...of a middle school teacher. Could someone please tell me how to motivate the unmotivated?? What do you do when 7th graders won't even do 4, YES FOUR, problems for homework?? Try 3 out of about 25 students completing this assignment. Another 7 did only the odd, and the ANSWERS for the odd are in the BACK of the book! (On a side note: 7th grade math is not what we remember. We've already covered elements of college-level statistics, 2-step algebraic equations, and geometry that we didn't do until about 10th grade. Thanks to some of the elements of No Child Left Behind, a lot more children are not even at the "bus stop" to catch the ride!!)
I've always worked with struggling, difficult to teach students, but I've never experienced little to no effort. I can handle a kid with any type of ability level, but I'm running out of ideas to motivate. I've even watched Freedom Writers for my own motivation. There are so many influences and distractions for them, and many lack the desire for something better. Isn't the natural pattern of things to desire something bigger and better for your own children? Where are their dreams and hopes, and why can't they be realistic and legal? What can we offer them that beats what the street offers?
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5 comments:
Yeah, my son is in 4th grade and his math has already stumped me on sevearal occasions. I can't imagine teaching junior high students. Get some caffeine, woman. You're gonna need it!
You said it, sister.
At my school, even the kids with the ability don't care. It's very frustrating.
Usually breaks like Spring Break and summer help recharge my batteries, but they are getting a bit more difficult to recharge these days. I haven't felt this "low" about my career in a while. I had always heard that teaching was a "thankless" profession, but I don't think you get that meaning until you actually experience it.
Wow, this is an uplifting conversation, isn't it???
Yeah, I'm usually more upbeat, but exasperation & frustration have really peaked lately. I'm going to write a more fun blog soon.
As far as the caffeine thing goes, I think I need an IV drip on some days!
Ohhhh how I can relate. My daughter is in 3rd grade and is behind in both Reading and Math, therefor we have her going to the Kumon tutoring, she acts like it's torture but I don't know what else to do. I sit with her for 2 or 3 hours sometimes helping her figure things out but she seems to be in a different non-motivated world. If you have any suggestions, they would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks.
I just realized that one of my students who had been TRYING to do his work last semester has not been trying at all this semester because...he's most likely given in to the street. He suddenly has money, is dressing better, and has a thug attitude. Makes me sad.
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