What a week! When it first started, I thought it was going to be a long week, but it surprisingly went pretty quickly. I do have some concerns about this placement, and here are a few:
1) It is hard to teach students to be respectful when teachers say things like "They're just being retards" or "That's retarded." I feel like so many kids say "That's gay" and stuff like that, and teachers are supposed to correct it, but I've heard so many students and teachers using this language and because the teachers are saying it, I can't really tell the kids not to.
2) Students are too often rewarded for their irresponsibility. I assigned a 21 page reading assignment from Fahrenheit 451 on Monday. On Tuesday, I tried to start discussion, but only 2 of the 22 students had done the reading. My co-op suggested I give them SSR time in class (1 hour on Tuesday!) to do the reading so they weren't left behind from the beginning. I was amazed (and appalled, honestly) that she was supporting their irresponsibility and laziness.
3) Overall, high-schoolers don't seem to care. I had girls looking at prom dress magazines in class the other day until I made them stop. To echo Jenna from last week, it seems like these kids realize their future is in farming or whatever, so they have no desire to learn because they don't believe it is valuable to their futures. Plus, they have attitudes and life experiences that just make me want to cry sometimes. They have been through so much and it's like there is nothing left for them to experience in life, which is sad. I also think it's disgusting the way they speak to one another. No respect for each other or teachers or anyone.
Other than that, it's not terrible. I definitely feel like I'm more meant to teach middle schoolers, but I think part of it is because I can't completely control this class because they are not used to being under control at all. They are used to doing what they want to do and having that be OK. I don't feel right completely changing the atmosphere, so there is some side chatter and a lot of people call out without raising their hands. We're making some progress, but not as much as I thought eleventh graders would be able to.
We'll see in the next 6 weeks!
It's almost the end
16 years ago
Megan,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your high schoolers are being a little frustrating. I'm sure that you're doing a good job with them regardless and I agree that sometimes high school students (and really a lot of students in that generation) are very disrespectful. I do have a suggestion for the reading based on a similar problem in my last placement. READING QUIZZES! If you start to give your students reading quizzes after assigning sections of text to read they'll start reading after a few of them. You don't have to give them everyday but I think it would help encourage the students to read more. Also, I don't know what you're teaching but if there are ways that you can incorporate farming or other things that a lot of the student's are interested in try that. It worked really well for me when my highschoolers really got the real world connection. Good luck! I hope things get better for you soon and that they start to be more responsible. Whip them into shape!!
Students are too often rewarded for their irresponsibility. I assigned a 21 page reading assignment from Fahrenheit 451 on Monday. On Tuesday, I tried to start discussion, but only 2 of the 22 students had done the reading. My co-op suggested I give them SSR time in class (1 hour on Tuesday!) to do the reading so they weren't left behind from the beginning. I was amazed (and appalled, honestly) that she was supporting their irresponsibility and laziness.
ReplyDelete-Reflecting on this, I think you have a general concern which is hard to deter. I suggest especially since it is your first week of teaching there to implement reading quizzes or class participation discussions where they have to contribute meaningful content to get a grade. The students need that motivation especially on the high school level. I think the ssr is ok, but the students really need to do this on their, especially when you said they are seniors right? I think you have general concerns that you need to address with them. Good luck Megan I have faith in you!
Megan,
ReplyDeleteI am right there with you in terms of student's being rewarded for laziness. I'm really surprised your co op just let them have SSR. What's worse, I can't believe your co op says "That's retarded." It must be so hard! My suggetsion is just to lay down the law.... it may be difficult and they may bitch and moan, but they have to know what is appropriate and what is not. And if they give you attitude and say, "well we always say/do that..." - the best response to that is, "well that's not how I run my classroom, so you're going to have to adjest." Keep up the great work! I know you will be just fine!