u/elcaminogino

Curious to know what you all think because I’m a first year teacher and every quarter has been trial and error. But I’ve noticed something about extra credit and I think it might change the way I approach things next year…

I can barely get kids to do assignments that are required. But as soon as I call it extra credit they’re all over it. So I tried something in quarter 4.

I made the tests a little harder so their averages were lower than previously. Now almost all the class work is extra credit. I grade it quickly because they are very motivated by seeing that point change in the system.

You don’t want to do work? I’m not hounding you and it’s not required. Everything is a choice except tests and quizzes. But when your mom or the AP comes to me asking me what I’ve done to help you - I have a giant list of options and you either chose to do it or not.

Because I have so many options, it’s easier to differentiate (if it’s more rigorous it’s worth more).

Once I quit “making them” so stuff for a grade it seems most of them started caring at least a little.

Anyone else have a similar experience? It could just be an end of the year phenomenon so I don’t know if this method would work well all year. And I’m very new so this is just my very green observation - take it with a giant grain of salt.

Making the move from 9th grade science to 7th grade US history next year. My 9th graders were low so while I’m prepared to have a new set of behavior issues and I know middle is different than 9th, I don’t think that part will be completely foreign to me.

But when it comes to content, lesson plans, engaging activities related to history etc - I’m actually so clueless! I plan to research all summer but I’d love to know what have been your favorite lessons or activities (big or small). Really just any tips you have at all!

I love history and find it so fascinating but I didn’t feel that way in middle or even high school. I really want to make it fun because I know it CAN be! But I’m starting from scratch and need all the help I can get!

I’m too lazy at the moment to write a novel about the year I’ve had but I’m a new teacher in an “A rated district” (which I’ve learned means absolutely nothing) and I can’t believe the level of gaslighting I’ve experienced.

I work hard and I know I’m doing a good job, but it seems like it’s never enough… I had what I thought was a great observation, but then I noticed in the notes that said one student had their head down and another student was wearing headphones. That class is 60% ESE and 80% of the students have some kind of accommodation behavioral plan or academic intervention going on.

I noticed that the rubric for a highly effective teacher would require that every student was engaged in asking questions during the class. Every single one. It’s not enough that they were all participating the activity. They all had to be participating 100% of the time at full blast.

Like, what? According to their IEPs, that’s not a realistic goal for them. And even for kids who aren’t ESE… sometimes a head goes down. I address it but I can’t prevent it completely and they know this. But they will look at me dead in the eye and with a straight face ask me if I’ve tried a turn and talk.

It’s also worth noting that two of the kids in my class have chronic absences and are frequently tardy but on this day, they were both there. I’m assuming they were less engaged than the other students but guess what… It’s better than them being at home or in the bathroom vaping right?

I’m so done with this place.