Second Day of School: Tears and tearing it up

Yes. I started my day at work in tears. Totally normal for the first week of teaching, right? :)

After my first day, I realized I needed to change my entire plan for how my students completed the course. Here is an incomplete version of what I spent half my summer putting together (Curriculum outline in pdf), and took only a moment to tear up. Okay, I didn't literally tear it up. I just pulled them out of my students folders. Maybe I'll use them for a paper mache project later.

I had a great chat with my principal this morning and he gave me some great ideas. He was extremely supportive. One of the best parts was when he gave me some pointers and I realized he was giving me techniques we use in drama based education. How awesome is that? And how ironic? How many times have I told other teachers to try the exact same thing. It was a good reassurance of why they hired me, and an appreciation for how my program prepared me.

So I sat down and started over. Students in my school earn credit at their own pace. So I made the motivation and rewards more intrinsic.

Earn 200 points, pass the class

Warm-up exercises: 1 point/day

In-class group work/project: 1 point/day

In-class performance: 5 points

All students must do one of the following to get credit for the course

Leading the pledge/moment of silence at morning assembly: 5 points

Reading quote for the day at morning assembly: 5 points

Performing at an assembly: 10 points minimum

While some students still resisted, many others realized that there was a quick way through and out of the class. These are not the kind of kids you can threaten or back in a corner. So I hope that giving them a clear path will help. The principal (and I agree with him) feels very strongly about helping these kids feel more confident in expressing themselves, speaking up for themselves, and talking in front of people. They can earn their credit more quickly this way by volunteering multiple times to speak in front of the school.

I had some great moments with my smaller classes today, who quickly figured out how to use the scoring system to their advantage. One student was ready to sign up for a week's worth of speaking at assembly. My 5th period class, and most challenging for the moment, had better moments. Oh, except for the student who walked out. Can't win 'em all. He came back later. Anyway, at this point I am throwing out extra points for each in class activity they participate in, and for volunteering to help demonstrate an activity or skill. Over time I'm going to try to make extra points less available.

It was amazing how fast some of them jumped at the chance. While in some classes the students participating and volunteering may be teased for being a suck-up, they are the ones laughing...and that much closer to finishing the course, getting rid of me, and getting their diploma.

As for the rest of them...hope you like being in my class, because I'm not going anywhere! :)