Today, I am giving tests in all five of my classes. Easy day, but boring. However, that means that I have five sets of tests to grade. One set has essay questions, the other four have business math problems (checking account) problems that I have to grade by hand. I had hoped to stagger them through the week, but we had wierd schedules with the Prairie State tests on Wednesday and Thursday. Oh well.
Yesterday, I did something that I don't like to do. I referred a kid to the dean's office for discipline. He had been disrupting class with chirping sounds (a sophomore!) for several days, and I assigned him a detention with me. He didn't come in. (I forgot, Mr. Miller, I'm sorry!) So the dean assigned him a Saturday detention. When he came back to class, he was angry, and punished by not talking!
I kept him after class, because what I really wanted to was talk with him--the referral route usually doesn't do more than get their attention. So we had a quick chat. The young man seems to want to do well, but just can't. I think there are some ADHD issues that have not been diagnosed. But anyway, after young Johnny saying that he wanted to do better, I told him that he could, but he had to be the one to do it. And I ended with, "remember you are in high school now, it is time to put the diapers away, and wear the big boy pants!"
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