After a weekend of brainstorming ways to improve the second nine weeks, I am ready to unveil my plan. I have already introduced the new plan to students, and their reactions see-saw from astonishment to slight anger and back to astonishment again. I think I’m hitting home.
1) No more wasted time. For every one minute of wasted time each day in class, students loose three hours of instructional time for the year. When I heard that in a professional development, I spit my Diet Coke all over the table. Forget one minute of wasted time — I allow students to waste at least 7 minutes each day. That equals twenty one lost class periods at the end of the year. Twenty One. Most students had the same reaction as me. We all agreed that changes needed to be made. We can’t afford to waste that kind of time — especially when we’re failing county assessments.
I posted a giant sign on my whiteboard, and I refer to it each time students talk during instruction. I don’t think they realize that their chattiness wastes time. Now that they know, I can see most students making a conscious effort to stay focused.
2) No more missing assignments. My principal sent me an email a few days ago. She’s really big on quotes, and she likes to share the gems with her employees. I really liked the last one she sent me: ”It doesn’t matter what you know but what you do.” The students and I brainstormed the meaning of this quote, and we agreed that it meant (at least to us) that it doesn’t matter how smart you are, if you don’t do the work, you won’t be successful. That means missing assignments are no longer acceptable. If students fail to complete an assignment, I will contact their parent(s), and they will have working lunches until the work is turned in.
3. Failure is NOT an option. I have this sign posted on my whiteboard. I refer to it often. There is not one student who is incapable of mastering the 7th grade LA cirriculum. Therefore, I will not accept failure anymore. Students are required to complete all assignments. They are required to participate in class. Students who struggle to master the standards will come in early for extra help or serve working lunches with me. I simply will not allow failure this nine weeks — my kids are better than that.
Whew. That’s a drastic plan. Even I am sweating it. But it is something that I feel has to be done — I will not have another failure rate like last quarter’s. I want to show these kids that they are capable of greatness because they are. I am so incredibly proud of the learning and growth that took place last quarter, but it wasn’t enough. It’s time to step up and get to business. I’m not about to give up on these kids. I won’t let them give up on themselves.
