tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684316.post845044851074184961..comments2024-02-18T10:34:56.951-05:00Comments on Middle School, day by day from a teacher's point of view: cossondrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11132453976247479697noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684316.post-76600660408021306322012-07-29T21:08:39.259-05:002012-07-29T21:08:39.259-05:00First of all, I imagine that it must be difficult ...First of all, I imagine that it must be difficult to be as patient on a daily basis as you are, so I congratulate you.<br />What you've written regarding testing and student motivation certainly made me think. I believe that even if we think those students have given up, I agree at least on some level that we have to assure ourselves of the fact that they DO really care deep down. <br />Did we, as educators, fail them? Perhaps. Perhaps the timing was wrong, and the educators that could have been there to help weren't there when those students really needed that extra push. Maybe it's a matter of finding a way to connect with those students enough to explore what it is that motivates them to do anything. After all, I don't believe that school is for everybody. (Albert Einstein? Frank LLoyd Wright? Marvin Gaye? Jay-Z?) But can you make them care? Maybe not, and it's heartbreaking.<br /><br />With that said, however, there are some basics that every child 'should' know. If we can send them off with at least some basic critical thinking skills to give them some level of competitiveness in the world then we've given them something important. You might not be able to get them to take their tests more seriously, but if you are able to connect with them enough to get them to open up and tell you what motivates them, perhaps that will reawaken them.<br />Just keep on doing! Thanks for the ponders!Running In Sandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07221950404664743511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5684316.post-64876494404755871322012-07-06T12:55:24.738-05:002012-07-06T12:55:24.738-05:00Re. reading exams to kids. I've started using...Re. reading exams to kids. I've started using Audacity to record the exams before the students come in. They can proceed at their own pace if they need to hear the question and/or answers more than once-leaving the other students moving ahead or just waiting. The kids also seemed to stay more focused with headphones on.jrdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056270814264431577noreply@blogger.com