Today was awful. I must have sprouted 11 more gray hairs.
-We woke up to what looked like a glass-covered world thanks to some treacherous freezing rain. Cool-looking, but not something you'd order on a day you need to get from point A to point B. Praise God for my faithful husband who peeled our car from under its icy coat and drove me to work. He stayed in the library and pretended to be a teenager. He did not draw the obscenities in the cubicle: they were already there.
-One boy gave me such sulking, silent treatment-ish, 'this is so stupid' attitude about the grammar we're learning at the moment. He hates being wrong and hates the class more (and by default, me) when the right answer just doesn't make sense. I can't disagree with his frustration at the concept: yes, it is difficult for everybody to differentiate between which of the three past tenses to use when filling in a narrative. What's hilarious is that this sophomore thinks he's ready for AP next year, when there's a French 4 level that he would have time to take before moving on to the hardest French level possible. Little does he know that in AP, one has to complete narratives with ANY and ALL tenses (10 total), not just three. Ha!
-One really bright and high achieving girl wouldn't let go of the above concept and argued and argued her answer, making me more and more frustrated in class. Help her after school, you suggest? That's right, and she'll take hours of your time then, and at lunch, and during your free periods too! An A+ is not enough for this girl. She must receive an A+infinity.
-One girl is having a lot of trouble with this concept, but really basic conjugation in general. This is a theme for her, but I don't think she's doing what she can to help herself either. She wants extra help, but nothing I offer her coordinates with her schedule. I guess something's gonna have to give: either her grade on my upcoming test, or something else (like the evil competitor: sports).
-One girl who is a post-grad and completing a second year of 12th grade cried her eyes out, begging me to... (I don't even know what!), but she was pleading her cause, saying how much she studied and how she doesn't understand why she got the 68%. I know why: she simply did not have her verbs memorized! Sorry! I asked her how she "studied" and she said she "spent hours looking over her verbs". Ooohhhh.... so that's why I can't play the piano today! I didn't do anything with the music, I just looked at it! WHY DOESN'T ANYONE KNOW HOW TO STUDY WELL?!?!?
-One bright girl begged me to let her redo a sloppy essay. She didn't like the C I gave her, when she really deserved a C-. Her explanation was that she was really busy the day before and didn't have time to write it. Interesting. What about the 4 other days before? I told her next time to be honest with me about her work schedule, take a late penalty, and turn in something worth my time. Ok, ok. I used nicer words.
-In other classes (yes, that was all from one group), I had better luck.
My bedtime is coming up, and I don't think I have what it takes for another day. Especialy since I've got two more observations from the administrators. So far, that will make 7 from administrators, 2 from my department chair and 2 from colleagues, with more on the way! Nothing has changed from the beginning of the year: not me, nor my style, nor my students. So, why?
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I feel with you, kiddo! There are those days but stick to your guns!! I know you can handle the"crap" SOOO much better than your first year!! And by the way, TEN tenses?? (kidding) Praying the rest of your week will be encouraging and positive! Love you so so much, Mom
ReplyDeleteI remember when it finally hit me that how much work I put in didn't mean much if it was junk! Good luck. Teens are HARD!
ReplyDeleteCome and visit us. We won't talk French at all! :o)