mr voss actually WROTE BACK!>> heres the stitch
Hi Nicki -
Thanks for bringing up your concerns with me. Let me address your concerns one at a time.
1. If you are embarrassed to talk to me in front of the class, that is understandable, so you (or Annie or Shannah) can come talk to me at another time JUST MAKE SURE YOU DO TALK TO ME. Write down your question and stay into the lunch period. However, I can't recall that I have out right ignored you when you do have your hand raised because the fact of the matter is after EVERY assignment we have graded in class I ask for questions and I do not continue with my agenda until the questions have been addressed. So if I haven't answered your question, KEEP YOUR HAND UP AND DO NOT GIVE UP. I simply cannot help you if your question never gets asked.
2. I know I start the class right away. We have a very brief period and in order for us to get accomplished what we need to do we must start right away. I'm not sure the class your coming from but try to have yourself organized and ready to go when the bell rings.
3. As for your concerns about speed vs. thoroughness. I won't necessarily dispute that I can talk fast BUT AGAIN if you need something repeated YOU HAVE TO ASK or it won't be. If you need additional input, YOU HAVE TO ASK. I won't know there is a problem with something I said or how well you think I have covered it unless you ask me to repeat it. I'm not quite sure how you mean to say that I am not thorough because I am going through and teaching you what you need to know at the level I expect you to know it. I think maybe what you mean is that you need more practice to get extra help. I will be willing to give you extra problems if need be so that you can get extra help. However, the pace of the course unfortunately will not change too much. So how do you overcome that issue? Remember that I am only ONE PART of your whole experience in chemistry. What I mean by that is did you read your textbooks thoroughly when I covered the information in class. You are getting input in the class NOT JUST FROM ME but from your interaction with me, your text, the homework, the lab, everything. In order to learn the most you need to put all that together. In all fairness, if you look at all the things we covered in class and what was on your test, there wasn't much that was not covered in several different ways.
I applaud you for e-mailing me because it shows a lot of initiative on your part. The key is regardless of how you do on the first test, you have to STICK WITH IT and not give up. And as I say to some students, chemistry may not be the easiest subject for you and your father is right, you might have to work very hard and very diligently to get the grade you want. It may be a struggle for you when other students seem to be understanding and you don't. BUT PLEASE don't EVER GIVE UP. Anytime you need help, please, please, please come and talk to me. I will help you. But keep your chin up and realize you can do this. (And by the way...I'm not anyone to be afraid of)
I'll talk to you soon.
-Mr. Voss
Thanks for bringing up your concerns with me. Let me address your concerns one at a time.
1. If you are embarrassed to talk to me in front of the class, that is understandable, so you (or Annie or Shannah) can come talk to me at another time JUST MAKE SURE YOU DO TALK TO ME. Write down your question and stay into the lunch period. However, I can't recall that I have out right ignored you when you do have your hand raised because the fact of the matter is after EVERY assignment we have graded in class I ask for questions and I do not continue with my agenda until the questions have been addressed. So if I haven't answered your question, KEEP YOUR HAND UP AND DO NOT GIVE UP. I simply cannot help you if your question never gets asked.
2. I know I start the class right away. We have a very brief period and in order for us to get accomplished what we need to do we must start right away. I'm not sure the class your coming from but try to have yourself organized and ready to go when the bell rings.
3. As for your concerns about speed vs. thoroughness. I won't necessarily dispute that I can talk fast BUT AGAIN if you need something repeated YOU HAVE TO ASK or it won't be. If you need additional input, YOU HAVE TO ASK. I won't know there is a problem with something I said or how well you think I have covered it unless you ask me to repeat it. I'm not quite sure how you mean to say that I am not thorough because I am going through and teaching you what you need to know at the level I expect you to know it. I think maybe what you mean is that you need more practice to get extra help. I will be willing to give you extra problems if need be so that you can get extra help. However, the pace of the course unfortunately will not change too much. So how do you overcome that issue? Remember that I am only ONE PART of your whole experience in chemistry. What I mean by that is did you read your textbooks thoroughly when I covered the information in class. You are getting input in the class NOT JUST FROM ME but from your interaction with me, your text, the homework, the lab, everything. In order to learn the most you need to put all that together. In all fairness, if you look at all the things we covered in class and what was on your test, there wasn't much that was not covered in several different ways.
I applaud you for e-mailing me because it shows a lot of initiative on your part. The key is regardless of how you do on the first test, you have to STICK WITH IT and not give up. And as I say to some students, chemistry may not be the easiest subject for you and your father is right, you might have to work very hard and very diligently to get the grade you want. It may be a struggle for you when other students seem to be understanding and you don't. BUT PLEASE don't EVER GIVE UP. Anytime you need help, please, please, please come and talk to me. I will help you. But keep your chin up and realize you can do this. (And by the way...I'm not anyone to be afraid of)
I'll talk to you soon.
-Mr. Voss