Progress Meetings

The first major test or assignment can set the tone for the remainder of the semester.

For many students, their results on the first major test or assignment can serve to encourage or discourage them for the rest of the course.

For teachers, results from the first major test or assignment help us assess our students' comprehension, skill level, and overall preparedness.

But results of these assessments should also help us evaluate and adjust our plan of action for the upcoming assignments and assessments. Many times, we may not recognize flaws in our delivery system until we see grades that reflect comprehension issues. Of course, not all poor grades are a reflection of our mistakes. Sometimes, students simply are not prepared, interested, or ready (for whatever reasons) for our course.

Meeting with students directly after the first major grade can help us determine what we need to do as well as assist our students in developing a plan for what they need to do to successfully complete the course. Midterm success conferences are required here at our college for students who are not passing the course; however, if we can find the time to meet with these students sooner than midterm, we may provide necessary intervention before the second problematic grade rolls in. Some teachers even elect to meet with all students regarding the first major grade. During these meetings, students often reveal issues that may be delaying or jeopardizing their success. We can choose to review the grade with each student, or we can simply ask the student to elaborate on factors that may have contributed to the grade. Additionally, these individualized meetings encourage students to open up to us, ask questions, and seek our help moving forward.

In some cases, we may even find that the solution is simple, and the student may become immediately successful as a result. We also have the opportunity to refer students to helpful college resources for additional assistance or issues outside our area of expertise.

Overall, meeting one-on-one with students facilitates a deeper understanding of the students' needs and teacher's expectations. It also develops a relationship of trust and rapport between the teacher and students.