Nebulous Jellyfish
Today marks the half-way point of the trimester. It also marks a turning point for my ninth graders to improve their behavior, organization, and attitude.
At the end of last week, students were supposed to turn in their final research papers. I got maybe half of them. The other half - the students who didn't care to do the work for the past week - just sat and talked, laughed, and messed around with their friends. Their purposeful choice to be oblivious irritated me. I sent about 40 emails home that day.
Today, I decided I needed to turn a new leaf with my students. I needed to be honest, show my frustrations, and objectively demonstrate why my students were making me feel sad, downtrodden and irate all at the same time. So, during my prep period, I sat and did some math, created some visual aids, and put together a PowerPoint Presentation detailing my frustrations, their shortcomings, and my plan for their future.
As I went through my main points, and delivered my evidence, most students sat respectfully and listened to my words. Only one student tried to be sarcastic to escape the uncomfortable feelings he was experiencing, but he quickly stopped once he realized no one was giving him attention. Throughout my lecture, an impromptu metaphor developed.
They're lacking organization, structure, and a desire to care or be "with it." The objective I wrote on the white board was "Act like you care." It'll be interesting to see if anyone improves their behavior, but I'll keep trying to find solutions to help me problem solve this disaster. I just hope that my claim, reasons, and evidence - combined with my honesty - made an impact.
At the end of last week, students were supposed to turn in their final research papers. I got maybe half of them. The other half - the students who didn't care to do the work for the past week - just sat and talked, laughed, and messed around with their friends. Their purposeful choice to be oblivious irritated me. I sent about 40 emails home that day.
Today, I decided I needed to turn a new leaf with my students. I needed to be honest, show my frustrations, and objectively demonstrate why my students were making me feel sad, downtrodden and irate all at the same time. So, during my prep period, I sat and did some math, created some visual aids, and put together a PowerPoint Presentation detailing my frustrations, their shortcomings, and my plan for their future.
As I went through my main points, and delivered my evidence, most students sat respectfully and listened to my words. Only one student tried to be sarcastic to escape the uncomfortable feelings he was experiencing, but he quickly stopped once he realized no one was giving him attention. Throughout my lecture, an impromptu metaphor developed.
My students are nebulous jellyfish, drifting in and out of class like sea creatures carried by the ocean.
They're lacking organization, structure, and a desire to care or be "with it." The objective I wrote on the white board was "Act like you care." It'll be interesting to see if anyone improves their behavior, but I'll keep trying to find solutions to help me problem solve this disaster. I just hope that my claim, reasons, and evidence - combined with my honesty - made an impact.
I've called the ninth graders "newbies" and "squirrelies", but I like your extended metaphor. Did you show them that when you taught your extended metaphor contest?
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