Middle school math has got to be one of the hardest things on earth to teach.
I really wouldn't know. The thing that's really getting to me, though, is how irrational they are. And I know they're only 13, but it's driving me crazy -- they break the rules and don't pay attention, I show them that I'm writing up a referral, they promise to be better, then they turn around and start talking to their friends again immediately thereafter.
And today one of them said that when they "do good," we don't do anything. Now, I do have to work on positive reinforcement -- it's something that I know I need to implement -- but at the same time, nobody gives us prizes for not breaking the law, you know? The reward is, you learn. That's what you get.
Right, sorry. Enough whining. It's just that they're careless and self-righteous at the same time, and the combination is really getting to me. I keep trying to figure out a rational way to respond, and there really isn't one -- I just have to go with the "because I said so" attitude, and it really doesn't come naturally.
Er. Did I say enough whining? NOW enough whining. Thank goodness for the long weekend!
I now know enough to definitely say I will be voting Green for the first time ever!
The guy who left his leadership position in the Socialist Party because he disagreed with their stance on Capitalism? (Sorry, that story makes me giggle.)
You've gotta love a town where Jerry "Iceman" Butler is on the ballot.
I still feel for my Jr High teachers. My math teachers were my favorites during that time, though.
My 8th grade math teacher had a contest. We were given a word problem (I remember there was a monkey) and told that the first 5 people to solve it would win a can of Coke. It took us two weeks to crack it but we were invested during that time. We could've just bought a Coke, but we wanted to win a Coke.
when i was teaching this summer, i had a contest for the kids where the three kids on the winning team each got a silver pencil. these pencils cost about 15 cents each, but became highly prized items, since there were only three of them.
I'm about to go vote. You don't need ID or anything to vote in New York, in my experience -- you sign the book under the signature you sent in when you registered, and they just compare that. Good times.
Yay voting!!
Emily, middle school is such a difficult age. And you're right about the irrationality.
I keep trying to figure out a rational way to respond,
There usually isn't one. I've found it easier to be all "oh sorry. natural consequence. I really don't want to punish you and I'm bereft that you've forced me into it."
Nuh uh, she's performing alchemy and then welding the result into a bike.
And THEN she will knit him a cozy for the bike!
I voted! And DAMNIT! forgot to get a sticker AGAIN. At my precinct one of the two check in laptop things wasn't working and one of the 7 voting machines wasn't working.
"oh sorry. natural consequence. I really don't want to punish you and I'm bereft that you've forced me into it."
brilliant! That certainly would work on me. Even now.
I can't concentrate at all this week! I'm totally on vacation in my heart even though vacation doesn't officially start until next Monday.
NY Times article on using electroshocks to treat migraines.
