Wednesday, January 6, 2021

The Final

The last week before winter break was finals. The last week of the semester. 

I started covering the special ed social studies class two weeks prior. That first day I received a copy of the finals schedule. As soon as I saw it, I uploaded it to the classes' Google Classrooms. Over the next two days, I made sure to tell each class where they could find the schedule. 

For the whole following week, I made mention of the finals schedule at least once a period. One day I even presented it to each class to make sure they looked at it. On their last day of the week, I made special mention of what day their finals were on, as some of them would be meeting on the "wrong" day. 

(The schedule is staggered. Periods 1, 3, and 5 meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Periods 2, 4, and 6 meet on Wednesdays and Fridays. All classes meet on Mondays. So, while it wouldn't be weird for periods 1 and 2 to go to class on Monday, it is odd for period 4 to meet on a Tuesday.) 

So, they should have it, right? 

On Sunday as I was going through my email (mostly to clear out the clutter), I ran across a student comment: "I was at a funeral. i missed other classes today  2 wonder how can i complete my final"

This was in response to the teacher's posting of what would be covered in their final. 

Um. . . I. . . 

I just. . . 

What I actually did was to reply to the student's comment. Calmly. "Your final is on Wednesday. You haven't missed it." 

Privately, well, you can see what I'm doing privately. Shaking my head. Wondering. 

They don't listen. I mean, I knew this, but still. I can't say I didn't go over it with them and explain.

19 comments:

  1. No, they don't often listen. Sadly, it sometimes doesn't get better as they get older. :)

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  2. Bet it gave you a good chuckle though.

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  3. I've seen adults unable to get things like this straight, so I can't expect it from kids.

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  4. That's part of what they're learning in school--how to listen and be responsible for their school work and schedule. Obviously, they have a lot to learn yet, but it must be even harder for your students during the pandemic.

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  5. It takes all kinds, I've been told. :-)

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  6. Sadly, for some people, this doesn't go away. I've had many conversations with my husband where I have the same conversation a few days later. It makes me shake my head when he has the same exact reactions too, as if hearing it for the first time. *sigh*

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    1. I know. I worked in retail. I have stories. . .

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  7. I wonder how they will pass their final with that poor grammar.

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  8. It's funny you mention "calm". I recall working in an office with several women before email was even a thing. We had some sort of inter-office communication and I constantly had to remind my coworkers that inflection couldn't be inferred by text. As a younger sister to three brothers, I learned a different sort of diplomacy, I guess. The emotional fires I put out (or my attempts) are countless. Ugh... Be well!

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    1. Well, yes, it does help that it was over text. They didn't see me rolling my eyes.

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  9. What was that? I wasn't listening...
    Har-har. Sorry. I could not resist.

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  10. Listening is a lost art these days I fear, no matter what the age.

    betty

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  11. Maybe the type of learner they are doesn't work so well virtually? I know, probably not the reason, but it's the only one I can think of. I have a Barbarian who we have to work on active listening with. He's been that way since birth so I'm not sure it's something we can teach out, but hopefully he'll get a little better.

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  12. I wish we could be surprised about this!

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