I got to school late today (well, late for me, not actually late) because I was exhausted from staying up late making a packet for my AP students to complete over the break. Don't worry, it's not that bad -- and it's all review for the midterm. I'm not THAT evil.
As soon as I got to school I tried to print out the packet. My printer was working fine and then, suddenly, in the middle of the last page, it stopped working. And then a cockroach crawled out of my printer. Please let me repeat. A COCKROACH CRAWLED OUT OF MY PRINTER.
Then it crawled back in. I had a student kill it -- but he was unsuccessful in getting the thing back OUT of my printer. So I have a dead cockroach in my printer. Eh, at least it works.
Then, I went downstairs to make copies of said winter break packet only to find that someone had jammed the copier and then just left it like that (bastard). At this point I have about 8 minutes until first period. I unjammed the copier, made my copies in record time, and then sprinted back up to my classroom. Good thing I had sneakers on.
And then only 3 students showed up to 1st period -- there are 33 on roll.
Six students (out of nine) showed up to AP Stats.
Four out of 33 students showed up to 5th period.
So I saw 13 students today. The geometry classes were a complete waste -- kids just did make up work or worked on an activity from the show Numb3rs. At least Stats was successful -- I sold the kids on doing the packet and they wanted to get right to work on it.
I'll leave here today at exactly 3:05, run home to pack, and then a long drive to Massachusetts. If we hadn't had "school" today, I'd be home by now.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Some good things...
On Monday, a student screaming, yelling, and jumping around like crazy because he earned a total of 1602 on his HSAs. For those of you not from Baltimore – the HSAs are the exams that students must pass (or achieve a total score of 1602) in order to graduate from high school. The tests are in Algebra I/Data Analysis, English II, Biology, and Government. Most of our seniors have not fulfilled the HSA requirement, so a lot of them are working their butts off to pass or to complete the “bridge projects” which can give them more points. But don’t get me started on how they should’ve been working hard before senior year….
Last Friday, I did not teach statistics. Instead, we had a class meeting during which I expressed what I expect from the kids, and they expressed what they expect from me. What I want them to do: homework, take notes, ask questions, read the book. What they want me to do: more practice with multiple choice questions, more practice in general (although I explained that the homework, which up to now they haven’t done, is supposed to be that practice), and more fun activities. We also decided that students who do not turn in the homework will not receive the test scale. This is a really big deal, since the scale I use can dramatically increase a student’s grade. I’m hoping that the scale is enough of an incentive for students to do all the homework.
This week there has been a huge improvement in engagement, and everyone passed the test on Thursday! Very, very, exciting.
And most importantly,
I AM DONE WITH HOPKINS CLASSES UNTIL JANUARY.
Last Friday, I did not teach statistics. Instead, we had a class meeting during which I expressed what I expect from the kids, and they expressed what they expect from me. What I want them to do: homework, take notes, ask questions, read the book. What they want me to do: more practice with multiple choice questions, more practice in general (although I explained that the homework, which up to now they haven’t done, is supposed to be that practice), and more fun activities. We also decided that students who do not turn in the homework will not receive the test scale. This is a really big deal, since the scale I use can dramatically increase a student’s grade. I’m hoping that the scale is enough of an incentive for students to do all the homework.
This week there has been a huge improvement in engagement, and everyone passed the test on Thursday! Very, very, exciting.
And most importantly,
I AM DONE WITH HOPKINS CLASSES UNTIL JANUARY.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Cheating Part III
As you may recall, the three students who copied each other on the take-home quiz had to write essays. Two of the students wrote very lovely essays that showed their remorse, and that perhaps they had learned their lessons. And then, three weeks late, I received the third essay.
"Copying or cheating is morally wrong but everyone has their reason, my peers and I are the same. I copied because I feel as though I was not being taught to the best of my teacher's ability. When we ask for help, the first thing I hear is 'ask your classmates.' If I don't know, what makes you think they know? I'm not saying that my explanation excuses action, but it should be known."
I literally, don't know what to say to this. I'm sorry, but did he just tell me that his cheating is MY FAULT? Because I'm not trying hard enough? Because I try to make the kids work together and teach each other something? I cannot POSSIBLY have read that correctly.
He later goes on to say that he didn't really cheat.
"Now, correct me if I'm wrong - the answers weren't exactly the same. It would not be for me to talk myself out of this because no matter what I say I'm wrong. So I'm saying that I am sorry."
Oh OK -- he's sorry. Sorry that it was my fault that I didn't work hard enough and am so lazy that I don't answer questions and make kids work together so he was forced to cheat.
This is a GOOD kid -- who, this week, has made some progress in getting homework done and actually trying to understand the material. He's a smart kid, a stubborn kid -- he's the kid who I have previously written about who drives me crazy with his constant arguments.
In other words, blah.
"Copying or cheating is morally wrong but everyone has their reason, my peers and I are the same. I copied because I feel as though I was not being taught to the best of my teacher's ability. When we ask for help, the first thing I hear is 'ask your classmates.' If I don't know, what makes you think they know? I'm not saying that my explanation excuses action, but it should be known."
I literally, don't know what to say to this. I'm sorry, but did he just tell me that his cheating is MY FAULT? Because I'm not trying hard enough? Because I try to make the kids work together and teach each other something? I cannot POSSIBLY have read that correctly.
He later goes on to say that he didn't really cheat.
"Now, correct me if I'm wrong - the answers weren't exactly the same. It would not be for me to talk myself out of this because no matter what I say I'm wrong. So I'm saying that I am sorry."
Oh OK -- he's sorry. Sorry that it was my fault that I didn't work hard enough and am so lazy that I don't answer questions and make kids work together so he was forced to cheat.
This is a GOOD kid -- who, this week, has made some progress in getting homework done and actually trying to understand the material. He's a smart kid, a stubborn kid -- he's the kid who I have previously written about who drives me crazy with his constant arguments.
In other words, blah.
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