Tuesday, December 19, 2006

End of Semester Reflection

Finished the typical marathon of grading that goes along with the end of a semester. 210 pages of chemistry homework, 21 chemistry exams, 75 biology exams, 6 physics exams, 20 8-page research papers, 20 in-class essays and 1 1/2 red pens later, I'm done. Only took 20 hours, off the clock of course.

A couple of thoughts

1 - allowing biology students to right their own semester final is time consuming but gives much better student results

2 - chemistry students still haven't learned the difference between writing down a correct answer in homework and learning material

3 - small class sizes (8 or less) is so much more enjoyable for the teacher and I assume for the students

4 - need to seriously revamp the research paper assignment in anatomy class
a - I really appreciate the proofreading and writing skills drilled into me by my high school English teachers!
b - the internet has destroyed (not enhanced) students' research skills
c - it is nearly impossible to assess a student's understanding of science if they are unable to compose a complete and coherent sentence (I feel like a grammar instructor more than a science teacher)

5 - I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I get to start my Ecology class after break. It includes cladistics and phylogeny, Blue Planet, E.O. Wilson and most importantly bird identification!

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

The Entitled Generation

Had a student make a request from me that I find funny and annoying at the same time. Since my school is on a block schedule, I have only had 38 total class days with my biology classes this semester. This is even counting lost days to assemblies and standardized testing. School attendance policy is six absences (not counting school activities) before you lose credit. If a student goes over, they have to appeal for the credit through an outside review board. This justifiably eliminates the responsibility of teachers determining whether an absence is reasonable enough to deserve credit. All we have to do is mark the student present or absent, no whining, no excuses.

One of my veteran students (repeating the class) has a total of ten absences. That means she missed over 25% of the entire semester. That is equivalent to an entire month gone. Now she wants a letter from me to the review board to support her appeal. Her grades are passing (barely) and this time around she has turned in all of her work. Somehow that makes it OK in her mind to miss as much class as she wants. I'm supposed to be on her side when it was my class she was skipping? I don't think so! I'm girding my loins for the eventual tantrum she'll throw tomorrow when I break the news. It won't be the first; and, if she doesn't get the credit, it won't be the last!

Update: A pleasant surprise, when informed that I wouldn't write the letter, my student did not over react. She simply said "OK" and moved on, no pleading and no demands for explanation. Maybe she really is maturing. Now, I kind of hope that her appeal is approved.