in class very much before, so this should be an interesting and exciting experience!

As my teacher, I expect you to challenge me to always do my best. I also expect you to help me out when I am having trouble with something.

A professional learning environment is made up of serious students who are focused in class. It's an environment where everyone can feel comfortable and get the help they need.

A producer of information is very enthusiastic about learning. They really understand the subject they're studying and use the information they have learned to come up with more information.

A consumer is probably less enthusiastic and doesn't make use of information as well as someone who is a producer would.

MollyS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MollyS said...

I think that good teachers are the ones that don't just see the student as, well just that, a student, rather as someone who whose life they want to make better. On the other side of the spectrum, a good student is one who takes advantage of all the opportunities that having great teachers (or any type of teacher for that matter) opens them up to. It probably also helps to be organized and do your homework...


Because this class has such a new approach to English, I hope to learn more than just language stuff, and i hope it will be a good time! As for you as a teacher, if you can make me actually WANT to go home and do my homework, whether because it's fun, or because I respect you too much not to do it, then you will have surpassed all expectations I could have for you.


For me, a professional learning environment is one in which everyone respects the opinions of each other, does everything in their power to make sure they are doing their best, and if possible, helps others do it on the way.


A producer of information is the one, out there, doing all the work, and striving to find the answer to a question, while the consumer sits at home eating Twinkies waiting for them to get back, so they can eat up the new information as well.

In other words, producers do all the work to get to the end, while the consumer just rides on their back, lazily arriving at the same conclusion, without doing any work.

DawnielleN said...

When I think of a good teacher I think of someone that will help a student learn no matter what it takes, someone that will bring new prospective on things, and someone who is more interested in helping kids learn than just getting their grading done. One of the main expectations that I have for this class is that I will be able to dissect and analyze things that maybe meant nothing to me before. I want to be able to apply what I learn in this class to my own writing.

The two expectations I have for you are that if I do my best you will do your best and that you will not make this class all about the technical aspects of English but also include the more “enjoyable” parts.

A professional learning environment means not being treated like children but at the same time having rules and help when it is needed.

A producer of information finds things on their own and doesn’t rely on others 24/7. A consumer uses what they already know or have been told by someone else to produce information. I think that most of the other students that responded would agree that the producer works harder.

amandah said...

A good teacher will have qualities such as, being able to help students enjoy learning, help them understand the subject, and provide a comfortable learning environment.
In return good students listen and study hard, but they also turn in their work on time, respect the teacher, and come prepared for class.
My expectations for english 9 honors are to learn something new and have a good experience.
As my teacher I expect you to make class fun and enjoyable. I also want you to challenge the class.
To have a professional learning environment is a place where everyone can learn and uderstand the subject. A professional learning environment is also a place where questions can be asked and there's nothing there to distract you.
To be a producer of information means that you understand the information very well and you are able to produce more information from what you've already learned. A consumer, on the other hand, consumes the information but does not necessarily understands it or could provide you with any extra information.

Jackie N said...

Some good qualities a teacher should have is they should have a great process of teaching so kids would not just sit there and listen the whole entire time and get no information processed to the brain, they need to be understanding and very open to anything. They need to have a good strategy to teach, as well as a passion for teaching.
Good qualities of students should contain a desire to learn, to be a good listener, very hard working, and especially to not be afraid of failure once in awhile.
My expectations from this class are to learn a great amount of new things, and to improve my writing.
As my teacher I expect you to help us all through learning, writing, and challenge us, but at the same time help us through weaknesses. And to have a good teaching quality and responsiblity.
A professional environment means to be surrounded by students that will help you throughout the year with a teacher that has that professional degree of teaching. And for all of us to learn through this year together. And we must understand the things taught to us in class, or there is certainly no point at all.
A producer of information defines a student who understand the material well, and processes it to he brain. Its something a student can grab, and not let it slip away. They should get a hold of the information and apply it to the class and learning.

hannahl said...

I believe that good teachers must be really passionate about the subject they teach. They must also be able to take everything above and beyond the usual and make kids strive for more. I agree also with Brian C. that they have to inspire their students. Good students are passionate about learning and understand that teachers are people too. They make mistakes, and they have gone through the same things. I want to get a deeper knowledge of literature and and even bigger vocabulary from this class. I would also like to stretch and grow as a writer. As for you, Ms. Smith, I expect from you a passion for whatever we are studying. I also expect you to understand the personal needs of everyone in the class and make it individualized for them. A professional learning environment I believe means somewhere where students have chosen to take their learning to the next level. They know what they are getting into and are therefore more invested in the outcome. This means that they can create things on their own, and be producers. Consumers are those students who do exactly what is asked of them simply for the grade with no meaning behind their actions. I agree with Molly S. that a consumer watches, and a producer does. A producer makes it happen.

maddief said...

I think that one of the qualities of good teachers is the ability to rope in students' wandering minds. A lot of times it is difficult for kids to concentrate on something intense for very long, and a fun class experience is a way to keep their attention. Also, I agree with nickb, I think that good teachers have the ability to adapt to different styles of teaching, depending on how the class learns as a whole, or based on individual students. A good student needs to be dedicated and willing to learn with a positive attitude, otherwise, they'll simply shut down in class. I want for this class to push my thinking and analyzing to another level, and to help me to further increase my writing skills. What I expect of you Ms. Smith, is to encourage students in the class to do their best, and be there to help them do so.

To have a professional learning center, students and teachers have to be willing to work alongside each other, and both parties need to be open to learning; the students getting an education from the teacher, and the teacher learning how to best involve a class and teach them. A consumer of information takes in or learns something, and a producer is the second stage of a consumer, changing their thinking and analyzing it, and then sharing it with others.

Unknown said...

Good teachers have a lot of good qualities. Some good ones that I like in teachers are bringing the classroom to life, not giving students busy work, and just having fun with their work. A good teacher also has a good relationship with their class.

Students also have to have a good relationship with teachers. A great work ethic (not to mention organization) helps as well. A student has to be able to interpret things in their own way and understand things in their own way. This is what makes a good student.

I have a few expectations of this class. I expect to be given an amazing foundation for my future years in high school and college. I expect to be challenged. I also expect that this class will be a lot of work, but will be worth it in the end.

For you as a teacher, I hope to look forward to your class. I like teachers who make learning fun and energetic. I certainly expect you to be there when I need extra help or just be there as a friend. I also hope to get to know you well.

To be in a proffessional learning environment means that the students take their work seriously. It can be fun, but students won't just blow it off. Students in this sort of environment want to learn and get better as much as they can. I really like this in a classroom.

A producer of information does all he can to sell his product. Consumers just take in the information and debate if they want to get it or not. To me, this is kind of an analogy to leaders and followers. A leader takes charge and leads the crowd while followers just follow in the footsteps and 'buy the product.' There is a major difference there, and that is my interpretation of it.=D

Tylerg! said...

I think one of the greates qualities of a teacher is the ability to connect with all the students. If a teacher can do that then the students will get the most out of the class. I thinkan important quality of a student is to always want to learn more and pay attention in class. My expectation is that I come out of the class feeling smarter and feeling like what my teacher taught me will make a difference. I expect my teacher to be willing to push me as far as I can go but not let us be overwhelmed at the same time. A profeesional learning enviroment to me is one where students can learn their best and not be easily distracted. A producer of information takes what on person has said and builds off of it. Versus a consumer only listens to what others are saying and just thinks it over with no comments.

stefo said...

There are so many types of teachers but there are some fundamentals that every teacher should have. A teacher should be able to relate to the student. The teacher should also keep the standards high because if you expect a lot people must rise to the challenge to succeed.

The qualities of a good student are pretty simple to me. Come prepared to class ready to participate and put forth your best effort. I really believe in the saying ‘what you put into the class is what you get out of it’.

I have very high expectations for this class. I expect this class to be challenging but also very fun. I agree with what a lot of the class said. Integrating technology into the class will be exciting and a great learning experience. Mrs. Smith put a new spin on Language Arts that I have never encountered before and I look forward to the class.

My expectations of you as a teacher are good. You seem to relate well to students and you have the ability to keep the classroom light and friendly. I have the feeling that your class will be challenging but with you I will be able to pull it off.

A professional learning environment means respect between the participants. There aren’t any distractions and people are able to work to their full potential

A consumer of information takes the information but does nothing with it. A producer takes the info and takes it to the next level whether that means teaching it to others or putting it into real life situations.

catem said...

In my opinion a good teacher should be able to help students with all different learning styles, make learning boring units more exciting, and help his/her students' knowledge grow at different rates. For even a good teacher to achieve those things the student has to do his/her part. By keeping up with homework, paying attention in class, staying organized, and asking for help when they need it; an average student can become a great one. For me personaly I hope to do a lot of writing and not a lot of busy work. I expect this class to challenge me but not push me over the edge.
As for a professional learning enviroment, I think it means that you have to work in order to earn more knowledge, similar to a business office. In an office you have to show up to work everyday (unless your sick), work all day, and then when you get home you have to prepare (sometimes with more work) for the next day. In this office enviroment, a producer would the kind of worker who prepares thouroughly, understands their duties, preforms their duties as well as possible, and eventually becomes promoted. The consumer will prepare enough, do their duty well, and then stay in the same job for the rest of their life. At school the producer gets promoted in knowleddge and the consumer never learns completely.

catem said...

I really liked when mollys described the difference between producers and consumers by saying, "In other words, producers do all the work to get to the end, while the consumer just rides on their back, lazily arriving at the same conclusion, without doing any work." I think that was a very clever way to describe it.

ryanm said...

I think some good qualities of a teacher are to be engaging in the classroom, to have expirence with their subject, and to help their students understand the curriculum and suceed. I think a good student wants to learn, respects theirself, the teacher, the classroom, the school, and the curriculum. My expectations of this class is to challenge all the students. My expectations of you as the teacher to help us suceed in this class. A professional learning environment involves teacher and students working together to achive the class goal and teacher haelping induviual students acheive their personal goal. A producer of information takes what they have learned and puts it out into a product showing they know and understand the material.

Unknown said...

I think that some of the qualities of good teachers are when they respect their kids and always try to help them when they have difficulty, when they are themselves in a classroom, when they love what they are doing, and when they are organized and know what they are doing. I also agree with jhall when he says that they should have a good backround because that often influences the way they may act.
A good student has to always try their best, be able to coperate with other students, pays attention, follows instructions, and is responsible.
My expectations of this class are that we will always be worked hard but at the same time be able to have fun, and that we will be able to have a good learning enviornment.
Mrs. Smith, I expect you to always be there to help me out and I want you to teach me and the rest of the class to your full abilities.

A professional learning enviornment means that everyone is willing to work hard and achieve their goals. It also means that everyone respects the other people in the classroom and will not be a distraction from what we are learning.
A producer of information always uses what they have learned to push them further and to use it in the world around them. It also means that you are providing answers and not just recieving them from someone else. A consumer of information only takes in what other people help them with and does not use what they have learned in the world around them.

ParkerH said...

Qualities in teachers that I like include a good sense of humor, some leniency, helping us learn, and knowing your subject well. Good students do their homework, are on time, don't talk too much, and do their best to learn. I expect this class to have a good learning environment, be easy to voice opinions in and challenge students to do their best. I expect you as a teacher to provide these things in the classroom.
A professional learning environment to me is an environment where one can learn and excel in a place that is reasonably quiet when work is being done, but very engaging in discussions and debates. A producer makes things, and a consumer takes things. There's not much else there.

mattf said...

The qualities of good teachers in the minds of the students are different. I value a teacher that is organized and loves to teach his/her subject. The teacher probably should have some background knowledge about the curriculum that they are teaching. They should be able to take the students above and beyond the curriculum, and make sure they are being challenged. The teacher also needs to be enthusiastic.

The qualities of good students are organization, good listening skills, a desire to learn, and the willingness to learn the material being taught. Without the desire to learn, the information the student is getting is valueless.

As a teacher, I expect you to challenge the class, and push them to their potential so they will benefit from the class. The teacher also needs to help students work on their weaknesses and make they stronger.

Having a professional learning environment means that the class has the desire to learn. People also want to get better at the subject at hand. In a professional learning environment, students also help other students learn.

A producer of information takes in the information that the teacher gives him/her and expands on it. They use their skills and go above and beyond, thoroughly understanding the information and elaborating on it. A consumer tells the teacher exactly what the teacher told him/her.

Maddief accurately described the difference between a producer and consumer when she said "a consumer of information takes in or learns something, and a producer is the second stage of a consumer, changing their thinking and analyzing it, and then sharing it with others".

nicolek said...
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nicolek said...

I think that qualities of a good teacher are that they are understanding, reasonable, and able to teach kids so that they will understand it. Its important for teachers to be understanding with their students because some learn at a slower pace and as long as they are trying their hardest i think the teacher should be able to understand that not everyone can learn fast or that certain way. They should be reasonable with homework assignments so that that dont overwhelm their students. Teachers should also know how to teach other ways of learning styles so that everyone can understand it and not just certain people. Qualites of good students are that they pay attention and listen to the teacher. Its also very important that they do all the work assigned and always try their hardest. My expectations of this class is that i will learn a lot this year and grow as a writer and reader. I hope to learn new styles of writing and new ways to use technology. My expectations of you as a teacher are that you help me along the way and that you teach us a lot of new things. Also that you help make this a really fun year while still learning a lot.

I think that a professional learning enviornment means that all the students are treated as equals and not as little kids but only as long as they deserve to be treated that way. I think that the teacher and students should have good relationships and respect each other. Being a producer of information verses being a consumer of information is different to me because producers use the things they've learned to help discover new things and build on their learning but consumers just settle for what they get taught in class and never try to learn for themselves. Like Megan said, they ask questions and try to build on it.

nicolek said...

I think that qualities of a good teacher are that they are understanding, reasonable, and able to teach kids so that they will understand it. Its important for teachers to be understanding with their students because some learn at a slower pace and as long as they are trying their hardest i think the teacher should be able to understand that not everyone can learn fast or that certain way. They should be reasonable with homework assignments so that that dont overwhelm their students. Teachers should also know how to teach other ways of learning styles so that everyone can understand it and not just certain people. Qualites of good students are that they pay attention and listen to the teacher. Its also very important that they do all the work assigned and always try their hardest. My expectations of this class is that i will learn a lot this year and grow as a writer and reader. I hope to learn new styles of writing and new ways to use technology. My expectations of you as a teacher are that you help me along the way and that you teach us a lot of new things. Also that you help make this a really fun year while still learning a lot.

I think that a professional learning enviornment means that all the students are treated as equals and not as little kids but only as long as they deserve to be treated that way. I think that the teacher and students should have good relationships and respect each other. Being a producer of information verses being a consumer of information is different to me because producers use the things they've learned to help discover new things and build on their learning but consumers just settle for what they get taught in class and never try to learn for themselves. Like Megan said, they ask questions and try to build on it.

MollyS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
SerenaL said...

I think good qualities of a teacher are when they give enthusiasm and show liking to their subject. A good teacher gives time to each student to make sure every one understands. A good student knows when to ask questions, when to express their opinion, and when to be quite and listen. I expect to learn new things and improve my understanding of the things I already know. I expect you to help me achieve that.

A professional learning environment is where everyone is mature. Students go to school to learn, not to goof off. A producer of information asks questions and is challenged to figure out the answer while a consumer of information hears the answer directly.

Laurenc said...

As Megan said, making the learning experience is a very important thing for teachers to be capable of doing. If the kids in the class are having fun then they will be more eager to learn. I think a teacher must also be patient and understanding with his/her students and realize that everyone learns differently and some people may need more time to learn or appreciate things then others. It is also important for a teacher to know without a doubt what they a teaching. They should know the subject in and out so as to be able to provide a better learning experience for everyone.

A good student should be willing and eager to learn as Luke said. If a student isn't willing to at least try and enjoy the subject then they won't perform as well in the class. Good students won't be daunted by the work load and will instead learn to better manage their time. Students should never be afraid of their teacher and understand that there is nothing wrong with asking questions.

As a student I expect my teachers to be easily approachable as well as kind. I think a sense of humor is also a wonderful thing for teachers to have though its not exactly an expectation.

A professional learning environment is an environment in which everyone is mature and happy to work with people they aren't necessary familiar with. A professional learning environment is also one that makes full use of the available technology and other resources.

Producers of information will take what they have learned and apply it to the world in a way which will cause them to learn more. Producers also create and independently learn after giving a little push in the right direction. A consumer is someone who just takes what someone tells them and only learns the bare minimum of information necessary to "pass the class".

macm said...

Teachers, from a students perspective: I think it helps for educators to be able to communicate the same information in many ways, because each kid learns differently. Also, the "funny" teacher is not always the best teacher. They should be focusing on instructing each child, not cracking some lame joke (although crafitily constructed witticisms are ok). I also feel that teachers should strive to make class interesting and enjoyable, beacuse if it doesn't grab your attention, about half the class is going to zone out in cluding myself. In addition I agree with hannahl because if the teacher is not passionate and doesn't care about the material, then nobody else will care either.

In this class I expect to explore different writing styles and different forms of media as well. I am ecstatic about the laptops in class and I think that writing in a blog is really different and fresh. I don't know about you, but I am tired of the five-paragraph essay.

As my teacher, I expect you to challenge me and excite me. I do not want a review of last year and I really don't want to have defined limits as to what I write about, because there's stuff out there that people will deny. That's what I want to write about.

It's great that we have the opportunity to use the laptops and blog pages because these tools are used regularly in the business world. I think that this class will help a lot of us to become more computer-savvy and prepare us for the working world. We can also act professionally in the classroom to be able to achieve more.

Last, when you choose to be a consumer, you take the easy way out. Al you have to do is take in information and spit it back out, and frankly, your cell phone can do that. As an honors class, we should choose the hard road, because it's more challenging, and therefore way more fun. We are innovators, and making something great out of a pile of junk is what we, the producers, do.

mitchl. said...

Good teachers should be people who like to have fun with the students in their classes, to be able to teach the students the topics in a funway and offer help outside of class.
Good students should listen to the teachers' lectures, take good notes, and they should not be afraid to participate in class I also agree with nickb who said that students should be organized as well.
I expect to improve my reading as well as my writing, also improve my vocabulary. I expect you to help me improve all my expectations.
I think it means that everyone is in a comfortable place and knows what the teacher is talking about.
A producer is someone who produces, or creates something of their own. A consumer is somebody who just copies or regurgitates somethig that is not theirs.

markg said...

A good teacher is one that can relate to their students on not only a teaching level, but also a personal level. They should be able to keep their class up-beat and not a hour of dreaded "learning".

Students should be open to different ideas and learning styles. They need to be non-sassy and able to pay attention. Also, i belive students should be able to think so far outside the box that their ideas are fresh and inovative.

My expectations have already been met with the laptop integraded class. My expectations of you are high and i think that you will not only meet them but surpass them.

A professional learning enviorment means that everyone is in a mature nature and everyone agrees that being in school is not a punishment but rather a privledge.

A producer of information is an individual that states new theorys, ideas , and/or things that no one has thought about before. A consumer is simply one that takes information that has already been learned a thousand times and learns it again.

maddisonm said...

In my opinion, the qualities of a good teacher are not whether or not they come from a good background but more or less what they can provide and share with the student. The teacher should be understanding and respectful. They should be able to help a student when they are in a blur and devote their time to listening and giving advice. Also, I agree with many that a teacher should be able to teach in more than one way, allowing for every type of learner to succeed. And of course, it helps if a teacher is funny and make you laugh. I think people learn better when they are smiling and happy. On the other hand, the qualities of a good student to me, is the persistance, and compassion to work hard and give their personal best. They should exceed what is expected and listen in class. What I expect of this class is for it to better prepare me for class that I will take in the future. Also I would like to improve my reading skills. I expect you, Ms. Smith, not only to make me smile and laugh, but to help me become a better reader and writer and prepare me for the future.
To have a professional learning environment means to surround yourself with people and material that help you succeed in learning. I aggree with Cate that is is in some way similar to a business office.
To be a producer, rather than a consumer of information means that you take in the information, evaluate it, make connections, then apply it to your life. A consumer, takes in information but does not take it to furthur understanding. I highly aggree with zach h- A consumer takes in the information and memorizes it, but a producer takes in the information and understands it.

berekm said...

Qualities I expext from a good teacher are being a enjoyable person and having and enjoyable style of teachering. Being energetic around students tells them that you want to teacher them and make them improve and achieve the highest possible grade for your class. It also rubs off on them and makes them want to work. Having respesct for the students makes them give you respect back, if you dont give it you wont get it. My expectation for this class if being pussed to my limit and i wont the be challenged. Im hoping that there ar visual opportunitiesfor the class to learn as well as verbal. I expect to have fun while learning becuase thats not what it was in New York for me and i was hoping that would change. also in New York we didnt have acess to lap tops like we do here and im very exited to start to learn and use those.
As for you i can already see that you are a nice person and willing to teach us. My expectations are that you will treat us like young adults if we act like them and give us a chance to prove to ourselvses that we can do anything we set our mind to, this means sometimes not answering some of the questions that are very easy to work out ourselves. Also thats why you gave us parteners, so we can work and learn together. I hope more than expect to learn while having fun because agian in Mew York that doesnt happen much.

Being in a professional learning evironment means that where we are working should strictly be learning and not talking about things that dont have to do with the subject. As ZachH said it should be an evironment where there is no distractions. I agree with that. Like what WhitneyS said you should always be encouaged to suceed and feel comfortible learning in the classroom.

A producer of Info. is a person who knows the answers and knows the info and tells everyone. A consumer is a person who might know everything but doesnt share it and just listens to the producer say everything and listen to them.

jordanh said...

I like what ryanm said in that a teacher should have experience. i left that out in my first answer, but I think that is an important point.

Javonm said...

What makes a good teacher for me is someone who interacts with the students and really gets involved in our learning experience. I think something that makes a good teacher is a teacher that doesn't just teach us but learns with the students and is with us every step of the journey. Another quality that makes a good teacher is when he/she applies different tools to learn and helps to change the way we think by making us learn in different ways. To be a good student you must be open to all the ideas/styles the teacher uses to get the most out of your learning. We must also want to learn, if we don't want to learn none of any of this even matters. If you are just doing an assignment the way you think the teacher will most likely give you an A you aren't learning anything because it means nothing to you. So want to learn for you and not just for your grade.
To have a professional learning environment you must apply all of the above ideas and you must have a "good" teacher and students who want to be "good" students. I think a producer of information is someone who takes what we learn and class and doesn't just store it in there mind, but begins to apply it to things that happen in everyday life and us it to benefit themselves.

Anonymous said...

I think the qualities of a good teacher should reflect on the students. Aside from just the educating, respect and trust in a student-teacher relationship to me is very important. I think this is acheived by the teacher behaving the way he/she'd want to be treated by the student. I know that's the exat same thing we've been taught since kindergarten, but I believe its true that teachers and students should have a mutual respect.
Students should have the same quality.

As a student I'd really hope for you, as a teacher, really wants us to learn not just English, b ut life lessons from personal expirience or text and that it really sinks in deep, because that's the stuff you'll remember 23 years from now.

I don't really what it means to have a professional learning environment. Maybe like an environment with more resources to make the process of learning and educating more efficient.

Producers of education learn more to share it with the consumers, which absorb the information but don't pass it on.

phoebef said...

Successful teachers are organized, knowledgeable, and open-minded. It has happened more than once when a teacher losses a students homework, or assignment, and the student is punished. When the teacher is organized, the whole class runs much more smoothly. A teacher also needs to enjoy, and have knowledge of the subject they are teaching. If the teacher doesn't know, or doesn't enjoy the materials, how can they expect the students to be? Being open-minded is perhaps the most important quality in a teacher. Like many things, when a leader is open-minded, the followers tend to follow suit. Open-minded people see the most opportunities, and can understand subjects from many view points. A student needs to have the listed qualities as well as some others. They need to listen to, comprehend, and follow directions easily.

In this class I hope to improve, and refine my strengths, but mostly to improve on my weaknesses. I expect for myself, the teacher, and the other students to embrace the opportunities that technology provides. I think blogs are great for English classes. i my class last year used one, and it made or discussions more in depth because we were more willing to say what was really on our minds, when we didn't experience others reactions to it. As a teacher, I feel that you should facilitate, but let us learn on our own and from each other as well.

In a professional learning environment the students learn more from each other and out side information than the teacher, her/himself. Once school is over we won’t have teacher there to tell us what to do and how to do it. We will take chances, and learn from others. we will make mistakes, and we will learn from them. This is the reality of the adult world. In this environment, people help each other, and combine their ideas to create something great. We then become producers of information. When we combine little sections of knowledge we are able to paint a big picture. if we choose to be consumers of information we receive the big picture. But if we receive the big picture what did we learn? In painting a picture we are able to identify every stroke and color, the information that makes up the information.

clarao said...

Good teachers use many different methods of teaching because everyone has different learning styles and it really balances out the advantage if everyone can benefit from the class. Also, if a teacher is really into their subject it usually rubs off a little on to their students.

Good students will try their best and work just as hard at one of their weaknesses as they would at something that is a strength. Even if the class is not their favorite subject they try to enjoy it because having fun in class helps many students want to keep learning.

I expect this class to be a lot of fun but also to be challenging. I would also like to enjoy the subject. I expect the class to be different from all my other classes. I prefer typing to writing on paper so I think I will prefer this class to the kind of classes I had the past few years.

I just hope you will get everyone excited and help me learn to learn and think for myself- not just to answer questions, but to come up with my own.

I think a professional learning environment should be a place where everyone is taking things seriously. It helps us prepare for the future, and is place where everyone is learning for themselves.

A producer not only learns, but also learns for themselves and creates questions and answers of their own. A consumer learns the information, but doesn't know what to do with their knowledge outside of school.

ashleyf said...

I agree with what jhall said, "What anyone can expect out of a teacher is respect." If our teachers don't respect thier students, there's no way that students can respect thier teachers, and they may feel class is a waste of time. But the only way respect can come into play is if the students really do want to be in class and look forward to learing something new or in a different way.
In this class i expect to broaden my outlook. I've never liked reading but when they are actaul books with actual substance, i can't put them down. And the books that were listed seemed like those kinds of books. The expectations i have for you as a teacher is that you'll want to hear what the students have ot say and elaborate from it, which i hope other classmates will do also.
A professional learning environment means that maturity and eagerness has to come from each side. The students have to desire to recieve teaching from a teacher who wants them the grasp new concepts.
When you consume knowledge, thats all you do, just take what someone else says and don't think aobut what they were really trying to explain. To produce knowledge is to, like what Maddie said, to make connections to your learnings. To piece together old and new information to get a new understanding of it.

Liap said...

The qualities of a good teacher are that they are passionate about the subject they teach, and they let the students do more activities rather than just listening to lectures. The qualities of a good student are that they are dedicated to their education and care about their quality of work. I expect that this class will help me develop my skills as a writer. I also think it will help me to be more open minded about new ideas. I expect that you as a teacher will try and get us to work more on presenting our own ideas rather than just listening to what you say. I also think that you will push us harder than some other teachers. A proffesional learning enviornment is an enviornment where everybody is there to learn or teach, and there is a goal for progress. I think that a producer of information is someone who thinks up their own ideas as well as accepting information from other sources with an open mind. A consumer just automatically accepts whatever information they are given.

Alyssa S. said...

A quality a good teacher must possess is the ability to realize and understand what their students are going through. When kids are involved in several activities like sports and clubs, schoolwork just adds the the amount of stress the student is under already, so I think it is important for teachers to understand that and be willing to work with the students when situations like this occur. Another quality a good teacher must have is to be confident enough to joke around with the students. If a teacher is trying to hard, it will become apparent to the students very quickly and I don't think the kids will have the same respect for a teacher like that, as opposed to a teacher who is open and "real."
One good quality in a student is a good attitude when it comes to schoolwork. I think that a good student would look at work like it is going to help them reach their goals and become successful, instead of just doing it because they have to. I also believe that a good student should be willing to work with their teachers when their teachers are able to work with and help them.
My expectations for this English class are to help me prepare for the challenges i will face in 10th grade honors English and also to help me become more familiar with the technology that goes along with "this is not education as usual."
I expect for you to introduce me to and help me learn with the technologies I will use in the future. Additionally, I expect for you to help me improve my reading/writing skills as well as my skills in interpreting different types of literature.

alexf said...

In my opinion, a good teacher should have many different qualities. They should be able to teach diverse students and adjust to their learning styles. I also think that they should be capable of not only teaching, but learning about their students’ personal lives in order to ensure understanding. A sense of humor and compassion doesn’t hurt either :).

A good student, on the other hand, must be willing to learn and complete everything that is assigned. Without this, how can they open their minds to new experiences and/or teachings? I finally think that a good student needs to see the fun and joy in learning. Why hate your education when you will be learning new things every day of your life?

I have multiple expectations of this class. I am hoping that I will be challenged to a newer, greater, and unexpected level. I would like to strengthen my weaknesses and improve more upon my strengths.

Expectations that I have of Ms. Smith is that she challenges me, encourages me, and helps me through the difficult stages. I am also hoping that we can have fun in her class and be comfortable.

A professional learning environment is where the producers are comfortable with the people around them and are not easily distracted. I also do think that it should not include tension or pressure.

A producer of information hears and learns the required information and creates their own unique way of sharing it to the audience. They take the concept of the idea and go further in a separate path from the “crowd.” A consumer, on the other hand, hears the information and stores it in his/her head, but does not share it in his/her own way. (S)he simply repeats exactly what was heard.

Selenam said...

Good teachers make sure their students understand the topic and make it fun at the same time so the students aren't bored. Good students pay attention, participate and make sure they learn. I expect you to challenge me so I can put things together in new ways.
In a professional learning environment it is really easy to learn new things, with a good balance of fun and work. A producer of information takes the information they have and expound on it by asking questions and discussing it. A consumer of information takes the information and holds it so it isn't put to use and is eventually lost.

beckyg said...

I think some good qualities of a teacher are: 1. That the teacher is able to cater to the kids' needs. 2. The teacher should be able to teach so that all the children understand despite their diverse learning styles. 3. The teacher should push the children to be the very best that they can be, but not overload them. 4. A good teacher should also make the work enviroment comfortable, and the learning fun as meganu said in her response.
I think good students work very hard to achieve everything they are able to. They should be organized and use their time wisely. A good student will also participate in classes.
I think this class will be a new experience because of being able to use laptops, but also because it is a high school coarse. I think it will be a fun but challenging class.
I would hope that you as a teacher will help me to become a better writer, and that you will challenge me.

I think a proffesional learning enviroment is one in which it is easy to learn, and that there is a comfortable feel.
A produser of information is one who thinks "out of the box". They create their own ideas and puts them to use.
A consumer of information takes other people's ideas. They don't speak up as much, and they probably aren't as good of students as the produsers.

morganw said...

I think the qualities of a good teacher are the ability to teach. I know, that sounds redundant, but to actually teach someone you have to be able to present the information in and exciting and stimulating manner. It takes alot of effort in teachers to become good teachers and be able to help their students learn and want to learn what they need to know. A good teacher makes them hungry for more after class and makes their students go out and try to learn more.


A good student will always do their best for their teacher. They will pay attention in class, try to learn, and above all, do their assignments. A good student also needs to be interested in learning and want to learn. This makes everything else easier. They should want to be learning for themselves, and not for their teacher or parent.

I am excited to be in an honors english class because I want to learn more about literature and writing. I am expecting this class to be a challenge, but a fun and enjoyable challenge. I want to come out of it having learned more than I though I ever could and feel prepared for the rest of high school and college.

As my teacher, I expect you to help me achieve thosegoals and guide me through the challenges.

To have a professional learning environment everyone (students and teachers) need to know what they're trying to accomplish, want to accomplish it, and be willing to work together in order to accomplish it.

To be a producer of information means to go out and search for knowledge, to be a consumer means to just take it as it is given to you and not really care either way.

kristinah said...

I believe that the qualities of a good teacher are that they make learning interesting, entertaining, and fun for all students no matter what type of learners they are. The teacher does not have to make learning easy though because thinking and getting involved in what is being taught is a whole lot more fun than sitting at your desk filling out a "easy" assignment. Another good quality of a teacher is approchable because if students do not feel comfortable enough to go up to the teacher and talk to them about a problem that they maybe having in class then nothing will ever get solved and students will not be able to succeed to their full potential. I also agree with jhall's comment on the fact that we can expect more out of ms.smith because she expects more out of us. I do believe that it is a great quality of a teacher to expect the best out of his or her students and push them to their full potentials because it is alot easier to go to your full potential when someone is behind you encouraging you and pushing you the whole way.

There are many different types of students, but I think that these qualities are best to be posessed in all students. A couple are hardworking, optimistic, and open to new ideas. Another is organized because if you can't find your homework than how are you going to do it? One other quality of a good student is determined because if you are a student that lets one little bad grade on a homework assignment stop you than how are you ever going to succeed. You usually have to fail and learn from your mistakes before you can succeed.

Some expectations that I have of this class are to challenge me in a way that I have never been challenged, such as being challenged to think in different ways, add to more in depth class discussions,and perform in different ways than I am used to like using blogger!! I expect Ms. Smith to try her hardest to challenge all of us in new ways and to push everone in this class to their full potential. I also expect her to be there for the class when anyone is stuggling in class.

I think that in order to have a proffesional learning environment the classroom should be equiped with the supplies needed for that subject, for the students that are to be studying in that room. Also, the people in that room should be their to help each other achieve their goals. I disagree with what lukez said about a professional learning environment including a lot of working, because I think that the learning does not have to always be solid work. I think that it can be learning in activities or many different things. But, that might be what he ment by work.? I believe that a producer of information, knows certain facts or figures and makes or gives out those facts or figures in their own way. I believe that a consumer of information only takes in information and doesn't think about it in different ways in order to produce it. Consumers of information take the information in and just let it sit.

LeslieL said...

In my opinion, qualities of good teachers would be the balance between being laid back and being strict. A good teacher will have rules and expectations and apply them but also allow the students or "professional learners" to have freedom and a bit of fun. I also believe that a teacher who can be friends with students will be more successful in helping them learn.
Qualities of good students involve organization, self-control, and the will to learn. I feel that if a student has this behavior they will be able to listen and learn better.
My personal expectation of you as a teacher is mainly just to be understanding of the way students learn and work and understands that that particular student may or may not be easy or hard (to teach) or special in any way, which I'm sure you probably already do.

A professional learning environment means having more responsibility and more mature ways of learning. Also, that the difficulty of the class may be higher than others.
A producer of information and a consumer of information mean a couple of different things. First, that a producer goes out and looks for something new and then shares it with other people while consumers let other people do the exploring and wait to be taught, much like Mr. Trotter's example of "People who make things happen, people who watch things happen, and people who wonder what just happened". The producers would be the "people who make things happen" and the consumers would be "the people who watch things happen".
Also, producers are people who think outside the box and consumers are people who only think outside the box when the idea is given to them. Producers would be people like Albert Einstein or Thomas Edison. Consumers would be the people who manage for those companies that do "knock-offs" of other people's ideas. For example, Air walks are "knock-offs" or Converse. Gators (I believe they are called) are "knock-offs" of Crocs. That is what I think producers and consumers mean. =]

nilec said...

I think good teachers have many good qualities that include interacting with students, having fun personalities, and unique learning procedures.First, a good teacher should strive to make his/her students feel comfortable talking to them about anything.A good teacher's students aren't intimidated or afraid to have discussion with them.next, a teacher with a fun personality is easy to get along with and makes learning enjoyable. last, a teachers unique teaching procedure would give students something to look forward to everyday going into class. and it's not repetitive to previous years.

In this class i expect to be challenged and and have fun. being a honors class i know it wont be easy but im looking forward to using the laptops and getting to no my classmates.

as a teacher i expect you to be understanding and fair. i dont expect you to let anything slide. i think yo should always hear your students out and see where there coming from. and i expect you to expect highly of us.

nilec said...

i think a professional learning environment is easy to acheive if everyone in the class understands what it means. it means people can help each other come to solutions without giving answers. it also means that every is able to work together and understand what it is they are trying to learn. another thing is that everyone should be possitive about learning and not bring other down.

to be a producer of information is to use what you already know to get a further understaing of info. and helping others understand as well. a consumer of information is a person who doesn't try to really understand the info. and isn't interested in using what they learned. in other words learning it because they have to.

aaronw said...

I believe that in oprder to be a good teacher you would have to be friendly to students when they need help, learn to adapt to the new technologies and such of the day, and they also need to love their subject, like have a passion for it so that the kids would want to learn it. Teachers should also be able to notice how diffrent kids work and teach in all those manners. Students, need to understand why a teacher has the passion for the subject. And they need to accept "defeat" and ask for help when they need to. They need to participate in class and not be afraid to ask anything. They need to be prepared in anyway they are asked to be.
I expect this class to be a harder more challenging class than any other L.A class I've taken before. I also expect you to be the attributes that I've listed above to me and all the class.
I think that a professional learning enviornment is aplace where you can come and expect to learn and for everyone in it to larn as well. A Producer of information would be an individual who adds to a conversation, debate or discussion. A Consumer would be an individual who only listens to points of view and doesn't contribute. A professional learning enviornment cn be expected to be made up of mostly produers of information, not consumers because of the fact that producers will say what they have thought about thouroughly.

alexd said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
alexd said...

I think a good teacher is always someone that can relate to the students and someone that is fair, compassionate, understanding, and passionate about teaching. I think that good teachers push their students to do better. I also agree with what stephen f said about teachers.

I think good students possess some of the same qualities as good teachers. A good student is hardworking, reliable, and optimistic.

I expect this class to be fun and challenging at the same time. And of course I expect to learn a lot more about myself as a writer. I hope this class will be different from any other class that I have ever had.

I hope that as our teacher you can listen to what we have to say and help us challenge ourselves in the areas that need improvement.

A professional learning environment should be one that makes a student feel comfortable about their ideas. The classroom should be open to new ideas and thoughts.

A producer of information is a person that supplies ideas to other people. A consumer listens to the idea but doesn’t always share their idea back. They just listen and do not come up with any original idea of their own.

kristenw said...

I think that qualities of a good teacher are to be able to incorporate different learning styles. I think this because a teacher will have different types of students who learn in different ways. Qualities of good students are being able to learn in a multitude of different ways . In doing this, when the student has teachers who teach in different ways they will still be able to learn productively. Some expectations I have of this class is to learn in ways I havn't before, to challenge myself, and be able to get better at what I'm struggling at. My expectation of you as my teacher is to help me succeed at my goals in this class.
To have a professional learning environment means to have the correct learning materials to learn what needs to be learned in the class. To be a producer of information vs. a consumer of information means to figure things out on your own rather than just let other people do it and them telling you. I pretty much agree with what most of the other people said.

mattw said...
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mattw said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mattw said...

I think that a teacher should obviously know what they're teaching, and enjoy it. If they don't, then they probably are miserable and make other people around them miserable too. I think that teachers shouldn't get too set in their ways. I mean that they should keep an open mind like alot of other people mentioned, and that to me is teachers who don't let things settle into a routine schedule. You told us you were "type A" personality, and you are naturally an organized person, or you like things better a certain way.
I think that you are being really creative and open minded in letting us plan the second semester's reading schedule. I think it's awesome how you are very leanient. I think a teacher would also be able to relate to their student on a level other than school, but can make their students laugh. I think that if a teacher can make a group of highschollers laugh, then they must be very relatable to different types of people.
I also think that being a good teacher is alot easier when you have good students. I think an ideal student would be smart, but have friends higher on their priority list than school, because if you constantly pile stress on yourself, people might find you hard to be around.
BUt the ideal student with a passing grade, will manage to get all their work done on time, and actually made an effort; which might mean going in on their own free time to schedule a short meeting with the teacher, or ask a quick question and take advantage of any advice the teacher would give you. THe student also has to take initiative, and since we start out the semester with an "A" it can either stay high, or drop down.
If a student is not performing as well as they should be, then they can't blame other people for what happened, or just try to get through to the end of the year without getting chased down by a councilor. They have to get over it, and push through it and seize every oppurtunity to get back up again. They also have to learn how to accept help, which was always really hard for me, cuz I always wanted to prove I could od things on my own.
I expect to get a lot from this year, and not only a deeper understanding of some literature, and how to manage an account online, and find resources that give you access to the internet instead of being satisfied with the excuse that "my computer's internet was down, I couldn't do it." THey have to want to learn, at least to some degree.
A professional working enviornment is like my dad's old office, because I thought you were professional when you were more important than other people, but now I know that it is a place where you're comfortable with you're surroundings and the people you work with. This means that you can relax, but not to the point where you get sluggish. BUt sit in a comfortable chair and so on... You should also surround yourself with people that you can get along with, but in our case we don't know everybody, and we tend to group near people we know. A professional would take initiative and introduce themself, if not at least smile instead of look away when you make eye-contact.
Professionals really don't goof off, but are on task when they're supposed to be, and can entertain themselves witout being a disturbance to otehrs. I really like the idea of listening to music in class, and I have three teachers that are very leanient in their music policies, and this class i'm really excited for cuz I get to listen whatever music I want as long as its not full of profanity and is played thru headphones. THat will be a challenge for me, because I get really easily distracted, and one stray thought turns into a fifteen minute long day-dream, and I can't afford to waste much time if I want to be able to be social.
Basically a professional learning enviornment is to be able to find a way to enjoy what your doing while still meeting a deadline; and I guess a good example of this is being a teacher, cuz you have to enjoy it or life sucks.

JohnB said...

Qualities of a good teacher are helping the student body learn and understand everything the teacher says. And a good student has to be ready and happy to learn or at least have a nice attitude towards learning. As far as expectations for the class, I expect respect for each other and the teacher. And expectations for you as a teacher, well, you just have to teach us the curriculums so we can go on to the next year... you just have to have a little enthusiasm so we can enjoy it.
To have a "professional learning environment", it means you have to have a little cooperation and organization, and to do as told to do by teachers. To "produce" information is to teach it, like the teacher. To "consume" that information, which would be the job of the students, you listen and take notes, et cetera from the information of the teacher.

JohnB said...

Qualities of a teacher is to be honest, truthful, get to the point, and be friendly. They should be right to the point, get the job done and have some fun.

katyj said...

A good teacher is someone who can captivate a students interest, and challenge them without overwhelming them. a good student tries to challenge themselves as well as doing thier best to overshoot the teachers expectations. After my small taste of this class, i expect to be challenged to the utmost amount possible without going to far. i expect to do college level work, because i know, and you know, that i can. i expect you to challenge me, and also to want to know enough about me to know my limit, and how far is to far to push me.
I don't think many people realize how lucky we are to have a public education system. In tibet many children, girls especially, work in the fields and don't know how to read. I for one, know that we are so lucky to have a proffesional learning environment; to have books easily at our disposal,AND LAPTOPS TOO!!!!!
A producer takes information and uses it to infer, or prove, new information.