I’m Done
Are you able to recall an incident which greatly disappointed you, but, logically, it really should not have greatly disappointed you? My eighth grade Onesies greatly disappointed me recently, and, the situation is one that I really should not have taken so personally. The Situation: Approximately 50% of the class (there are 13 enrolled in [...]
Get ‘Er Done
As part of my campaign to raise the level of expectation in my seventh graders – both academically and behaviorally, I’ve instituted the following. Strategies are courtesy of Teach Like A Champion. 1. Procedures for Entering the Classroom* a. Go directly to seats. b. Set everything out that is needed for class. c. Place homework [...]
Flip-Floppy, Wishy-Washy?
As some of my regular readers know, I underwent the Big Chop in mid-January. Well, yesterday was my three-week maintenance/clean-up trim. Due to the weather – or, at least that which was forecasted – I cancelled my appointment. Although I really like my chic, short, twa (also known as a “teeny weeny afro”), I contemplated [...]
*Ante Up and Kick In!
I spend more time than I would like emailing parents about their children‘s low test/quiz scores, and/or their uncompleted homework assignments. In fact, I did a fair amount of the aforementioned last evening. As a result, I was frustrated. I shared my frustration with my Dear Mom via telephone. I then asked her if she [...]
*Gotta Put In Your Own Work Around Here
It’s like the horrible sequel to a bad B-movie. The student who believed his civil liberties were being violated emailed me earlier today. He wanted clarification on an upcoming assignment. Mind you, the assignment in question was posted to the online homework board several days ago – Thursday, to be exact. So…why did said student [...]
Rethinking Student Accountability
After reading the following blog post, I began to reflect more earnestly about the ways in which I hold my students accountable for their learning. The truth of the matter is, I don’t hold them nearly as accountable to the degree that I should. When my students don’t complete assignments, I register the grade in [...]
