Blame Lucy

I was back at the continuation high school. English class.

The assignment was a group project poster discussing fixed mindsets and growth mindsets using examples from the movie Freedom Writers.

It was one of those assignments where I needed to spend a while on explanations. They had two pages of instructions. Each person in the group was assigned a specific job.

Fifth period. Ms. S had said that periods five and six already had their groups. So, when Lucy said she knew what to do, I was ready to not launch into the big, long explanation I had to give all the previous classes. And when she and her group wanted to work outside, I was happy to let them.

The first hint that I'd been duped was when two girls walked in late and went to join Lucy's group. They were in groups of four. Adding two put Lucy's group at five.

Then another late student informed me he was part of Lucy's group, but he didn't want to go outside. He'd wait for their return.

A quick glance at the group told me they definitely weren't doing the group project. They were clearly playing cards.

I'm generally hesitant about letting students work outside. Lucy just burned all goodwill over working outside for the rest of this year, at least.

I brought them back in the room. Oh, I was livid. I probably shouldn't have been. When they were outside, the room was calm. Back inside, not so much. When they returned, they did no work. Naturally.

Ah well. Now I have a handy reason for when a student asks to work outside, I say no, and they ask why not.

Blame Lucy.