With
the first marking period come and gone, and the second one almost completed, I
find myself marveling at the fact that I have successfully taught over 250
students for over two months. If you had
told me one year ago that I would be a high school science teacher in Liberia,
I would have laughed at you. And
instead, here I am!
Though
we have finished the first marking period, my work is far from over. Many of my students failed that first marking
period, and many of them are looking to be on their way to failing the second. In my 11A Physics class, I passed only 7 out
of 64 students. This was discouraging,
but I know it’s because they do not try.
Many of them have stepped up their game this marking period, after
realizing the level of work that I expect, and they are on track to pass my
class. Between all of the examples,
homework problems, quizzes, and review for the final exam, there is no reason
anyone should be failing my class.
Part
of the problem, I think, comes from the fact that their other classes are very
different from the way that we run our classes.
Sarah and I don’t put up with any crap from our students; if you make a
fool of yourself, we will call you out on it.
If you are being rude or disrespectful, we are not afraid to move you to
the front of the classroom or to send you out of the classroom altogether. Another favorite of ours has been to lecture
our students after class – either in the classroom or in the hallway, where
everyone can watch and get the hint that we are serious about providing them
with a quality education.
My
tenth graders are showing the most progress this marking period, and I could
not be happier about that. My 10C and
10D classes are my favorite two classes, and they are picking up our new
Physics material very very well.
Teaching them every day is enjoyable to me, and on the days that I don’t
want to go to school, thinking about missing their class makes me want to
go. My brightest students are in those
two classes, and I am excited to see what we can accomplish by next summer. Who knows – maybe I am teaching a future
president of Liberia? One can never
know… All I know is that it is my duty
to provide them with the best educational experience I can find within myself. Here’s to the next two years.
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| 11A |
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| The ladies of 10C |
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| The ladies of 10D |
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| Some of the guys from 10D |
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| The trouble makers of 10D. |
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