It is the end of the term and I am running out of patience. I really do like my job, but man-oh-man, sometimes I just want to bang my head against the wall, throw all the papers away and hide in a dark corner with a Coke, a cheeseburger, and a donut. Sigh. Next week is a new start. The papers will have to be graded by then. No one will ask me to retake a test for at least a few weeks and I might, just might, be able to keep my head above water for a little while. In the meantime, I decided to vent a little here . . . It will make me feel better.
SAGE & Common Core
We finally got our results back last week from the first implementation of the new year end state testing. We did pretty bad as a school. My results were dismal except for one class that was . . . what's a word that is worse than dismal . . . awful?!? I had one class period with 0% proficiency. ZERO! I'm not proud of it by any means, but there are also many factors outside my control that effected it. It's been stressing me out.
Side note: For the couple of people who actually read my blog, please note that Common Core is not bad! The curriculum for math is good. Utah's implementation of it has been sub-par and working in a small district means we have very limited resources for putting it all together. If you'd like to have more of a conversation about this when state-wide results come out next week, I'd be happy to engage.
Students
Here are some examples of why I lose patience at this time of the term.
Scenario 1
Student: I need to retake a test.
Me: You can come in on Tuesday or Thursday after school or during your lunch or to the teacher next door on Wednesday or Thursday before school or you can work on it during the last 15 minutes of class.
Student: I can't come today after school.
Me: Ok?!?
Student: I can't come on Thursday after school. I have a football game.
Me: Then . . . (I list all the options again)
Student: Fine! I will miss my last football game. [Student glares at me like I have ruined his life and eaten all his steak.]
Me: That doesn't sound like the best option. If I were your coach I wouldn't want you to miss the game.
Student: It's an away game.
Me: ????
Student: I need more time. Can I do it next week?
Me: You've had a month to retake the test and Friday is the last day of the term. No, you do not get any more time.
Student: Fine. I will miss the football game. [Student looks like he is about to cry.]
Scenario 2
Math Lab is 8th period. It is a class during the day for struggling math students. I help them with their homework and after some of them fail tests, I help them re-learn the material and try to hold their hand to take the test again. On Wednesday, I pulled six or so kids aside to help them with their retakes. They all scored between 20-50% on the last test. I would do 5 or 6 problems on the board and ask them questions, quiz them, etc. Once they seemed to make some progress I'd say, "ok now do those similar 5 or 6 problems on the retake." I even left the work we had just done on the board! I got blank stares. I had two pouters who just put their heads down. I got, "why are you making us do this it's the end of the term!" My response, "because you just failed a test" had absolutely no softening effect. Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!
Scenario 3
Student: Mrs. Binggeli, I turned in like 300 assignments yesterday to the late box and it still says I am missing them online . . . . but I turned them in.
Me: Do you see the late box over there? It is full and I just emptied it last Friday. When you turn papers in on time, I put them online on time. When you turn them in late, you have to wait until I get to them.
Student: But it still says I'm missing them . . .
Me: There is not an automatic uploading of data between that blue late work box and the online grading system. I have to actually look at your 300 assignments and then grade them and then enter a score. It takes time.
Student: ???
Me: I'll get to it.
Student: What do you think it will bring my grade up to?
Me: I don't know.
Student: Will it bring it up?
Me: It won't bring it down.
Student: So will it bring it up?
Me: [Sigh]. Yes.
Scenario 4
Me: It's almost 4:30. I need to go and get my own orphan children from the daycare. You need to wrap up what you're working on and turn it in.
Student: What's really more important? Me or your own children?
Me: [silence]
Student: Ok. Will this at least help me so I'm not failing anymore?
Me: You're not failing. You have like, a B.
Student: I do??
Me: Yes.
Student: So why am I here?
Me: I don't know. You tell me.
Student: Are you sure I don't have an F?
Me: Yes, you have a B? I need to go now so turn in what you have done.
Student: Do you know the Bible dictionary mentions unicorns? [Student pulls out his scriptures to show me the unicorn reference in the Bible dictionary.]
I could go on, but I'll stop. It will end soon.
New term.
Fresh start.
Good attitude.
6 comments:
oh my! I am so glad that there are people who will deal with "other people's children" and be teachers. Thanks for what you do!
Oh my! If it makes you feel any better, I have to deal with the same sore of thing with the attorneys in my office...crazy but true!!!!
I don't miss this at all. But, I did laugh.
I remember when I was Mrs. Douglas' TA. Over UEA she brought me a stack of papers to grade, and paid me to do it.
Maybe it's an option you need to look in to as well? Kidding (about you doing it, not about Mrs. Douglas doing it).
For what it's worth, I think so highly of you that I'd honestly consider driving my kids to Murray, for school, so that they could have you as a teacher.
That gives me a whole new prospective of Jacey's math teacher. I am so glad that my kids are good students, but I have to admit high school is a whole new world. I have just about had it with the teachers at her school. They have been so difficult to work with since her surgery. I am certain it is because they are inundated with students just like the ones you mentioned here, and are extremely tired of it too.
I literally LOL'd when I read #3! You are a saint hahaha!
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