Here it is already March 4, and I have yet to post a blog! I have some topics coming up- Negative Impact is one title, and sharing family stories is another theme- and I would have blogged about my rage against woman-haters like Rush Limbaugh but my daughter of Little Pixie Magic beat me to it.
Instead, I will briefly mention that I am at the midterm for the two classes I am teaching at university.
Once again, most of my students are doing well. And, once again, a few are failing.
In one class, I sent out emails to those who were just not doing the work. I told them what work each was missing and gave them a deadline for turning in late work for partial credit. And then I sent a reminder email a day before the final deadline.* (I have put the other class on alert that a deadline is ahead for them.)
There were 9 out of 20 students in this class who were in this predicament.
Since the emails, 2 students decided to drop the class.
Good, that is fine. Wise choice.
Of the remaining 7, 5 have turned in work by the deadline.
Of the remaining 2, 1 was not actually failing yet, and has room to catch up.
The last 1 is perhaps my favorite in the class. And this particular student did not show up this Friday, which was the deadline day.
I don't understand it. Most of these students are actually the brightest, most eager and passionate in discussion.
Why not just do the work?
It isn't hard to pass my class- even get a good grade.
You have to do the work! Read the texts!
What is particularly ironic is that this student is the one who asked the class (admitting to as much guilt as anyone else) Let's stay on topic in discussion, okay? Because we are paying for this class, let's get the most out of it!
* Honestly, how many teachers send individual emails alerting students to the danger of failing? Should I even do this?
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