I had a rough week. Sick for the past 2 weeks, I really just wanted to get through this work week. I was burned from meetings afterschool and every weekend there seemed to be some function going on.
But the week was especially rough because my Media Production class was slacking, the students’ attitudes were negative, and I was blowing the horn that they were out of line, out of focus, and not taking this class seriously.
Well, I tried a few things, from laying down the law (basically saying these are the assignments, and they had til x day to complete them), to making some counselor referrals, to trying to rearrange groups and seating charts.
None of this worked, and I spent Wednesday and Thursday evening sweating and stressing in bed, waking up to pee and contemplate about how I had failed and what I was going to try next.
Friday, I had an answer. Donuts. Fresh from Safeway. Two dozen. It was part of my idea to create a social time every Friday before we start class. Not only was this a time for them to get their sugar fix and do what they love to do most, talk. It was a time for me to relax and get to know them better. The way the semester has been going, the more we got deeper into the projects and tutorials, the less we actually talk. My role as a guide or coach gave way to the old traditional teacher. The class has lost its excitement, its meaning. The whole point of the Academy of Information Technology is to inspire students to achieve more by giving them something they love to do. Most of these students chose this academy. They should all be passing if not doing their best.
The rest of Friday’s class had a much more relaxed and focused tone. Students were on task, they were helping each other, and some of them almost finished their projects. I made my rounds to several individuals, gave them suggestions, and was overall, trying to be helpful. I was not barking orders, making speeches, trying to tidy up the way I presented my information. I was there, with my students, letting them show me their best.
