Ask Alex 

Today’s Agenda: Teachers/Asking teachers for help!!

Here’s some advice. Asking teachers for help and creating bonds with them can be very difficult. It is a skill that not many people have. But today I am here to share my experiences with the LREI teachers and staff and make sure you can get the proper help you need. The teachers at our school are always here to help. No matter how scary the thought of asking one for hello may seem, it is even more important. Gaining bonds with teachers, especially if you are a 5th or 6th grader, will become very useful in your future years. What is so special about LREI is that it is so easy to meet with teachers and get help. But first, you have to know how to be able to meet with a teacher properly. I am going to walk you through some tips.

Purpose for the meeting. Make sure before you make a plan you know exactly what you will talk about. Sometimes it can be as broad as “I am struggling with this unit” but it can also be something like “I need 5 dfferent solutions to this problem to help me study, can we meet?” The purpose would always be related to the class that teacher teaches and you should always ask yourself, do I really need this?

Communication and honesty. While meeting with a teacher, you need to make sure you are communicating with them about your plan to meet and also your issues. If you are not honest about the fact that you are struggling, you are waiting for you and your teachers time. Even after you meet, you should make sure that you are communicating with them almost every week to update them on progress. 

 Staying on topic. Making a meeting with a teacher and taking time out of their day and yours, you must make sure you are staying on topic. Dedicate that entire meeting to whatever you need help, clarification on or other. If you want to talk about something like fun weekend plans, save that for another time. This is a special moment you get with your teacher. 

Overall, meeting with teachers can make class a more comfortable learning environment. I have to admit, I don’t meet with teachers as often as I should but I will definitely try more, as should all of you reading. Please also email me for me to help with more problems you are having. My email is 24alexc@lrei.org. I check it everyday and you can always catch me in the halls. 

Don’t stress and don’t push yourself to know everything there is without asking a teacher for help.