"The senioritis is strong with this group..."
12th graders. It's April. Graduation is eight weeks away.
The district does these writing assessments in every quarter. (Two quarters per semester. Two semesters per year.) They are given article excerpts to read a couple days ahead of time so they can read them and annotate them. Then, they have a period to write an essay for a prompt based off the sources.
I've covered various English classes on writing assessment day. But apparently not seniors.
Every period began with the same discussion:
"Does this count for points?"
"No, it's just for the district."
(I hedged and said it might count. To be honest, I don't know. Some teachers might include it in their grades. But, the students were discussing this amongst themselves.)
So, of course the inevitable happened...
"Then I'm not doing it."
Ugh.
As there was no way I could force them to scribble coherent words on paper, my only recourse was to make note of the conversation and take down names of those blatantly avoiding the writing task.
(In some cases, I didn't have to look very hard...
Seriously, this is what this boy turned in for the task.)
I so hope the teacher made this worth points. I would love to be there when they find that out...
How bad did you get senioritis? Would you have skipped the writing task? How would you discipline the students who did not do the assessment?
Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...
Oh boy. What's a substitute to do?? As frustrating as it is, I would have probably done what you did. I would have done my best whether or not it was graded - but that's just the kind of kid I was.
ReplyDeleteFilled to Empty
Some days it's just a matter of hoping they won't disrupt the rest of the class.
DeleteI don't remember getting too much senoritis. I generally liked school. I would have done the assignment because I always followed the rules, LOL. I think I would have made the assignment worth points afterwards as a way to discipline those that chose not to do it. Hard to believe A/Z is winding down!
ReplyDeletebetty
I missed most of my senior year (mono) but I never would have refused to do an assignment in class.
ReplyDeleteYikes, that must have sucked :(
DeleteI don't remember senoritis either. Too many years ago! Our seniors graduation is in 11 school days! I would have done the assignment. I was NOT a rebel at school. The consequences at home were not worth it. I wonder if there are any consequences at home for these kids!
ReplyDeleteYeah, you guys get out way early.
DeleteIt does sound like a waste of time. Honestly, with eight weeks to go, even if it does count for points what does it matter? They've probably already finalized their plans. If they're going to college, they're not going to get un-accepted from one bad grade.
ReplyDeleteWow, they're almost done might as well just do the silly paper lol
ReplyDeleteOh, you'd think so, wouldn't you?
DeleteHow difficult it would be to just step into another's class, for probably only a day or two. In my youth, it would have been fairly easy for a sub teacher, as kids were more respecting of teachers and elders. I remember just once, I questioned a teacher and was expelled from school and my mother had to come to school before I could go back. Boy, was she pissed. Mostly embarrassed, I think. Girls were not supposed to be expelled from school.
ReplyDeleteSubbing gets easier the more I do it. And the longer I do it, the more of them know me. That helps.
DeleteWe were too distracted by Vietnam War protests literally in front of our school (and an army recruiting station across from where I lived!) to have senioritis. But I never would have turned down a writing assignment. The End. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteAh yes, senioritis is definitely a first world problem.
DeleteWell, I would never have been there in the first place.😜 If I had of been, I'd probably have let them just deal with any consequences of their choice, as after all they will be out in the real world in about a month.
ReplyDeleteI had mild Senioritis. I skipped one day to go to the beach with a friend. But back then, they expected seniors to skip one day. I may have sloughed off an couple of assignments. That's about it. I was an NHS High Honor graduate. And a bit of a rebel and advocate of the underdog.
Perspectives at Life & Faith in Caneyhead
I probably whined before that my father wouldn't let me graduate early. So I took easy classes and tutored other students. His wish to keep me close failed when I moved several US states away. And my partner and I recently refused to drop everything for a visit to Florida this spring, once again becoming persona non grata. What can you do? Sorry to whine again. Humans can be very disappointing.
ReplyDeleteUh oh. He's sounding a bit needy. But you can't be expected to run off at the drop of a hat.
DeleteHi Liz - we never had a chance to discuss our assignments - we just had to do them ... well done in your approach -cheers Hilary
ReplyDeletehttp://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/x-is-for-x-war-facts.html
What an awful position to put you in. I think you did the right thing in recording what happened. It's too bad the teacher didn't leave more information (like how the assignment would be graded). Maybe next time...
ReplyDeleteI think I mentioned I was a teacher's pet, so I would have done the work without question.
X is for the X-37B Space Plane
I'm sure this time of year is rough for teachers. Nobody wants to be in school!
ReplyDeleteYeah, well, some classes are easier than others.
DeleteWhat is it with these kids today. When I was given an assignment we did not question anything about it, we did it. Crazy.
ReplyDeleteI know. But keep in mind that I talk about the aberrations, not the normal, well-behaved kids.
DeleteIf I was subbing I would just dob them in to their teacher. Otherwise I would waste their time at recess like they wasted my time in class :)
ReplyDeleteWhich is what I did. He was not well pleased with them. (I covered the class again this past Tuesday and had a chance to discuss it with him.)
DeleteTo be honest, if I knew 100% it did not matter, I would not have done the test either but that is the key.....100%. If a teacher put the fear in me that it might be considered for marks, the. I would have done the test
ReplyDeleteWell, since I wasn't even sure...
DeleteYeah, if it didn't count I'd be bailing on that, too. lol
ReplyDelete