One of my worst teachers taught 5th grade. She yelled and criticize me for using the word belly. Although I answered her question correctly, she never acknowledged my answer. She only screamed out how she hated the word belly and never wanted to hear it again. Needless to say, I never bothered to answer a question in her classroom again.
One of my worst teachers taught 7th grade. She taught us using a book that was boring and outdated. Her class was not interesting and she didn't go out of her way to help us learn. She yelled daily to anyone that didn't meet her high expectations. She NEVER smiled and didn't act interested in our answers to her questions. No matter what we said, it was wrong. If we asked a question about something we didn't understand, she told us we were smart enough to figure it out. Almost everyone avoided her in the hallway so we didn't have to speak!! It was an awful experience and I had a hard time enjoying Math after that year.
My worst experience with a teacher was with my piano teacher when I was in the second grade. I only spent 30 minutes once a week with her, but I'll never forget those practice sessions. Anytime I played an incorrect note she would slap my fingers and yell at me. Once she was so mad that she grabbed my sholders and shook me. I never understood why she was so upset, I really tried my best. I hated my time with her so much that I would cry when I knew I had piano practice. I eventually quit and never really learned how to play. Her actions had a lasting and damaging effect on my self-confidence.
My worst experience with a teacher was first grade. I was new to the school. Mrs. H absolutely terrified me! Her tone and voice were so harsh. I had a hard time with my handwriting and she criticized me. I started to dread school. I would cry and pretend to be sick. I finally confessed to my mother who went to conference with the teacher. Mrs.H was like a different person after that.
I was blessed to have some wonderful teachers throughout my school career! The only teacher I can think of who was really terrible was one of my math teachers in college. He was extremely socially awkward and therefore didn't have any type of "connection" with his students. He may have been good in math but he had no clue how to teach it to others! He would just work out problems and not explain anything in a way that was understandable. Not being the greatest in math anyway, I really struggled considering we were basically left to teach ourselves. I became frustrated b/c I didn't know how or where to get the help that I needed to understand the material. I always dreaded going to that class and I, ultimately, did not pass it! I had to take the class again over the summer and thankfully I ended up with a fabulous teacher who really explained things in a way that I could understand them. I ended up making an A!
The teacher that I feared and disliked the most ended up being both my 3rd and 6th grade teacher. She was changed to 6th grade and I got the pleasure of having her again! I remember many, many things she said to me, but I most remember that she never, ever smiled. She was old(she was probably about my age now). Everything we did seemed old and boring. In 2nd grade, my teacher was a first year teacher from the U of A and drove to Berry to teach. So of course going from that to Mrs. K was no fun. I learned a valuable lesson in that even if you have been around the teaching profession a long time you should really try new, and innovative things to make your teaching new and exciting!!!
I, like Shannon, was blessed with many great teachers throughout many years. I look back on boring teachers who "book taught" and wonder were they taught any other way?? I remember so many positive experiences that any negative experiences are overshadowed.
I enjoyed all of my elementary and high school teachers. In fact, I loved school so much that I was hardly ever absent. My first negative experience was at the college level. My economics teacher spoke very little English and enjoyed putting students on the spot. Whenever wrong answers were given, he would laugh and make ugly remarks. Needless to say, I did not have perfect attendance in that class.
I can't remember any negative experiences in my 'early' structured school years (1-12). I do however remember what happened to me in kindergarten. This was at the time when kindergarten was at private homes. I was kicked out because the teacher told my mother that I was a distraction to the class; the reason was that I was bored to tears. Having an older brother and sister I knew what she was teaching and she didn't bother to challenge me, so I challenged her with all sort of questions. This taught me to make sure I try to present my materials in interesting ways whenever possible.
I would not classify this as my "worst teacher", but I do always think back to a high school teacher that I had a negative experience with. He told me to shut-up in front of the class and continued to tell me that if I didn't he would send me to the office. He said this in a very loud and mean way. Of course this made me (shut up and cry)and not ask any other questions. As I look back on this, I also remember that I was questioning him on whether or not he had actually taught something that was on the test we were going over that many of us had not done very well on. I am sure that at the time (know it all of 16 or 17 years of age)I probably asked this in a very smart and disrespectful sort of way. I am sure that I had pushed one of his buttons. As a teacher now, I hope not to ever do this--but I can understand what made him respond that way.
The worst teacher I ever had was my third grade gifted teacher. I used too much developing powder in the darkroom developing my pictures and she called my mom in front of the whole class and told her what I did. Like I did it on purpose or something? She made my mom get off work, go to the store and spend $30.00 (which she didn't have) to purchase more developing powder. I was so embarrassed that I told my mom I would not go back to gifted classes for the rest of the year. Later, I found out she was a principal in a school here in Tusc. County, but was awful and got fired. Wonder why?
To combat arrogant and holier-than-thou teachers, the one true assest a student has is a caring and loving parent. Parents have the power to change a negative to a positive and vice-versa in some cases.
I also had great teachers for the most part. I did have one crazy teacher who tried to get us quiet by banging heavy metal scissors inside a metal garbage can. ??? She was later fired for bringing a gun to school. The media never got hold of that story!!!
I am so sorry to hear about some of the painful experiences that some of you have had as a result of the bad choices made by your teachers! This is a great reminder that what we say and do can have long lasting effects! People truly do remember experiences that evoke strong emotions no matter how many years have passed! Let's always strive to create positive experiences for our students!
Carmen - did she seriously bring a gun to school!? How did she get caught? Wow- that's crazy stuff!!!
I wouldn't say this teacher was the worst, because I learned a lot from him. He was my fifth grade teacher and was HARSH. To give a little background on this teacher, he was a former military man and ran his classroom that way. He referred to us at times as "jarheads." One discipline method he used was to have a student stand in a sitting position with their back against a wall holding out a dictionary with arms parallel to the floor. I'm not sure how long he had a student hold that position, because I made sure I was never in trouble in at school. Throughout most of my education, I was the quiet, timid child in class who rarely spoke up. You can still mention his name to my now adult classmates, and they will have a negative comment about him.
One experience that comes to mind was when I was in college. I had an 8 o'clock art class and overslept. There was a horrible thunderstorm during the night. A huge clap of thunder brought me and my roommate out of our bedrooms in the middle of the night because there was a loud pop in our apartment. Everything seemed to be fine so we went back to sleep. The next morning when I woke up about 10 or 15 minutes late for class I discovered my alarm clock had been struck by lightning! The clock and radio still worked but not the alarm. When I got to class, he announced that he was glad I was able to make it to class. I told him I was late because my alarm clock had been struck by lightning and he laughed. Yes, it sounds like a "lame" excuse, especially for a college student, but it was true! I was soo embarrased. I was not the kind of student who was late for my classes. I think that was also his last semester of teaching so I'm guessing he was really burned out and had heard every excuse in the book!
I had a teacher a interesting teacher in fifth grade. She was the teacher nobody wanted. One day in class, I laughed at a boy sitting across from me. This teacher yelled at me,"Ggo to your Mother's room." I was scared to death. Not of my Mother, but of her sixth grade class. I remember walking across the hall to tell my mother how bad I had been. I would run if I saw this person today.
Mrs. Stump! She told me i was too dumb to learn to divide. She was known for her "bathroom torture." One little boy had such an accident that he never came back after that day. It's funny because one of the only class pictures I have is the one of her!!! Turns out I wasn't too dumb to divide and made straight A's in math. I don't really remember her being up from behind her desk but I do remember her green eyeshadow.
One of my worst teachers taught 5th grade. She yelled and criticize me for using the word belly. Although I answered her question correctly, she never acknowledged my answer. She only screamed out how she hated the word belly and never wanted to hear it again. Needless to say, I never bothered to answer a question in her classroom again.
ReplyDeleteOur words have so much power!
ReplyDeleteOne of my worst teachers taught 7th grade. She taught us using a book that was boring and outdated. Her class was not interesting and she didn't go out of her way to help us learn. She yelled daily to anyone that didn't meet her high expectations. She NEVER smiled and didn't act interested in our answers to her questions. No matter what we said, it was wrong. If we asked a question about something we didn't understand, she told us we were smart enough to figure it out. Almost everyone avoided her in the hallway so we didn't have to speak!! It was an awful experience and I had a hard time enjoying Math after that year.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy worst experience with a teacher was with my piano teacher when I was in the second grade. I only spent 30 minutes once a week with her, but I'll never forget those practice sessions. Anytime I played an incorrect note she would slap my fingers and yell at me. Once she was so mad that she grabbed my sholders and shook me. I never understood why she was so upset, I really tried my best. I hated my time with her so much that I would cry when I knew I had piano practice. I eventually quit and never really learned how to play. Her actions had a lasting and damaging effect on my self-confidence.
ReplyDeleteMy worst experience with a teacher was first grade. I was new to the school. Mrs. H absolutely terrified me! Her tone and voice were so harsh. I had a hard time with my handwriting and she criticized me. I started to dread school. I would cry and pretend to be sick. I finally confessed to my mother who went to conference with the teacher. Mrs.H was like a different person after that.
ReplyDeleteI was blessed to have some wonderful teachers throughout my school career! The only teacher I can think of who was really terrible was one of my math teachers in college. He was extremely socially awkward and therefore didn't have any type of "connection" with his students. He may have been good in math but he had no clue how to teach it to others! He would just work out problems and not explain anything in a way that was understandable. Not being the greatest in math anyway, I really struggled considering we were basically left to teach ourselves. I became frustrated b/c I didn't know how or where to get the help that I needed to understand the material. I always dreaded going to that class and I, ultimately, did not pass it! I had to take the class again over the summer and thankfully I ended up with a fabulous teacher who really explained things in a way that I could understand them. I ended up making an A!
ReplyDeleteThe teacher that I feared and disliked the most ended up being both my 3rd and 6th grade teacher. She was changed to 6th grade and I got the pleasure of having her again! I remember many, many things she said to me, but I most remember that she never, ever smiled. She was old(she was probably about my age now). Everything we did seemed old and boring. In 2nd grade, my teacher was a first year teacher from the U of A and drove to Berry to teach. So of course going from that to Mrs. K was no fun. I learned a valuable lesson in that even if you have been around the teaching profession a long time you should really try new, and innovative things to make your teaching new and exciting!!!
ReplyDeleteI, like Shannon, was blessed with many great teachers throughout many years. I look back on boring teachers who "book taught" and wonder were they taught any other way?? I remember so many positive experiences that any negative experiences are overshadowed.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed all of my elementary and high school teachers. In fact, I loved school so much that I was hardly ever absent. My first negative experience was at the college level. My economics teacher spoke very little English and enjoyed putting students on the spot. Whenever wrong answers were given, he would laugh and make ugly remarks. Needless to say, I did not have perfect attendance in that class.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember any negative experiences in my 'early' structured school years (1-12). I do however remember what happened to me in kindergarten. This was at the time when kindergarten was at private homes. I was kicked out because the teacher told my mother that I was a distraction to the class; the reason was that I was bored to tears. Having an older brother and sister I knew what she was teaching and she didn't bother to challenge me, so I challenged her with all sort of questions. This taught me to make sure I try to present my materials in interesting ways whenever possible.
ReplyDeleteI would not classify this as my "worst teacher", but I do always think back to a high school teacher that I had a negative experience with. He told me to shut-up in front of the class and continued to tell me that if I didn't he would send me to the office. He said this in a very loud and mean way. Of course this made me (shut up and cry)and not ask any other questions. As I look back on this, I also remember that I was questioning him on whether or not he had actually taught something that was on the test we were going over that many of us had not done very well on. I am sure that at the time (know it all of 16 or 17 years of age)I probably asked this in a very smart and disrespectful sort of way. I am sure that I had pushed one of his buttons. As a teacher now, I hope not to ever do this--but I can understand what made him respond that way.
ReplyDeleteThe worst teacher I ever had was my third grade gifted teacher. I used too much developing powder in the darkroom developing my pictures and she called my mom in front of the whole class and told her what I did. Like I did it on purpose or something? She made my mom get off work, go to the store and spend $30.00 (which she didn't have) to purchase more developing powder. I was so embarrassed that I told my mom I would not go back to gifted classes for the rest of the year. Later, I found out she was a principal in a school here in Tusc. County, but was awful and got fired. Wonder why?
ReplyDeleteTo combat arrogant and holier-than-thou teachers, the one true assest a student has is a caring and loving parent. Parents have the power to change a negative to a positive and vice-versa in some cases.
ReplyDeleteI also had great teachers for the most part. I did have one crazy teacher who tried to get us quiet by banging heavy metal scissors inside a metal garbage can. ??? She was later fired for bringing a gun to school. The media never got hold of that story!!!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about some of the painful experiences that some of you have had as a result of the bad choices made by your teachers! This is a great reminder that what we say and do can have long lasting effects! People truly do remember experiences that evoke strong emotions no matter how many years have passed! Let's always strive to create positive experiences for our students!
ReplyDeleteCarmen - did she seriously bring a gun to school!? How did she get caught? Wow- that's crazy stuff!!!
I wouldn't say this teacher was the worst, because I learned a lot from him. He was my fifth grade teacher and was HARSH. To give a little background on this teacher, he was a former military man and ran his classroom that way. He referred to us at times as "jarheads." One discipline method he used was to have a student stand in a sitting position with their back against a wall holding out a dictionary with arms parallel to the floor. I'm not sure how long he had a student hold that position, because I made sure I was never in trouble in at school. Throughout most of my education, I was the quiet, timid child in class who rarely spoke up.
ReplyDeleteYou can still mention his name to my now adult classmates, and they will have a negative comment about him.
One experience that comes to mind was when I was in college. I had an 8 o'clock art class and overslept. There was a horrible thunderstorm during the night. A huge clap of thunder brought me and my roommate out of our bedrooms in the middle of the night because there was a loud pop in our apartment. Everything seemed to be fine so we went back to sleep. The next morning when I woke up about 10 or 15 minutes late for class I discovered my alarm clock had been struck by lightning! The clock and radio still worked but not the alarm. When I got to class, he announced that he was glad I was able to make it to class. I told him I was late because my alarm clock had been struck by lightning and he laughed. Yes, it sounds like a "lame" excuse, especially for a college student, but it was true! I was soo embarrased. I was not the kind of student who was late for my classes. I think that was also his last semester of teaching so I'm guessing he was really burned out and had heard every excuse in the book!
ReplyDeleteI had a teacher a interesting teacher in fifth grade. She was the teacher nobody wanted. One day in class, I laughed at a boy sitting across from me. This teacher yelled at me,"Ggo to your Mother's room." I was scared to death. Not of my Mother, but of her sixth grade class. I remember walking across the hall to tell my mother how bad I had been. I would run if I saw this person today.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Stump! She told me i was too dumb to learn to divide. She was known for her "bathroom torture." One little boy had such an accident that he never came back after that day. It's funny because one of the only class pictures I have is the one of her!!! Turns out I wasn't too dumb to divide and made straight A's in math. I don't really remember her being up from behind her desk but I do remember her green eyeshadow.
ReplyDelete