Carolyn Chaney

Carolyn is by far one of my favorite teachers at SFSU. She made class very enjoyable and I really looked forward to attending each session. As with any 4 unit course, there was a fair amount of work, but that was to be expected (this isn't high school). However, she gave the requirements up front and if you set time aside each week, the work never piled up. There is no doubt that I would take another class with her if I had the chance!

Ms. Carolyn Chaney gives out too much work!!! We had 6 child observations to write, plus 5 exams. Although, we could drop one exam and use a note card, the exams are extremely hard. In addition, you have to write a research paper and make a poster presentation. For the exams, you must take exceptional notes. You do need to rely on your class notes, plus read the material and know how to express your answers good enough for the instructor to understand...full sentences. She does not use full sentences when she speaks, so on the test, when she asks to define a term-and you write down (verbatim) what she had said during class discussion, you will be marked down. She grades hard and is picky on how you write. It will be difficult to receive an A. There is not much room to mess up. Everything she assigns, you must do outstanding work. Do not take this class if you are looking for a class that is easy and does not give out too much work. Of all my classes, (each were also 4 units), I feel this class should have been a 5 unit course. The only thing I liked about this course is that once you learn about the terms, concepts, you will not forget it. Her lectures are not clear. You have to ask her to repeat herself more than once. When she does repeat herself it is never exactly in the same form as before. This is frustrating when the students are trying to write down a definition she is giving us...This will always be on the test so you must go back to the book and get the definition from there. You can't rely on just her lectures. If I could go back and enroll in another class, I would have. I know several people who were quite upset, not getting enough time to finish their exams. I believe I saw a girl cry because she couldn't finish. You hands have no feeling in them after writing and writing...taking notes thoughout the class. That is all I have to say.