I’ve gotten four 504 Plans during the last two school days because we started a new semester. Here are the dates that they were written:
24 January 2006 – 384 days ago04 October 2004 – 861 days ago25 September 2003 – 1236 days ago08 January 2003 – 1496 days ago
Why should I have to provide accommodations [...]
Monthly Archives: February 2007
Apparently, Kids Never Change
12 February 2007 – 20:00
When Can We Make Families Accountable for Poor Decisions?
12 February 2007 – 04:23
I’ve posted a letter from this kid’s parents before. Luckily this is not one of my students…I’d hate to have to deal with this. But it was forwarded to me by another math teacher in our department who wrote “The fifth paragraph is the funniest/saddest.”, and that is very true. From a real quick [...]
How to Get a Class to Work Without Any Effort on Your Part (but not recommended)
09 February 2007 – 20:50
I got a phone call from my wife during school today – she told me that my older daughter is sick at daycare. I tell her that I’ll take care of it, and hang up. Unfortunately, I left my wallet at home, and the daycare is unlisted in the phonebook, so I call my wife [...]
Weather
08 February 2007 – 02:49
According to the National Weather Service, it is currently negative zero degrees in Minneapolis.
We Go ‘Round and ‘Round
07 February 2007 – 17:52
Teachers often complain about how the “great ideas in education” seem cyclical. It seems the legislatures do as well here in the North Star State.
1985: Legislation prohibiting schools from starting before Labor Day is passed.
1997: Lawmakers decided to allow schools to start on the Wednesday, Thursday or Friday before Labor Day in 1998 and 1999 [...]
End of Quarter 2 – Senior Credit Factory
07 February 2007 – 05:05
My senior credit factory classes are doing very poorly. Here are their final grades:
B+
87%
F
56%
F
29%
B-
81%
F
56%
F
27%
C+
79%
F
51%
F
22%
C
76%
F
50%
F
21%
C-
70%
F
50%
F
21%
D+
67%
F
48%
F
20%
D-
62%
F
37%
F
19%
D-
61%
F
34%
F
19%
D-
60%
F
32%
F
15%
F
14%
F
8%
F
8%
F
8%
F
6%
I had the kids take seven quizzes during the quarter, and they turned in 33 homework assignments. If they miss a quiz due to absences, they can take it upon their return. I just make them take it before or after [...]
The "Telephone Game" at School
06 February 2007 – 19:33
Some boy passed out in the boys bathroom after drinking alcohol during the school day. (What great ambiance our bathrooms provide). If he was with friends, they took off to get out of trouble, but another kid walks in, sees the drunk on the floor and alerts the assistant principal, who calls the nurse. The [...]
Field Trip Issues
03 February 2007 – 09:54
The Minnesota Zoo has programs where high school kids come with their class, and a guide will give them a tour in a non-English language, so lots of Spanish/German/French classes go. One of our Spanish teachers is taking her classes this year.
She tells her kids that if they cannot go, then they will have to [...]
Jokes that Bomb for 36 out of 37 Students.
02 February 2007 – 19:33
I always have assigned seats for my classes. I change them every two chapters or so. Here’s what I’ve done so far:
Last name (alphabetically)First nameStudent ID numberHomework completion rate
The one I’m on now is helpful because kids that don’t get much homework done are put together. When I assign their homework, some of which should [...]
