I Got a Lil' Salty about Homework Completion.........(been there?)

My last post got a million views (1250ish). I have to admit that makes me a little intimidated. Exactly what I want is for people to READ the blog and get something useful from it, but I'm having a hard time figuring out which topics are best. I tried to put together one on the documentary Blackfish--I weirdly used it with English 9 AND AP Lang last week.  A good documentary is a good thing in the classroom in so many ways. But, really, who doesn't know that?

So here's what I'll write about today instead: I got quite pissy with my AP Lit class (juniors). We are pushing toward the AP exam in early May; therefore, all of our current assignments are directly test-prep related. We are reading one final (easy) novel to help kids with Q3, the literary argument (they have to choose one novel or play and wow their reader about the protagonist's special gift or about a text where houses play a significant role.) Anyway, it's a good idea, I think, to have 4-5 novels/plays on the ready for Q3. So we're doing a last minute Of Mice and Men.  

Today's assignment (last class was Monday, and it's Wednesday) was to read Chapters 1-2 (that gets most of the characters introduced), and they were to take a couple practice AP multiple choice quizzes and write about three questions they missed. (I no sh*& had a girl miss 0--this would not have been me in hs or probably even now.) They had to write about why they put the wrong answer and explain why the AP correct answer is the better choice for three missed questions. So, it was kind of a lot: 35 minutes for the short practice tests, 10 minutes to write about three missed answers, and 30-40 minutes of reading (between Monday and Wednesday).

Well, I was pretty frustrated when I checked online (Google Classroom) and saw that eleven out of twenty-four had not done the assignment. The first two boys (funny kids), who said they come in during my lunch "to suck up," hadn't done the assignment, and I told them that I was sadly coming to expect that from them. (One has not turned in his 70 pt poetry explication due over a week ago and the other is really bright as well but I have to call him on just looking up commentary online instead of reading and doing fresh thinking.) They both looked surprised at my bluntness, and I didn't know if I should regret it. But I was just getting started. 

I snapped a bit at a girl who usually sits in the very back and often  draws (or even tries to draw on the arm of the girl in front of her) during class. I asked another boy if he got his homework done, and he said, smiling, "I DID! I just didn't get to the writing part." "That's not doing your homework," I pointed out. Then instead of creating a positive atmosphere in the room, I almost immediately began telling them I was unimpressed with their homework completion. I told them, "Hand this assignment in right now online, or you can only get 8/12." I saw some people scrambling to do the work, and I said, "Just submit. Don't try to do the assignment now. We're going to have class." I told them any missing work that I did not have by Monday would be a zero. (I'll be letting some key parents know about the Monday deadline.) I told one girl who frequently blows off what I'm doing  and who was presently on her phone, "Put away your phone. You know what? Just pay attention--we're having class."

So, I was pretty emphatic about the necessity of them doing their homework--put AP Lit first in their studies and all that--for the next month. Anyway, then I just pushed them through some Steinbeck (like a pro).  I can read a pretty good George and Lennie: "Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world..." We have class again tomorrow--their only assignment is to read Chapter 3 for a quiz (Candy's dog will be shot and Curley's hand will get squashed by Lennie, so it's memorable stuff).  I told them not to just read a summary online. I said, "This is Of Mice and Men, not Hamlet." 

I was on a roll.  

I can tell you now that as I see this all written out I feel bad that I was so frustrated. I just want them to do well. I want them to care. I want them to do their homework. 

At the end of the day (a phrase I dislike), they are kids.  Sigh. One girl sent me an email later (with her assignment) apologizing and explaining why she wasn't done. I thanked her for letting me know and acknowledged that she almost always has her homework done.  

I don't know. I certainly didn't need to get upset about some AP Lit kids not doing their work. (My AP Lang class of seniors--they have more work and always do it.) But every class is different and every kid is different.

Tomorrow I will remind them about the Monday deadline for prior missing work, and then that late work after that can only get 1/2 credit. I will tell them nicely that I just want them to do well, and that I am used to my AP students doing their homework. Why will I tell them this?  Trying to make them feel better? Trying to justify why I was upset? From here on out I won't get upset. It's up to them, of course.  

What makes me bummed is that they can talk to me ahead of time if they need another night--seriously, I would always say yes! I have given the two kids who haven't handed in the major paper so much encouragement--I've been super lenient. "I get it," I'd said.  But I didn't "get it" today, I guess. Did I forget what it's like to be a student with five other classes and sports or a job after school?

I think the kids who always do their homework felt validated. I also think everyone will be ready for the Chapter 3 quiz tomorrow. I think I will probably apologize and tell them I'm truly on their side. I believe in them all. I do.

Dang it. Will I say, "I just get passionate"? Will that be enough?

Many years ago, my supervising teacher told me when I student taught that after every class she gave herself a grade. I'll give myself two. Teaching Of Mice and Men: A-. Addressing students about homework: D+.  Some people reading this might be kind of astonished that I got so frustrated (or that I'm admitting it). Also, in reality, I really don't think they read summaries online very often so that was snarky.

Well, I guess I better write that quiz.

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UPDATE: Sunday, April 13--they all had their homework done for Thursday and impressed me on an AP practice essay! I just went into class and was upbeat. They all seemed upbeat and fine. (I'm not as fierce as I think?)

*I wish there were 2 commas in that graphic...