Herter, Roberta  

Dr. Herter is a very caring individual who at times is very hard to follow, but she does it on purpose so you can see how to help your students understand you. She grades very easy, just do the work and make sure you answer all the questions. We had lots of reading and then sometimes discussed the reading in class but usually just talked about struggling readers and how reading affects us and why it's important. The tutoring journal is a big part of the class and the folder with all your little class assignments. We had to read two read-alouds in front of the class, from any thing we wanted, even in a foreign language. We had two read two literacy articles and comment on them via post-it notes. We had to write about our own reading and the reading of others. We also had to tutor an ELL student in a alternative school. This didn't work out for most of us due to some communication problems but will most likely be required next time. Be prepared to never really know what's going on or when something is due and ask lots of questions. You'll probably pass if you do all the assignments and come to class.

Quite seriously, I considered dropping out of the credentialing program because of this woman. Don't get me wrong, she is a great person. She is caring and kind. However, she is not a good teacher. She can not speak clearly and concisely to save her life. She did not give us clear due dates on anything, nor did she even give us clear assignments. She assigned a ton of reading and never checked in any way to make sure that we had done it. She dropped new assignments on us halfway through the quarter that were not on the syllabus, and half the assignments that were on the syllabus, she never actually asked for (nor apparently expected to receive since I didn't do them and still got credit). She did not return any assignments that we did turn in until the second to last week of the quarter, and even then, the only comments we got was a rubric sheet with categories that had nothing to do with the assignments we turned in, and was more of a commentary on our class participation. After reading mine, I got the impression that she really had no clue who I even was. I'm pretty sure that she just passed everyone because she had absolutely no basis to know whether or not we actually deserved to pass. Maybe it was just a bad quarter for her. But I would highly recommend that you avoid her if you possibly can. Her class was far more stress than it was worth.

Hands down, this was one of the most boring classes I've ever taken. EVER. Dr. Herter lectures in a fairly monotone voice, asking so many rhetoric questions that no one knows when she's asking an ACTUAL question. She made efforts to alter the class based on students suggestions, but it was so late in the quarter (and not drastic enough) that it made little difference. The reading (which was mindless) was best when divided amongst classmates. My suggestion? Bring something to keep yourself occupied.

She is an innovative professor that focuses on critical thinking. The questions may initially strike you as being vague but you have to realize the significance of the topic pertaining to you. Because of the courses reliance on your own ability to extract content value, the course is what you make it. She can foster enthusiasm but individuals have to make an effort to express themselves.

Dr. Herter is an avant-garde educator. Her free-flowing style and willingness to break from structure allow students to critically examine their own interests in the educational field without being confined to a rigid syllabus. Many students initially view her methods as unorganized and unprofessional, and assume that the class will be a waste of time. With their minds made, they put forth little effort and do not benefit from such a great opportunity. This can be witnessed in some of the evaluations below. You will get out of this class what you put into it. If you do everything that Dr. Herter asks of you AND take it seriously, you will definately appreciate her skills as an educator.

Business majors: A degree for the intellectually impaired, HA HA.