Wednesday, March 11, 2015

No Time to Goof Off


9th grade English. Their assignment was to complete the final draft of some culture essay. They had their graded rough drafts. They had writers' folders. And they had the whole period in which to complete it.

The lesson plan warned that I was to collect all final drafts at the end of the period no matter how much they might whine about it. So, I clamped down on them early. I warned them that they had the period and only the period, and once they knew I meant business, the room settled to a comfortable working silence.

I took a seat at the front of the room. I looked out at all the busily working freshmen. Only Juan stared back.

So, I watched him. Usually, my undivided attention is enough to get a student to look back down at his desk and to the work that he should be doing. But not Juan. Juan watched me back.

He had way too much time. I went over to investigate.

Juan was drawing circles on his writer's folder. No rough draft was visible. He had no paper nor was he working on something that looked like a final draft of what I assume was an essay worth a bunch of points. So, I asked him about it.

Juan explained that his rough draft was missing. He took it home and threw it out or misplaced it in his backpack or something. So, instead of panic, trying to reconstruct it, or finding something else to do, Juan was watching me and looking like he had all the time in the world to goof off.

I have a feeling I should get to know Juan so he'll be easier to handle when he gets to the continuation high school.

I did make sure to note his lack of work in my note.

12 comments:

  1. Hmm, sounds like he could be a challenge. I've never understood the I-don't-care attitude. If it was me and I'd lost my work, I'd be scrambling to get something put together!

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    1. I know. Me too. Although, we wouldn't have lost the rough draft in the first place.

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  2. He probably figures that it's not his fault it got lost (even if it is) so he can blame his bad grade on that. Or maybe you were just a very interesting subject to watch.

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  3. Who knows the mystery of a young mind? I no longer have a point of reference so I tend to shake my head a lot :)
    Rick, your latest follower.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. Yeah, I don't get them either. Which is why I write about them so much.

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  4. Stopping by from Pam's Unconventional alliance to say "Hi." I'm looking forward to reading your a-z blog posts in April.

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  5. Oh yes, I know that staring competition. I'm guessing you've perfected the look Liz?

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    1. I don't know if I have. I would have thought that would get him to do something if my look worked.

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  6. The saddest thing is he didn't even want to try to start something. I'd be in a panic writing anything and everything, just to have something turned in. I think you pegged it right that he'll be at the continuation school down the line.

    betty

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    1. I know. I'd be freaking out, trying to reconstruct something. But, alas...

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  7. Oh Juan....He might be the type that always lands on his feet. Let's hope he will smarten up in the future

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