Wednesday. Integrated Math 2 (read: math for sophomores, kind of geometry). Sixth period.
If the above room looks familiar, it's because I was there two years ago in a long term for Mr. J. Ms. L, his co-teacher, was there, and she was going over the topic of the day, special right triangles.
I was in the back of the room, and I noticed a student hadn't gotten out her notes or anything. She was on her phone, but she was using it for pictures that she was drawing in a sketchbook. While I have no problems with students drawing, it was time for the girl to do math. I gently urged her to get out her notes and follow along with Ms. L. She ignored me.
The girl next to her had her notes. And then it was time for the kiddos to get into IXL which is a math program. They are given a problem to solve. If they get it right, the problems get harder. If they get it wrong, they are given how it should have been solved, and then they get another similar problem.
This girl had the computer open, the program loaded, but she wasn't starting the assignment. I leaned over and clicked open the assignment. (She was right there. It was one click.) The girl? She immediately backed out of it. Sigh.
Later, girl one had her head on her desk. Girl 2 was busily writing a paragraph on the back of her math notes. Whining. About having to do math. (I didn't read the whole thing, but I glanced at a couple sentences.)
Ms. L, who also went over and urged them to work, told me that the girls hadn't been doing much in the way of math this school year. Ms. L said she was kind of happy that at least girl one was coming to class, as the last year she had spent more time in the wellness center than in class. So, progress?
Baby steps, I guess.
So, I helped the students who were actually trying and who actually asked for help. There were several of them, and they really did seem to catch on.
This is how some students fail. I can only do so much in a class period, so I'd rather help the students who will take the help.
What else can you do? Otherwise, it's a waste of your time. But I understand how frustrating that would be.
ReplyDeleteIt is, but you can only do what you can do.
DeleteI always wonder about these kids' lives back at home, when I hear of their withdrawals from responsibilities....
ReplyDeleteYeah. I wonder if anxiety issues are due to problems at home. Or not. Hard to know when I only see them for a day.
DeleteMaybe when she takes the class a second time she might make an effort
ReplyDeleteMaybe. This is one of those classes that they can kind of get around, especially if they're not planning on going to college.
DeleteYou only have a limited time each period and it's right for use to use the time to help the students who are interested in learning.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteYou can't do better than your best.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't know if it's my best...
DeleteTrue, there is so much you can do.
ReplyDeleteIt's better to help those who are willing to take it.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteProgress, whatever it is, is good thing ;)
ReplyDelete