Mid-Semester Chaos

It must be at the 5 week point, mid-way of every quarter that I feel like TOO many of my students 

are failing because they aren’t turning in their work or aren’t taking the content seriously. I feel like 

my classes are out-of-controllably-loud and don’t respect me either. Sure they “like” me, but they 

do the rudest things, such as interrupting me on the phone or when I’m talking with another 

student, or even giving directions. This can only mean thing… In what ways am I allowing these 

behaviors happen and how can stop them from happening? 

It’s not enough to threaten, but what can I really do to them? I already keep them after class (before 

lunch)? I could start keeping and dock a semester long participation grade… I could have them 

write “Reflections” on their behavior in class… I don’t know; I could try it all I guess! 

And the grades! Ugh, the grades… I hope they’re scaring the students as much as they’re scaring 

me. No I don’t feel like I give too much homework, but to hear the complaints, one would think I 

do. There are so many things already that I would do differently next year… and some complaints 

are legit, such as me changing the directions or not providing explicit-enough directions the first time (often because I just created the assignment the day before, because unlike seasoned teachers, 

I don’t have a backlog of resources to pull from and have to create mostly everything)! 

So if one calculates the time I’m researching, creating, calculating the calendar, grading and 

updating scores, it’s no wonder I always feel behind! 

Oh and how the kids ‘pick’ on that weakness… “What’s my grade? Is that make-up work in yet? When are we getting back our book reports? When is this whole paper due? When are we going to the computer lab? Are we going to be graded on this?”… Again, all LEGIT questions, but my mind starts to swirl faster than my body 

as I retrieve this paper, look up that score, rummage for that draft, and report back to take the floor 

and give directives. The first 5 minutes of class can feel like a maddening dance with my as the Joker in a jingle-bell hat vying for attention.