Ah, Renee, do you have a sense of why they signed up for the class? Are they required to take it or was it their choice? If the former, and they're being graded, you may need to let them know that, for the remainder of the class, responding is mandatory. If they are essentially auditing the class, with no grade needed, I guess they have the freedom to throw away a golden opportunity.
If it helps to know, a close friend of mine taught at prestigious Middlebury College and noticed a few years ago that students weren't handing in assignments. Moreover, they were being a bit beligerent in their tone. She is someone who has always had an open door for a student who is struggling (with the course or with life) and was unsure what was going on. In the end, she made it clear that certain assignments were not negotiable or they would fail the course. It worked.
EASTER 2026: Signs of Spring emerging here include: Chipmunks busy again, Crocuses in bloom, Daffodil shoots an inch or two out of the ground, the Starlings have left and the Goldfinches have returned (some are halfway to getting their Summer plumage), the White-Throated Sparrows have moved up the mountain, I saw the first Woolly Bear caterpillar today, and all that is left of the snow is a small pile at the end of our driveway. Spring always wins.🌷
The Skajet Valley Tulip Festival is underway and will be here for the month of April. Long-lost Sister and I are going! We met for lunch recently and hit it off after 20 years of no contact. Meanwhile, it's spring here too -- the daffs are fully out, the rhodies are setting bud and the unbelievable beauty of the tulip fields awaits. -- nordy
I'm teaching these subjects as part of a test prep course (MCAT). I am teaching content and skills to hopefully help them get better scores, but I don't actually give them a grade. If they wish, they can skip class completely and just watch the video later. Renee
Just wanted to say this here because there are so few places I can say it (without upsetting a grieving loved one) but it's still really painful that my son, Shiloh, died in his prime. I know that the depth of grief reveals the depth of love. It's not a large comfort, though. Many people miss him terribly, and that means so much. His impact on the world was immense...he is still mentioned, even still getting awards. It makes me so proud of him, but it also underscores the immensity of the loiss. Shiloh didn’t live a long life, but he sure lived a lasting life.
The other crew member of the jet that crashed in Iran has been rescued!
ReplyDeleteGood news indeed!
DeleteRenee, what you describe sounds really frustrating. I'm sorry.
ReplyDeleteAh, Renee, do you have a sense of why they signed up for the class? Are they required to take it or was it their choice? If the former, and they're being graded, you may need to let them know that, for the remainder of the class, responding is mandatory. If they are essentially auditing the class, with no grade needed, I guess they have the freedom to throw away a golden opportunity.
DeleteIf it helps to know, a close friend of mine taught at prestigious Middlebury College and noticed a few years ago that students weren't handing in assignments. Moreover, they were being a bit beligerent in their tone. She is someone who has always had an open door for a student who is struggling (with the course or with life) and was unsure what was going on. In the end, she made it clear that certain assignments were not negotiable or they would fail the course. It worked.
EASTER 2026: Signs of Spring emerging here include: Chipmunks busy again, Crocuses in bloom, Daffodil shoots an inch or two out of the ground, the Starlings have left and the Goldfinches have returned (some are halfway to getting their Summer plumage), the White-Throated Sparrows have moved up the mountain, I saw the first Woolly Bear caterpillar today, and all that is left of the snow is a small pile at the end of our driveway. Spring always wins.🌷
ReplyDeleteThe Skajet Valley Tulip Festival is underway and will be here for the month of April. Long-lost Sister and I are going! We met for lunch recently and hit it off after 20 years of no contact. Meanwhile, it's spring here too -- the daffs are fully out, the rhodies are setting bud and the unbelievable beauty of the tulip fields awaits. -- nordy
DeleteOh, Nordy, I'm so glad you got back in touch with your sister!
Deleteme too! -- nordy
DeleteHow great that you hit it off after all that time! Sounds very rare and good.
DeleteI'm teaching these subjects as part of a test prep course (MCAT). I am teaching content and skills to hopefully help them get better scores, but I don't actually give them a grade. If they wish, they can skip class completely and just watch the video later. Renee
ReplyDeleteAh, I see. Sounds like a group of procrastinators who deserve whatever grade they get on their MCATs! MCATs are no small deal!
DeleteJust wanted to say this here because there are so few places I can say it (without upsetting a grieving loved one) but it's still really painful that my son, Shiloh, died in his prime. I know that the depth of grief reveals the depth of love. It's not a large comfort, though. Many people miss him terribly, and that means so much. His impact on the world was immense...he is still mentioned, even still getting awards. It makes me so proud of him, but it also underscores the immensity of the loiss.
ReplyDeleteShiloh didn’t live a long life, but he sure lived a lasting life.
♥ listener
ReplyDelete