A certain type of student takes Earth Science. The kind that I have to keep an eye on.
I did my usual walk-around and noticed a boy copying from another packet.
"I didn't get the notes."
Me: "That looks like the assignment, not the notes."
"But it's all right here. It's easier to copy."
I took the packet he was copying from, noted it belonged to Kevin, and moved on.
Miriam claimed to be completely done with the assignment. I doubted this, but I got distracted by something else. Upon returning to her side, I noticed she had gotten out her packet--her blank packet.
Me: "You told me you were done. You lied to me."
Not that it bothered me. Or seemed to bother her. I get lied to numerous times a day. But sometimes I like to point it out.
I stood over her, waiting for her to get to work. She refused. She flipped open the cover of the book when I asked her to open her book. She "couldn't find" the right page...
Later she called me over. I hoped rather than expected that she had an assignment-related question.
"How old are you?" (To which I gave my now standard reply.)
They'll do anything to avoid doing work. Sigh.
After I finally distanced myself from Miriam, I turned to find Kevin throwing something across the room. Something that made a metallic clang when it landed.
Since the period was over in two minutes, I let Kevin know that he would be receiving a referral for that the next day. (Too bad I didn't catch the other boy who was throwing stuff at Kevin.)
If only they put half as much effort into completing assignments that they do into avoiding assignments...
What's your favorite procrastination activity? (Please don't tell me it's throwing things at people.)
Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...
Gee, some students. I'm with you -- put half the effort into completing the assignment. My favorite procrastination activity? Maybe TV. Haven't thought about it before. :) I just do it, procrastination, that is.
ReplyDeleteDon't we all...
DeleteI wonder if these second-chance high school students would benefit from meeting people in their forties who are on social security disability and see how they live. I would preface the meeting with "This is your future if you don't start taking life seriously."
ReplyDeleteMy favorite procrastination activity is a toss up between browsing Pinterest and doing word puzzles. Also, those kids suck. :-/
ReplyDeleteOn the bright side, they're only a small percentage of the students in class. Of course, they're the ones that suck up all the oxygen.
DeleteI would have to say my favorite way to waste time is to browse Instagram for pictures of places I'd rather be. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't spend much time on Instagram. I should.
DeleteI wonder if this is why kids aren't learning much in school anymore! Seems they lack the discipline. Does this come from the parents? I could never be a teacher for the very things you describe.
ReplyDeleteThis is a small percentage of the student population. And many times the teachers will tell me they meet the parents and suddenly the students' behavior makes sense.
DeleteThat stuff takes effort. Might as well put it into school work.
ReplyDeleteVideo games are I what I use to procrastinate.
I am not shocked by them at all and keep feeling frustration. I will watch a movie or do something else-anything, other than what I have to get done but then I just do it
ReplyDeleteI am not sure, but all my time is wasted somewhere... I space out a lot and forget where I am... Welcome in the letter "E"... thank you!
ReplyDeleteJeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2015]
There's no earthly way of knowing.
Which direction we are going!
HOLLYWOOD NUTS!
Come Visit: You know you want to know if me or Hollywood... is Nuts?
I guess that's the point of procrastination, eh?
DeleteThat sounds like a headache waiting to happen. What you do with your subbing, Liz, is awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks. When I have a bad day, I think, "blog fodder".
DeleteI'm always amazed at how people will spend more time avoiding a task than it would have taken to do it in the first place. "A certain kind of student"? Earth Science was a mandatory class for me in 8th grade in Iowa. Then I moved to Ohio for the last grading period of 9th grade and they used the SAME text book. I was disgusted at how far behind Ohio was to Iowa.
ReplyDeleteThe 9th grade novel, which started in Iowa the day before I moved to Ohio was Dickens' A TALE OF TWO CITIES. The 9th grade novel in Ohio, which I missed, was TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. I managed to get ROMEO AND JULIET twice. Groan. I eventually read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and loved it. I haven't managed to get through A TALE OF TWO CITIES yet. We had a less politically correct term for the name of the novel. Ahem. 9th graders. I'm sure you can imagine.
Despite my initial disgust with the Ohio education system, I had one of the most demanding teachers on the planet for 11th and 12th grade English, which has served me well for all of my life. I've since realized they did a pretty good job for everyone else in my class, too, since most of my classmates can write a coherent post on Facebook.
There are some excellent teachers out there.
DeleteAll students are required to take a life science and a physical science. The college prep sequence is biology in 9th grade and chemistry in 10th. Those that aren't ready for biology in 9th grade take earth science (for their physical science) instead. It's sad, for it's a great topic.
When I was in class, I always just daydreamed. If you do it with a pen in your hand and your notebook open, it looks like you're working.
ReplyDeleteThen? I went for a walk down the cornfields. Now? I hide in the sewing room, where there is a wealth of projects.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't call that procrastinating. That's actual work. (And that's what I call my knitting in case anyone asks...)
DeleteA to Z is a way to procrastinate! So is social media, but I've already blogged about that. :)
ReplyDeleteYvonne
Ah yes. So it is.
DeleteHmm, good question. I think I'm with Alex...too many video games. A little break turns into a long one.
ReplyDeleteOh, I know how that goes, although my only game is Candy Crush.
DeleteYou think they would learn by now not to lie because it won't get them anywhere and that it is not proper to ask any adult their age :) I'm not sure what Earth Science is - geography? My favorite procrastination method is spending way too much time on blogs, but I do have to prioritize and I always (usually) get things done that need to be done :)
ReplyDeletebetty
Earth Science is the science of the earth: rocks, volcanoes, earthquakes, weather, oceans. A little planetary science. It's a great subject if only it didn't have the worst students taking it.
DeleteMy favorite procrastination activity is probably reading strange things on the internet... I like your standard answer to questions about your age. Back when I started working as a public librarian, we frequently gave out fake names because once certain patrons know your name they end up trying to get a lot of extra favors from you... These days we have to wear name badges with our photos and first names prominently displayed.
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm doing exactly at this second :)
ReplyDeleteAh yes, of course...
Deleteoh my, this brings back memories of my teaching days. Probably a good thing I'm sticking with a writing career! I procrastinate by checking twitter. It is a useful distraction. I promise!
ReplyDeleteIt can be.
DeleteMy favorite procrasination activity is wasting time on Facebook. Yahoo articles will do if there's not enugh going on with Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI do that, too. Not Yahoo, but Facebook.
DeleteReading blogs and forums is one of my procrastination methods though it depends what I'm avoiding. Sometimes I'll try knitting or reading or writing. I can always find something to do when there are more important things to be done.
ReplyDeleteKnitting is not procrastination! Knitting is therapy.
Delete