S?

Message edited 3/4/2010 8:08:12 PM.

Re: Students asking you personal questions?

I am actually pretty open with my middle schoolers.

They know the general area where I live and I share some stories with them I think they might find funny... We are pretty open in my class, it's a great dynamic.

However.............. I do know where to draw the line and I have never disclosed my age to them. They know I'm young, but they don't need to know HOW young!

Basically use discretion. Every group of kids is different, and it's also different for you because you're a sub. My students and I have grown to know random stuff about each other over the school year, but if I was subbing for students I didn't know that well, I would probably be more private.

Re: Students asking you personal questions?

My kids know how old I am- I prefer to just tell them, have it out there, and then they don't ask again. But I'm also in my 30s- if I was 25, I'd probably not say anything.

I don't see the harm. Though I do think there needs to be a line- one of my sixth graders once asked/made comments about my sex life- I called her mother and told the dean and AP.

Re: Students asking you personal questions?

Re: Students asking you personal questions?

Certain things I share with them..... like they'll ask if I'm married, if I have kids, where I went to college.... that I will tell them.

If they ask how old I am, where I live, what is my first name, etc.... I tell them, TAKE A GUESS..... that keeps them busy for a while & then they usually forget to follow up on it!

Re: Students asking you personal questions?

Message edited 9/1/2011 7:16:55 PM.

Re: Students asking you personal questions?

I have no problem telling kids where I went to HS, my neighborhood, where I went to college etc. They could probably find all that info out online anyway...the other day a kid told me that he was surprised at my salary...when I was like , he proceeded to tell me about a website that you can type in the name of any NYS or NYC employee and it finds their last known salary. I checked it out...it's true...

click

Re: Students asking you personal questions?

I think it depends on your comfort level. I am a guidance counselor...my first job was in a HS when I was 22...I told my students my age. It didnt bother me at all. I also told them the neighborhood I lived. Now I am in a MS and will answer all those sorts of questions. As a GC I feel that students share SO much with me , that I like them to be comfortable and trusting of me and sometimes sharing these sorts of things facilitates that. As a classroom teacher I think it may be a little different.

Anyway, this is a long way of saying..if you feel comfortable answering go ahead

Re: Students asking you personal questions?

I'm pretty open with my students...I tell them about college, high school, my age, where I grew up, my husband's name, my daughter's name, etc....
The ONLY thing I won't tell them is where I live. I have no real problem with them knowing....it just drives them crazy that they can't figure it out, no matter how hard they try to guess. And I won't be their friends on facebook!
I think it's different for a classroom teacher than it is for a sub though....I have to gain my student's trust and respect for them to listen to me....so I feel I can do that best by being open with them and treating them like people....not just kids.

Re: Students asking you personal questions?

Posted by Snickers

I have no problem telling kids where I went to HS, my neighborhood, where I went to college etc. They could probably find all that info out online anyway...the other day a kid told me that he was surprised at my salary...when I was like , he proceeded to tell me about a website that you can type in the name of any NYS or NYC employee and it finds their last known salary. I checked it out...it's true...

click

Re: Students asking you personal questions?

when I started teaching HS, I was 24, I actually boosted it up a bit and told them that I was old enough to be a congressperson (25) and left it at that. If they were curious enough, they would look it up.

I don't mind telling HS students anything that I did as long as it was mostly legal (not including civil disobedience , etc) and appropriate. EX. They knew I went to SUNY Albany and immediately they say party school. i told them it wasn't ranked #1 until after I graduated and it's also ranked very high for xyz/academics, etc.