Friday, May 23, 2025

Three Weeks Notice

Friday. Eleventh grade English, eighth period. 

The kiddos had a quiz on The Great Gatsby chapters four through seven. As they walked in and asked what the plan for the day was, I told them this. Some of them were surprised. 

Emmitt: "You are required to give us three weeks notice before you give a quiz." 

Now, normally I'd push back on this. Say something snarky. Point out that pop quizzes were a thing. But I didn't have to. 

"I kind of actually did," I said. 

Another student: "She told us about it the first day she was here." 

Now, that was a bit of an exaggeration. I wouldn't say I mentioned it the first day. When we began the book, I outlined the plan. Quiz after chapter 3, quiz after chapter 7. Final on whole book (after I was out of the class). 

I can list all the times I mentioned that they had a quiz coming, but that might be a bit of overkill. Suffice it to say that I mentioned it a lot

And yet still, some of them were surprised. Well, I can only do what I can do.

20 comments:

  1. Good you had at least one student to defend you.

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    1. I don't generally worry about the kiddo who is all surprised about the quiz. Clearly they were not paying attention.

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  2. Yes, I like that one student immediately backed you up!

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    1. I get more backup than you'd think, generally.

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  3. Ha ha, kids will try anything to get out of a quiz!

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  4. Amazing how all the kids -- barring one -- just forgot about it!

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  5. Three week notice? We were lucky to get a day's notice!

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    1. They were lucky I didn't say something like that.

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  6. Three weeks notice? I remember getting a 5 minute heads up on the pop quizzes. lol

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  7. Three weeks notice. Wait. WHAT!?

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  8. Three weeks notice. Good one. More surprised that the one student backed you up.

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    1. Those who were paying attention were not surprised by the quiz.

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  9. I got 'pop' quizzes on a regular basis throughout my schooling. It's sad that some students couldn't even remember being forewarned. ~sigh~ Be well!

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    1. It never fails. I do not care how much warning I give them, there's always someone who is shocked that there's a test.

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  10. Now I wonder if some teacher do open book quiz and or test?

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