https://padlet.com/jaa157/psbn00rseqly Working on Eggshells en-us 2016-10-04 22:43:45 UTC 2017-03-15 09:56:40 UTC hello@padlet.com jaa157 https://padlet.com/jaa157/psbn00rseqly/wish/128350968 Dilemma: English 11 is currently working in three areas, American Literature, college and career readiness vocabulary, and a career paper and presentation project.  With regards to the literature, there are many aspects I cannot control: students reading at home, students working in groups efficiently, student’s interest in the topic, student’s attendance, and student participation.  To further complicate things, there is a strong divide in the class among the students; half of the students are learning support.  The students with special needs, a wide range of needs, are often absent, sick, unresponsive, unwilling, and uncooperative.  This week, to lessen the burden of a lengthy reading, I jig-sawed the text, and provided each group with a graphic organizer to help clarify vocabulary, content, and historical background. I have done a few smaller group work activities as a test to see if self-made groups worked effectively; they did, so I decided to go with these groups.  On Monday, three students were absent, and this greatly complicated the group systems.  One student was also having an ‘emotional’ day and would not participate; another student expressed quite vocally that she did not want to work with another student because ‘he’s a freak.’  maybe I should have used some informed flexibility and scrapped the entire project; we could have simply taken turns reading text and discussing the information.  The students have expressed their boredom with simply reading the text, and I feel that they contribute more insightfully with-in groups.  I continued with the groups available, and things progressed awkwardly.  All produced, all participated, and I was pleased; however, it upset some, and further divided some students in the class.

]]> 2016-10-04 23:19:33 UTC https://padlet.com/jaa157/psbn00rseqly/wish/128350968 jaa157 https://padlet.com/jaa157/psbn00rseqly/wish/128351079 2016-10-04 23:20:36 UTC https://padlet.com/jaa157/psbn00rseqly/wish/128351079 jaa157 https://padlet.com/jaa157/psbn00rseqly/wish/128351104 Success: There are currently several students who have a grade below 50% in English.  This is entirely due to the students lack of doing homework.  In this situation, had the students done their homework they would have a grade of B or higher at this point. After several incidents, which resulted in phone calls and progress reports, two students continued to dismiss the homework. I decided to have a conversation with them, separately and seemingly coincidental; however, It was quite planned on my part. I also have made a point to see them after class and remind them that the homework is due the next day.  So far these two students have completed their work.  Today I reminded them about tomorrow’s work; I will see tomorrow if they have done it.  This to me is a work in progress, and I hope that taking this simple step will help them to continue bringing their work.  Often times, teachers will say, It's not my responsibility to remind you about the homework."  I think that as a teacher you need to leave your ego at the door.

]]> 2016-10-04 23:20:54 UTC https://padlet.com/jaa157/psbn00rseqly/wish/128351104