First off, the Standing Girl actually took a break on Thursday.
“I just don’t feel like standing today.”
“No sore toe?”
“No. I just don’t feel like it.”
OK. Friday was test day–she doesn’t stand for tests–but she was right back on her feet today.
“I just feel like it.”
One of the yahoos spoke my own thoughts today, though perhaps a bit less tactfully.
“Can’t you think of anything else to say? Maybe Iiiii feel like, you know…far-”
“Quiet you!”
Second, another round of kudos to the brave Mr. M. He threw himself on the landmine, and it didn’t blow up. The not-missus (I couldn’t resist) was dead-on when she said that we teachers are a defensive bunch. In fact, that was my cooperating teacher’s only real beef with me as a young buck: “Does not take criticism well.”
Ouch. The truth hurts, as we used to say in junior high.
So Mr. M, it took a lot of guts for you to approach your colleague, AND you obviously had some tact, because she actually listened to you. That’s a one-two punch you gotta take advantage of. What else needs changing at your school? You should be working that magic all over the place.
Third, Meg I’m digging the interview bio idea. And the false arguments ads? That’s gold. That stuff is part of out eighth grade curriculum, and I like the idea of having 7th graders make videos so the 8th graders can understand the concepts. Both of these will probably surface later in the year. I am down to two weeks with the current group of kids. Come Halloween, I get to try it again with a new batch of lab rats. Fun!
Fourth, I was all primed to start blogging my way through Nurture Shock, and as I sat down at beautiful Refugio Beach campground to read and comment, I realized my e-copy was yanked by the e-library. I guess that’s one advantage of e-library books: no overdue fines. When the book is due, it’s gone. You can’t not return it.
So. today I bought it and downloaded it to my Nook. Once I get caught up, I’m sure I’ll have plenty to say.
To tide you through, check out this blog post at Psychology Today. It shows why incentives are far more effective than punishment when dealing with dog–I mean teenagers.
Teens Respond to Pleasure, Not Pain: Parent Accordingly
See you soon.
That reminds me of those great SNL skits about the Sofa King. You know, how the prices are "Sofa King" low, the deals are "Sofa King" great, etc. (You obviously have to say those phrases out loud to get the joke.)