Time for School

The first quarter of the school year is coming to a close. It is a time to reflect on what the students and I have learned and what skills should be addressed again. Because in life you will make mistakes and not understand some things that happen.
Ready? Let’s go to school. Below are today’s schedule, objectives and synopsis of what will be covered. Classes begin now.
Period 1: Government – Fairness/Equal Distribution of Funds
For the second year in a row our school met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as set forth in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. This dropped us back to a level zero. We are good to go now. Although it isn’t required to make a School Improvement Plan, it was done anyway. Writing down and working toward goals works, so why stop now?
The government recognized and rewarded our achievement by taking away thousands of dollars from the budget. That will put a damper on the very programs that helped us get knocked off the school improvement list. We are expected to continue the upward rise in test scores without the money. Makes sense – government wise.
Period 2: Science – Effects of the Weather
When it is a warm day some students seem lethargic. They are tired and it takes some encouraging to get them on task.
However, wake up to cold temperatures and you have kids that are full throttle. They are constantly on the move. I assume they are trying to stay warm.
Period 3: Mathematics - Time
The art of telling time should be reviewed, as some students only know portions of hours and minutes through the day. They don’t have a problem with knowing how late they stayed up before going to bed or how little sleep they had. They have also mastered knowing when a class is over, when breakfast and lunch start, the exact time school is let out for the day, and when any extra-curricular activity they may participate in begins.
What should be emphasized for some are the times that classes start so they are not tardy.
Lunch-30 minutes (most eat within ten)
Period 4 – History
We all know that history is the past. The students know that too. What we may want to do is to let them in on the old saying that, “History repeats itself.”
If you wore a light jacket last year when it was 25 degrees and you were cold all day, then the same will happen again unless you dress more appropriately. If you run on a slick boardwalk you will eventually fall down. If you push another person, they will push back. If you don’t do your assignments, you will not get good grades - and so on.
Period 5-Language Arts
Although frustrating to learn at first, reading and writing are a necessity. You will use these skills until you die and in everything you do. To get a driver’s license you need to know how to read road signs and the written test. Purchase a certain candy bar or pop requires reading. To hook up a dish receiver cable you should know how to read the connection labels.
Writing has changed. As a teacher I find that what is acceptable grammatically now wasn’t when I learned. The present generation was raised with technology from birth are bilingual. True English is their second language. Their first language seems to be Email Lingo/slang comprised of mostly short acronyms.
Period 6 – Elective – Free Choice
Yes, times have changed. It seems as though anything to save a second and/or make it easier to multi-task is now acceptable. Do I feel out of touch? Sometimes. Do I wish to dramatically alter my ways to “conform?” Not really. It is their generation.
Our generation grew up in the 1960’s and 70’s. We too were misunderstood and even shunned by some in the generation that proceeded us. It is a fact of life. The best lesson we can teach is to respect others’ differences, and pursue your own dreams. It is your life. - Your choice.