--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To say that you have taught when students…" description: "\"To say that you have taught when students haven't learned is to say you have sold when no one has bought. But how can you know that students have learn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be7/madeline-hunter-22168_checks_to-say-that-you-have-taught-when-student_2922694.png" --- # To say that you have taught when students haven't learned… ![“To say that you have taught when students haven't learned is to say you have sold when no one has bought. But how can you know that students have learned without spending hours correcting tests and papers? . . . check students understanding while you are teaching (not at 10 o'clock at night when…” quote by Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be7/madeline-hunter-22168_checks_to-say-that-you-have-taught-when-student_2922694.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be7/madeline-hunter-22168_checks_to-say-that-you-have-taught-when-student_2922694.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be7/madeline-hunter-22168_checks_to-say-that-you-have-taught-when-student_2922694.png) > “To say that you have taught when students haven't learned is to say you have sold when no one has bought. But how can you know that students have learned without spending hours correcting tests and papers? . . . check students understanding while you are teaching (not at 10 o'clock at night when you're correcting papers) so you don't move on with unlearned material that can accumulate like a snowball and eventually engulf the student in confusion and despair.” [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching effectiveness requires checking student understanding during instruction, not after grading. **In simple terms:** Check learning while teaching, not later. Key Takeaway Assess understanding in real time. Themes education assessment instruction Mood reflective practical Type guidance pedagogical When to use this quote - classroom teaching - online courses - training workshops Key Concepts formative assessment learning cycles Questions to Reflect On - What quick checks can you use? - How to balance assessment and content delivery? A Different Perspective Time constraints may limit frequent checks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Checks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks/) [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) [Correcting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correcting/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Materials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materials/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Paper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paper/) [Papers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/papers/) [Snowball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snowball/) [Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending/) [Student Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/student-confusion-3108518/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Students Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students-understanding-4263999/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Taught Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-students-701144/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tests/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-teaching-4267064/) ## Related quotes > [Often, in the student's confusion, she or he directs anger at the teacher, blaming them for the pain they are experiencing, or for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/often-in-the-student-s-confusion-she-or-he-directs-anger-at-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Teaching music is to develop a deeper understanding. It's teaching each pupil, in his or her own individual way, to know music and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harris/teaching-music-is-to-develop-a-deeper-understanding-it-s-teaching/) [Paul Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harris/) > [The only thing that surprises me is the characterization of teachers as lazy and greedy. Only someone with very little understanding of what teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-mali/the-only-thing-that-surprises-me-is-the-characterization-of-teachers/) [Taylor Mali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-mali/) > [“It is a truism today, in this highly technologically-developed culture, that students need technical computer skills. Equally truistic (and, not incidentally, true) is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-k-fallon/it-is-a-truism-today-in-this-highly-technologically-developed-culture/) [Peter K. Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-k-fallon/) > [“Assessment must be a conversation, a narrative that enhances students’ understanding of what they know, what they can do, and what needs further work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/starr-sackstein/assessment-must-be-a-conversation-a-narrative-that-enhances-students/) [Starr Sackstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/starr-sackstein/) > [For students, understanding the separate and unique functions of each branch of government can help them understand how different kinds of government officials can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/for-students-understanding-the-separate-and-unique-functions-of-each/) [Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/) > [The most important thing taught to my students is to not be so photo realist in what they depict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruno/the-most-important-thing-taught-to-my-students-is-to-not-be-so-photo/) [Frank Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruno/) > [I believe it’s impossible to claim you have taught, when there are students who have not learned. With that commitment, from my first year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-believe-it-s-impossible-to-claim-you-have-taught-when-there-are/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Most subjects at universities are taught for no other purpose than that they may be re-taught when the students become teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/most-subjects-at-universities-are-taught-for-no-other-purpose-than/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [I have taught students from the New York City area so long I have a special affinity and rapport with them. It surprises me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/i-have-taught-students-from-the-new-york-city-area-so-long-i-have-a/) [Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/) > [My gut was always that if I taught students poetry, I would give too much of myself to them and have nothing left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-chang/my-gut-was-always-that-if-i-taught-students-poetry-i-would-give-too/) [Victoria Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-chang/) > [The young man taught all he knew and more; The middle-aged man taught all he knew; The old man taught all that his students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-ross/the-young-man-taught-all-he-knew-and-more-the-middle-aged-man-taught/) [Arnold Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-ross/) > [I have taught my students not to apply rules or mechanical ways of seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/i-have-taught-my-students-not-to-apply-rules-or-mechanical-ways-of/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [“The memory from Sundance that I hold dearest is a snowball fight. One night I went outside with Lorri, Peter Jackson, and Fran Walsh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-echols/the-memory-from-sundance-that-i-hold-dearest-is-a-snowball-fight-one/) [Damien Echols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-echols/) > [Snowball just leads elves on, elves and Santas. He is playing a dangerous game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/snowball-just-leads-elves-on-elves-and-santas-he-is-playing-a/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) ## More by Madeline Hunter > [“You will have to forgive me, Major Woodruffe. I am new to marriage, and perhaps more given to jealousy than some of the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/you-will-have-to-forgive-me-major-woodruffe-i-am-new-to-marriage-and/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [“All the same, we should excuse ourselves," Vergil said. "Although I am wondering if the meeting was already well concluded when we intruded." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/all-the-same-we-should-excuse-ourselves-vergil-said-although-i-am/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [“Actually, should you ever decide to subject me to this, I think..." "You think what?" "I think that I would probably buy you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/actually-should-you-ever-decide-to-subject-me-to-this-i-think-you/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [“Só a quero porque não a posso ter.Como um rapaz imberbe”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/s-a-quero-porque-n-o-a-posso-ter-como-um-rapaz-imberbe/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [“Utter ruin provokes soul-searching in even the least reflective of men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/utter-ruin-provokes-soul-searching-in-even-the-least-reflective-of-men/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [Teaching is not telling and learning is not having been told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/teaching-is-not-telling-and-learning-is-not-having-been-told/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [“Sometimes events conspire to force one to do what should be done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/sometimes-events-conspire-to-force-one-to-do-what-should-be-done/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [“Silêncio. Quietude. A pulsação a criar uma calma absoluta. Uma Maior Consciência na perda de toda a percepção. A Flutuar agora. Ausência de perda.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/sil-ncio-quietude-a-pulsa-o-a-criar-uma-calma-absoluta-uma-maior/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [If you want to feel secure, do what you already know how to do. If you want to be a true professional and continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/if-you-want-to-feel-secure-do-what-you-already-know-how-to-do-if-you/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [I did indeed say you could have lovers. But I never promised that I would not kill them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/i-did-indeed-say-you-could-have-lovers-but-i-never-promised-that-i/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [“A garden did not need people in order to be alive and natural. The flowers might have died, and the last leaves might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/a-garden-did-not-need-people-in-order-to-be-alive-and-natural-the/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [“Forgive me. It was stupid of me to think you might need company, when clearly all you required was that decanter.” “It was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/forgive-me-it-was-stupid-of-me-to-think-you-might-need-company-when/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [You touch the world even if you do not want it to touch you. -Leona Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/you-touch-the-world-even-if-you-do-not-want-it-to-touch-you-leona/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [“Perhaps you should put an advertisement in the papers. You can have it listed under livestock. Stallion sought, something like that." Now, that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/perhaps-you-should-put-an-advertisement-in-the-papers-you-can-have-it/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [Historical romance is still very strong in the market. Writers of historical romance are making the bestselling lists on a regular basis and careers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/historical-romance-is-still-very-strong-in-the-market-writers-of/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) [Explore all 27 Madeline Hunter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) ## More Checks quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) [Roxanne Shante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxanne-shante/) > [I pay these niggas with a reality check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-pay-these-niggas-with-a-reality-check/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [The things of the world are ever rising and falling, and in perpetual change; and this change must be according to the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-things-of-the-world-are-ever-rising-and-falling-and-in-perpetual/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [If you find your feet dragging, check your path. You are probably on the wrong one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-toshio-sudo/if-you-find-your-feet-dragging-check-your-path-you-are-probably-on/) [Philip Toshio Sudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-toshio-sudo/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [I'm a little bit superstitious, and I think that just comes from playing hockey. I won't avoid the number thirteen. A big one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/i-m-a-little-bit-superstitious-and-i-think-that-just-comes-from/) [James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/) > [A lot of independent films offer a harsh reality check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh-reality-check/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [Seeds have the power to preserve species, to enhance cultural as well as genetic diversity, to counter economic monopoly and to check the advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/seeds-have-the-power-to-preserve-species-to-enhance-cultural-as-well/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) [Browse all 1,697 Checks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To say that you have taught when students haven't learned is to say you have sold when no one has bought. 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