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Olivia Dunn

Mr. Gardner

Promiscuous Meatball Diapers

2 May 2023

Students receiving guidance

Dear Brighton High School Administration,

There are many students from all walks of life that are struggling to stay up on

assignments, doing well on tests, attendance, and even graduating high school.

Teachers can be a big part of a student's success. If a student feels that the teacher is

truly invested in their success as a student they are more likely to be motivated to do

what's expected of them in the class. Teachers can do this as they get to know their

students, the ways they learn and their goals for their education. As teachers and

students understand each other, the student can be comfortable asking for help. The

teacher can understand how tests and assignments can be used better to help the

student be successful. They can also use other opportunities to assess the student’s

learning.

Teachers can get to know students better to help students feel comfortable and

motivated in class. Open discussions could be helpful in the classroom to show other

points of views other than just the teachers. In an interview, teacher Alaina Riggs

mentioned a method she occasionally uses is group discussions for discussing success

criteria as a class. In her four years of teaching she has seen a lot of success with this

method. Teachers using this method would be able to understand from this what their

students need to help them learn best.

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Testing in class could be more effective if teachers and students work together to have

a good plan for studying. Students struggle with tests and it often brings their grade

down which can lead to not passing the class. Teachers should be giving out more

resources like quizlets, kahoots, or a notecard to help them feel prepared and confident

for their tests. In an interview, Brytan Cope mentioned that the kahoots and quizlets

have helped her in many ways to feel prepared for her tests. She also mentioned that a

notecard or notes on a test can be very helpful with having success.

Teachers need to create opportunities for the students to have assessments that

are not just tests and in some cases alternative assignments for exams. Sometimes

students struggle with test taking, even me, so it is very frustrating when you can’t

succeed. An example of alternate assignments could be a presentation, large research

project, or even group, open note tests. In a survey I made, I asked the question “What

are some positive experiences in regards to class work have you had with teachers at

Brighton?” An anonymous response said that they talked to their teacher about how she

was struggling with understanding the concept of what was being taught, and the

teacher told her to try her best on the test and if it didn’t go well that she was able to do

a make up assignment for some extra points to help push her grade up. The teacher

was very understanding and we need more opportunities like this. A good way of

presenting this alternate assignment could be assigning it on canvas or giving out a

paper copy that includes a detailed description of the assignment and a rubric. Writing

things down can be very beneficial. There are many different ways teachers and

students can both improve. From my survey, it has given me much evidence to say that
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there are many things teachers can do a better job on to help the students be more

successful.

Works Cited

Olivia Dunn. How teachers can help students be more successful in their classwork.

Finding ways that teachers can improve on helping students be successful. Cottonwood

Heights, UT, Brighton High School, January 2022. Unpublished Survey.

Riggs. Alaina. Personal interview. 26 April 2023

Cope. Brytan. Personal interview. 27 April 2023