Combative Tuesday

Today was the day to sleep in the bed you made over the past 9 weeks, for the students anyhow. Last chance, quarter exam. I've never noticed so much tension before, but then again, I'd never had so many students start the year so poorly. So, I've never had so many students so desperately need to do well on one particular test before. I know why they struggled early on, something beyond my influence or control, but still...

Most students showed up early, asking last-minute questions. Wow. Effort, concern and motivation! That's awesome.

But then...this particular student showed up late, again.

She sat down as I was showing the class their quarter grades. She had an F. She asked, "Mr, is there anything I can do?"

A few minutes later, she was texting. I took her phone.

Then, while others were working, she actively devised schemes in which she was the victim of circumstance... "I had a bad teacher, I've never been good at math, I have a headache, this is boring, I'm in love today, what's that shiny thing hanging from the ceiling?" ... get the idea?

Another twenty minutes pass, she's not started her work yet. Then she starts playing with her ipod. I tell her to put it away. She says, "But Mr, I can't listen to it?"

I tell her that if she wants a better grade she has to do some work.

She says, "But Mr, I'm trying my VERY best."

I said, "If this is your best then you don't have very much to offer."

She cried.

Huh.