Decide....NOW!
I was struck by an interesting thought the other day – for a self-proclaimed indecisive person, my mind is constantly deciding and doing. I tried to describe it to my roommate……
Bell rings at 8:55. Students are in the hallways and filing into their classrooms, plenty of talking, yelling, and even running. For once, the movies actually get it right. A “warm-up” activity is on the screen when the students walk in. Bell rings at 9:00. Class starts. I ask students to put their homework on the desk so I can check for completion. As I walk the aisles, checking that they did the assigned problems, three students walk in late. One student has an absence slip that I’m supposed to sign and asks about what they missed yesterday. I remind them to check the absence folder by the calendar and to also check the syllabus that I passed out that includes all the assignments for this grading period. One of the tardy students follows me around the classroom until I check their homework. I ask them to have a seat. Another student has a late assignment to be turned in, but I need to get it back to them before class is over so that they can prepare for tomorrow’s quiz. I also have to remember to mark it down on the grade sheet in such a way that I remember to also change it in the computer so it’ll show up on their report card. I head to the front to go over the warm-up, grade last night’s homework and take any questions the students have. We go through the powerpoint of today’s lesson and work through a few problems together. At one point, mid sentence, a visitor brings a pass for a student to leave and go to the counselor’s office. I finish the lesson and let the students begin their homework assignment. While they work, I have approximately 7 minutes to grade the late papers, finish sending assignments to the student in ISS, make sure my 4 new students have a book and a calculator, and answer whatever questions pop up as the students work. Bell rings at 9:50. I have 5 minutes to close out everything from 1st period and get ready for 2nd period. Is it possible for me to use the pass during class for a restroom break? Ahhhh!!!!
Throughout this entire process, questions are racing through my mind:
Should I present this differently?
Do they really get this or are they faking it well?
Should I make a big deal about the tardies or talk to them privately?
Should I embarrass the dozing student or discreetly wake them up?
How do I guide them through the logic process of this problem without giving them the answers?
How do I convey the urgency for completing their homework?
Are they trying to text in their backpack or are they really looking for something?
Part of me expects the worst….assume they’re texting, or they’ll only change if I’m mad enough or embarrass them enough. The other part of me thinks the first part of me is horrible and should give them the benefit of the doubt.
Perhaps I over-think things. Because by the end of the day, particularly this week, I’m completely d-r-a-i-n-e-d! Maybe I just needed a good venting session.
Bell rings at 8:55. Students are in the hallways and filing into their classrooms, plenty of talking, yelling, and even running. For once, the movies actually get it right. A “warm-up” activity is on the screen when the students walk in. Bell rings at 9:00. Class starts. I ask students to put their homework on the desk so I can check for completion. As I walk the aisles, checking that they did the assigned problems, three students walk in late. One student has an absence slip that I’m supposed to sign and asks about what they missed yesterday. I remind them to check the absence folder by the calendar and to also check the syllabus that I passed out that includes all the assignments for this grading period. One of the tardy students follows me around the classroom until I check their homework. I ask them to have a seat. Another student has a late assignment to be turned in, but I need to get it back to them before class is over so that they can prepare for tomorrow’s quiz. I also have to remember to mark it down on the grade sheet in such a way that I remember to also change it in the computer so it’ll show up on their report card. I head to the front to go over the warm-up, grade last night’s homework and take any questions the students have. We go through the powerpoint of today’s lesson and work through a few problems together. At one point, mid sentence, a visitor brings a pass for a student to leave and go to the counselor’s office. I finish the lesson and let the students begin their homework assignment. While they work, I have approximately 7 minutes to grade the late papers, finish sending assignments to the student in ISS, make sure my 4 new students have a book and a calculator, and answer whatever questions pop up as the students work. Bell rings at 9:50. I have 5 minutes to close out everything from 1st period and get ready for 2nd period. Is it possible for me to use the pass during class for a restroom break? Ahhhh!!!!
Throughout this entire process, questions are racing through my mind:
Should I present this differently?
Do they really get this or are they faking it well?
Should I make a big deal about the tardies or talk to them privately?
Should I embarrass the dozing student or discreetly wake them up?
How do I guide them through the logic process of this problem without giving them the answers?
How do I convey the urgency for completing their homework?
Are they trying to text in their backpack or are they really looking for something?
Part of me expects the worst….assume they’re texting, or they’ll only change if I’m mad enough or embarrass them enough. The other part of me thinks the first part of me is horrible and should give them the benefit of the doubt.
Perhaps I over-think things. Because by the end of the day, particularly this week, I’m completely d-r-a-i-n-e-d! Maybe I just needed a good venting session.
I loved this post! Do you mind if I copy the idea? I loved getting to see what your day is like. Because actually.. it's so different than mine.
ReplyDeleteI'm always curious as to what other people's lives look like bit by bit.
We just try our best don't we? And pray that God works despite us!
Copy away my friend! And you're right about asking God to work no matter what. Love you!
ReplyDelete