Better...

I just graded the 9th grade quiz I made them re-take today (with a different problem, of course). It was better. Three didn't come with rulers, but they at least came to my room during 10 minute break to ask to borrow one from me. I told them to get their rulers, paper, calculators and pencils out before the quiz started, and I asked if anybody needed anything. Nobody said anything. So I gave them the problem.

One kid got up from his desk loudly and said, "I don't have any paper." Halfway through the quiz, one started rummaging through his backpack trying to find his calculator. But it was better than yesterday. Much better than yesterday. They all finished in 10 minutes, and everyone had his or her name at the top of a half sheet of paper with all work shown (Yay! Progress!).

Yesterday we learned how to multiply and divide rational expressions, and I told them to leave their answers in factored form on their homework as opposed to multiplying everything out. EVERY. SINGLE. EXAMPLE. that I did on the board, I left the answer in factored form. After the lesson, multiple kids still asked me, "Miss, on the homework, how should we write our answers?" And each time, I responded, "Leave your answers in factored form".

Four kids out of ten turned in homework today with answers in factored form. Perrrrfect...

Yesterday during batik class, I had the following conversation with one particular 9th grader.

Student: How long will you be in your room for after school?
Me: Probably 20 minutes or so, then I'll head home.
Student: Am I annoying you?
Me: Noooooo.....
Student: Am I now?
Me: Getting there...
Student: Can I come to your room after school?
Me: For.....??
Student: I have some questions.
Me: Questions?
Student: Sorry. Am I annoying you?
Me: What do you have questions about?
Student: Stuff.
Me: You spent the entire class time today drawing dragons. Don't think I didn't see.
Student: Oh. Well, it's not about today.
Me: You also spent yesterday and the day before and the day before drawing dragons on paper you took out of the recycle bin.
Student: Oh. You saw that?
Me: Mmhmm...
Student: So can I come to your class later? I need help.
Me: Why should I spend my personal time after work helping you learn something that you don't even care about listening to the first time I teach it to you?
Student: OK. So I can come?
Me: Answer the question.
Student: What question?
Me: Why should I spend my personal time after work helping you when you don't even bother to pay attention to me in class?
Student: Um... Because it's your job...
Me: No. My JOB is to spend one hour a day teaching you what you need to know about Algebra 2. Nowhere in my job description does it say that I have to stay after school to help students who choose to not pay attention in class.
Student: It's your job to help me.
Me: I DO HELP YOU! EVERY DAY IN CLASS!
Student: But I don't get it.
Me: YOU DON'T LISTEN!
Student: So can I come after school?


According to my blog stats, lots of people in lots of different countries around the world read this blog. In fact, this blog has been read about 10,000 times since I started writing it. Granted, 9000 of those times were probably by my parents, but to the other 1000 people out there: Got any ideas?? I need help.