Thread: Year 9 Logic

I teach 6th ELA so I realize three years makes a difference. Teaching in a private school as opposed to a public school also makes a difference. But I do have to say, you are dealing with this MUCH better than I would be. Not only did they not have a speech finished in six periods, but they wanted to circumvent your consequences, by choosing their own topic (which they could have done in the first place) and then write it in one period or less? I would be furious if my whole class came to me with that statement/proposal. Sounds like it was an intentional sabotogue - or did I misunderstand?

Since they had six periods, I would have told them that they one extra day (with penalty) to complete what they had started and present - finished or not. If they still had nothing, they would present a speech on the topic I would choose - and they would not be fun topics.

But then again - I am old and mean. :x So what did you do?

Heh heh
My psych said to me last year, about another class much more benthic than this one "Mediocre in this class is damn near excellence" Thats the premise I have been using since and applying it to all my classes. What I accept as the "bare minimum" for myself and others is actually excellence. Whole different way of looking at the problem. It kinda works. It stops me killing myself over trying to get the really slow/low/wont work kids to do SOMETHING... ANYTHING!!! and allows me to accept that, hey they wrote six words today, that is good becuase they wrote something rather than drawing graffiti in their book. I have a fridge magnet on my desk which says: "You can change the world by changing your perspective"
I took the girls approaching me as something positive - they obviously have that cute little desire in them still to "please the teacher" and still want to try, hence asking if they can make up their own impromptu speech rather than risking something they didn't know about. I also thought that the fact they were prepared to go away and research and write up an "impromptu" speech was sweet too, it shows they know what to do thanks to how I taught them, and are applying it now, even if they didn't do it in class - something got through.
I think in this shcool, with these classes, that is all that I can ask.
But be assured. THere will be hades to pay come Monday if anyone doesn't have a prepared speech. We went to a play on Thursday class so they have the weekend as well as Thursday and Friday to come up with something.


On another interesting note - my 10P class, the naughty ones, I expected really awesome speeches from them. They love to yell out and be the centre of attention, have loud voices, love to swing thier arms (attatched books or chairs optional) around, always quick to argue a point, particularly if any involvement in work is part of it... Their speeches have been really bad! TO give them the spotlight for three minutes - nearly every single person has shied away. Very interesting.