It's Hard to Be Around Stupid People

No, I don't think my students are stupid. I just thought it was a catchy title.

There are things my students do that amaze me. I have a student who comes to class, does not talk much, but does the in-class writing and works in the groups, but refuses to turn in anything. No essay, no reading responses, no discussion questions. Nothing. I can tell he's reading. At least some of it, and I talked to him about it, and he seemed to want to do better. But still nothing. I don't understand. If you are going to pay for a class why not pass it? It seems like a waste of money to come there and read the stuff but not pass. Why would you want to take the class again??? I have another student who has turned in an essay, and asks discussion questions. She's doing well on the things she does do, but if she doesn't turn in her reading responses she may not pass the class. Once again why would you pay for something you just have to do again, when you could have passed the first time?

I've already told you this, but my students don't believe passive voice is bad. That just amazed me. I think they just decided I was making it up. The one student who really disagreed with me uses it ALL OVER her papers. Maybe I should just mark her down for every time she uses it.

I am amazed at my students who think that if they don't show up every Thursday they can still pass the class. I now have a consistent group of kids who miss every Thursday. I have not decided how to approach that yet, but I have told everyone if they miss more than four classes their grade drops. These kids are not doing the work anyway so they probably will not pass, but it just amazes me that they think they can be there half the time and get full credit.

It amazes me that I told them to re-write some of their reading responses and they never did. Why woud you just ignore that?

But there is one shining moment. (I guess there are a few more, but I think I will conclude on this.) I have a student who does not talk much and her in-class writing was not that impressive and her reading responses were okay, but she wrote her essay and it amazed me. Things could be better; they can always be better. But she did everything I asked and nailed her argument. That amazed me. I thought I would not have any A's. Thank goodness for the silver lining.