And my first grading period ends
Well one entire grading period is now under my belt. Hard to believe that I was the one who issued ALL the grades that these kids earned. It was rather interesting going through the grading process. First, it was hard because it is so hard getting assignments. A few weeks ago, my teachers looked through my grades and said "how are this many holes?" I simply said, they didn't turn them in. My teachers then said to me, "Well how are you going to explain that one to the parents?" I kinda looked at them at first and then thought, "Hmm, that is my job to get it from them." So I gave them a grace period, a rather nice one at that, over a week, to get all their LATE work in. These kids knew that they had to get it in, grant it that it would never get a full grade but none the less, better than a whole bunch of zero's going into the grade book. Many of the kids took advantage of this, some didn't. So when final grades came out it was quite hard looking at all the "flagpole" grades. My teachers then said, I think we're going to have to wiggle on some of these grades. Meaning some of the F's get bumped up to D's and all the way up. But where does the bumping come from. Well you ask yourself "Does this kid really do D work or do they do C work? I have said from when I started that it was a hard grading scale. I have never worked on this grading scale before in my life (not even in my undergrad courses!) 70% is the failing line. So you can imagine how hard these kids have to work. Most prove that this is not hard, but there is too large of a handful that won't even budge if you give them half the answers. So I learned that you have to work at the same rate as you do to prepare lessons as it is to get things back from kids. This includes techniques such as "giving more class time for work," basically not to expect homework back because most of the kids won't do it for one reason or another. Instead if I give some class time for them to do their work, they're more adept to do it. So for my final five weeks at Lincoln Middle School, I am going to teach for about 15 minutes a day and then let the kids do their homework for the last half of class. It actually is working and the kids are happier. (I must have some spies too - haha), because my teacher said that several kids made comments to her that they like this way better. So I am happy, they are happy, but it's weird. One would think the kids would not like the "busy work" feeling, but they do in fact like it. So go figure, if it works let it go.
In talking with my teacher today, she said she is going to just let me try things and see where I wind up. She said "there is going to be no one to look over your plans next year." How scary that was to hear a comment like that. Though I still don't feel that I have enough experience to make those crazy decisions yet, but then again do most first-year teachers? I guess that's why I've had some friends tell me to "Plan it and - just make it look good and no one will never know." Kind of the learning as you go approach. I still admire some of the ideas that both my teachers come up with, but of course that is with 25 years experience for each of them.
Well I have a crap load to grade - goal is to grade EVERYTHING by the time spring break hits. I'm thinking of doing a movie for Thursday in English. (Yes I am just not really in the mood to attempt to teach something the day before break because I know the kids will be off the wall!) So I'm in search of the Simpsons episode where Bart and Lisa lead a newscast (thought it'd be a nice tie to journalism), but so far, I am having no luck finding it - If anyone has that episode on tape or knows where I can find it, please let me know!
Otherwise things have been OK for me. I just kinda vegged all weekend long. It was kinda bad - though I did quite a dent in lesson plans done. I just have not been feeling myself lately. I just have not felt 100% awake. I literally go home just drained and have to take a nap. Quite weird - the cure for that will be summer. I can't wait!
Peace out,
Mike
22 days
In talking with my teacher today, she said she is going to just let me try things and see where I wind up. She said "there is going to be no one to look over your plans next year." How scary that was to hear a comment like that. Though I still don't feel that I have enough experience to make those crazy decisions yet, but then again do most first-year teachers? I guess that's why I've had some friends tell me to "Plan it and - just make it look good and no one will never know." Kind of the learning as you go approach. I still admire some of the ideas that both my teachers come up with, but of course that is with 25 years experience for each of them.
Well I have a crap load to grade - goal is to grade EVERYTHING by the time spring break hits. I'm thinking of doing a movie for Thursday in English. (Yes I am just not really in the mood to attempt to teach something the day before break because I know the kids will be off the wall!) So I'm in search of the Simpsons episode where Bart and Lisa lead a newscast (thought it'd be a nice tie to journalism), but so far, I am having no luck finding it - If anyone has that episode on tape or knows where I can find it, please let me know!
Otherwise things have been OK for me. I just kinda vegged all weekend long. It was kinda bad - though I did quite a dent in lesson plans done. I just have not been feeling myself lately. I just have not felt 100% awake. I literally go home just drained and have to take a nap. Quite weird - the cure for that will be summer. I can't wait!
Peace out,
Mike
22 days