If only I could tell the truth

About me

studentteacher83

Friends (58)

Last comments

kendersrule ^pro on: Teachers want right to bed their pupils
James on: Teachers want right to bed their pupils
kendersrule ^pro on: Teachers want right to bed their pupils
James on: Teachers want right to bed their pupils
kendersrule ^pro on: Teachers want right to bed their pupils
Ranting Teacher on: Teachers want right to bed their pupils
James on: Teachers want right to bed their pupils
kendersrule ^pro on: Teachers want right to bed their pupils
kendersrule ^pro on: Bless
James on: Teachers want right to bed their pupils
Show more

Calendar

<< < October 2008 > >>
Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa	Su
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

Search

Syndicate this blog

RSS 1.0: Posts, Comments

RSS 2.0: Posts, Comments

Atom: Posts, Comments

What is RSS?

« Don't Call Me Sweet. Grrr

Julie Walters RIP »

If only I could tell the truth

by studentteacher83 @ Tuesday, 03. Jun, 2008 - 19:28:07

There are many times in life when someone says something and you think of the perfect comeback. Two hours later.

In teaching it's the opposite problem. You can have the perfect put down but can't use it because it wouldn't be 'professional'. I was teaching my year eights about factorising expressions (a.k.a putting expressions into brackets) and a generally quite irritating boy complains about it having a fancy name: 'why don't we just call it "putting it into brackets?" It's just confusing' I came so close to saying 'why don't we ignore your name and just call you "that annoying boy who can't shut up for ten seconds?"'

I don't mind my pupils asking questions, they do come up with some good ones, but this boy does so with such monotonous repitition that I having the sneaking suspsicion that he's only asking to be a pain.

« Don't Call Me Sweet. Grrr

Julie Walters RIP »

Trackback address for this post:

Comments, Trackbacks: Hide subcomments

kendersrule ^pro
2008-06-03 @ 20:47

very, very likely! there's always one!

Reply to comment

menhir [Member]
2008-06-03 @ 21:31

I can see this boy's point of view regarding factorising and brackets. (I obviously can't speak for his other areas of curiosity) One form is English language written punctuation, the other is presumably, maths. It is a question that I could quite easily ask. The reasons for the 'bracket' use in each case, is, I know, different, but at a stage where I did not know that, or I needed further clarification, I would judge the question a sensible one.

It is a question that could just as easily work in an English class as in your maths class.

Many things confuse children and adults in the way our visual and spoken languages are used. They really do need some clarification.

Reply to comment | Show this thread

studentteacher83 [Member]
2008-06-04 @ 20:04

Oh definitely, but this kid is just a pain and isn't interested in the answers anyway!

Reply to comment | Show this thread | Back to post

menhir [Member]
2008-06-04 @ 20:39

Your frustration is palpable. I wonder why this kid has to constantly ask. Can he learn, is he learning; is he challenged?

Reply to comment | Show this thread | Back to post

studentteacher83 [Member]
2008-06-04 @ 21:10

Yeah, he's made a ton of progress (according to tests at least) this year. It's maddening.

Reply to comment | Show this thread | Back to post

menhir [Member]
2008-06-04 @ 23:13

Is it just possible that you have a rather bright student on your hands who is not quite in the right niche? Or is the progress you mention just enough to look good and he is at the right level?

I accept though, that bright students can operate at a lower level to fulfill necessary requirements though be rather frustrated with that position. It can make life easier with peer groups.

Human beings, especially young ones, are complex aren't they.