Me, too

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Home : 2001 : December : 21

Me, too
By New 5th Grade Teacher

Let me assure you that it is most assuredly NOT you. I am in a 5th grade class and my kids behave exactly as you are describing. I team teach with the other 5th grade teacher in our building and her class behaves this
way, too no matter which class they are in, including specialists.
Here's an example of what I am talking about. I teach social studies to both groups. Last week I gave a test on the chapter which we had been working on. I gave them a week's notice that it was coming, spent two class periods with each group reviewing the material, including giving them a 5-page study packet which they

worked on in class and then we discussed the correct answers to each question in the packet. Not one kid in either class passed the test which came directly from the information in the review packet!!! If you can believe it, I had one girl's parents ask me what I intended to do to make their kid like social studies enough to do well!!! Short of writing the answers (all multilple choice and short response questions, by the way) on the papers for these kids, I have no idea what more to do to get them to take school seriously. When I sent progress reports home this week, approximately 75% of the kids are failing social studies this term and it doesn't faze them in the slightest. Not one kid showed even the remotest sign of concern about their grades. Quite a few even treated it like a joke.

Yesterday, my class had a book report due. I had given them nearly a month to do it, thoroughly explained the format several times in class, gave them a printed copy of the instructions and criteria, allowed them to read the book during D.E.A.R. Time in class, gave no other reading homework except this project for the entire week before it was due. Only half of the kids turned in the book report. I was ready to blow a gasket yesterday when I saw how few had done the assignment.

What really galls me is that I am supposed to assign a research assignment to these kids this year. There is no way that there will be any hope of a positive result. THEY JUST DON'T CARE!!!

Sorry this is so long but I needed to vent and this is the place to do that. I don't know if there are any effective ways of turning this situation around, but I sure would wlecome any thoughts or suggestions.