Today I gave my class a long (20 minute) presentation on their next paper, outlining in excruciating detail what, precisely, I expected in the paper. Then I gave them time in class to pair up and discuss, in order to come up with thesis statements. My first class was great. Fantastic. While I was talking they were all paying attention (and trust me, it was boring), they made eye contact, and after class one student, not the best student, not an ass kisser, came up and thanked me (thanked me!!) for going over the paper, and he also thanked me for responding to his post on WebCT this weekend. "It was very helpful," he said.
Class Two: Males in the class were visibly dozing while I talked. I gave them time to pair up. Most of the class (except four) left after about ten minutes. They are now known as "The Lame Class."
My question is: How should I exact my revenge? I have some ideas, but I want to know what you think.
8 comments:
I personally like to use the "you _used_ to be my favorite class" game. You could try it to see if it works.
Pop quiz on the details of the assignment, including a working thesis statement. Then you get revenge *and* you can make it a teachable moment, which justifies the revenge part.
I was thinking you could set up a sticker chart just like Sydney's first grade class... Do you give points for participation? Maybe at the beginning of class next week you should make them each get up and discuss what their thesis statement is that they came up with in class. I had a class like this and I had to give them a quiz over every chapter because they would not read them on their own!!!Whatever!! I would also talk about their behavior I know that sounds kinda lame but they acted kinda lame.....
All good suggestions. I think I'll go with some combination of "I thought we were all adults here" and "take out a piece of paper and write down your thesis statement."
But I like the idea of threatening them with a chart. I love a good chart.
Teach to the good class and forget about the lame class. They are not worth your energy. Do not try to convert them. Do not try to motivate them. They are lost causes.
Did you torture them by giving them a quiz on Nietzsche? Did you torture them by cutting your toenails in front of them? Perhaps you tortured them by repeatedly scraping your fingernails up and down the chalkboard? Did you wear your nun outfit?
God! I wish I had a nun outfit. I need one! No. I "scolded" them and then forgot about it. Now I'll just ignore the bad kids and teach the good kids. Some of them are good. A few.
Okay you need to post a new blog. Middlebrow is quite hilarious!! I too was behind on my blog but I just posted so you need to too. Hope the good class outweighs the bad.My
word verification is cnudalf (new dalf) the c is silent of course. You know the opposite of an olddalf....
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