Prepare for the season of excuses and lame rationalization. Now that Thanksgiving break is over, we enter the time of the year when millions of students suddenly realize how much trouble their grades are in.
Maybe those holiday dinner conversations hit a little too close to home when the family asks how the semester is going. Maybe it’s just the fact that only a few days of December remain until the final marks are made. Panic begins to set in for the unprepared student, a stark realization that research papers and final exams are about to come due. So much to do in so little time!
Some students buckle down and get it done, others give it the old college try before fading, and still more will decide that it’s just not worth it. I understand all this from my time as a bad student, good student, and teacher. One of the amazing things about teaching is how much student behavior you can predict as the years go by. So much changes in culture but slacker students stay the same.
I’m not going to go on too much about this as today’s short video will sum it up for you. Let me just say I am not talking about every student who has ever failed here. Some teachers are horrible and their students may really be doomed. Some classes are insanely hard although no one who puts in the effort should ever fail. No, I’m talking about students who just don’t care until the bill for their ignorance comes due.
I am stunned but not surprised when students come to me after bombing the whole course. They want to know what they can do to fix it. I never heard from them one time despite repeated attempts on my part to meet with them and discuss ways to make up points. Some of these students even wait until the final grades post and then act as if they’re shocked that they failed despite missing almost every test question of the year!
If you’re a student and you’ve blown it this far, just put away distractions for a couple of weeks (even Call of Duty and partying) and start hammering the work. If all else fails then plea for mercy. Simply admit if you screwed up and ask for grace. It may not save you but is the right way to go about things. Don’t come with weak excuses and don’t blame other people. Most of all, don’t tell your teacher that your failure is their fault! Trust me on this one, even if you do have a lousy teacher.
You have to really try to fail in my course. I have helped so many students achieve because they put in effort and communicated with me. They cared. Many of these successful students actually face real tough challenges, yet they do what it takes. We teachers can also help you if you’ve been flirting with worst student ever status but decide to change. Second chances are important. They help build relationships and create teachable moments. I want all my students to get As.
That said, we’ll always have some students who just don’t care. They come and go all the time. The strange part is when they show up at the end of the year asking questions. That’s what this video is about. Have you ever experienced anything like this? I can hardly call this encounter fictional.
I am not one for blowin soke up peoples asses but I hope your students know how much time you spend thinking about them and different ways to help them. Any instructor I have ever has had that approached teaching the way you do made a profound impact on my life, not just my grades
You know, I second this. I’ve dabbled just enough in teaching to know how hard it can be, but I really appreciate my college professors who loved what they did and cared about their students. I learned a lot from them, no matter what the subject was.
It’s true. I know a lot of teachers at all levels who put so much time into their prep and it shows. That’s only half of the job though. I think relationship building is a big part of any teaching whether it’s in a classroom or not. Thanks for stopping by GapGrad.
The way I see it, teaching is just like any other line of work. If you hate it then get out and do something else. I’m also lucky to have had some phenomenal humans get a hold of me from the classroom.
I have already starting having these conversations. It’s “Criers’ Week” remember? Why is that we (teachers) are the one’s doing the crying? LOL!
It’s all part of the experience. You are putting yourself through more than me though what with grading essays over your holiday break. You are a better woman than me. Wait, that didn’t come out right.
I had a very similar conversation with a student back at SHCS! They waited until the last quarter of the year and then wanted extra credit work to make up for the first 3/4s that they had spent doing nothing.
I claimed that I would be helpful if I saw some improvement over the coming 3 weeks. Of course, nothing changed.
I hope that wasn’t me! The more I teach the less I am surprised. This student pops up around this time of year though.
Nope, not you! I knew my classes weren’t your favorites, but you were never in this category of student for me.
Yup, I’ve had a lot of these conversations too — gotta love the the excuse pileup! And I truly admire the fact that you’re still devoted enough to want your students to get As.
I have to admit WoPro I thought of you when I finished the video. Everyone who teaches has heard this stuff, but every once in a while you get the worst student ever who decides that they care after final grades are done. I never understand those ones.
Oh, man! Can I relate to all of this. It’s getting better since I loosened up some. ..and extended grace periods. . .
But if you’re an adjunct, and your job depends on those evals, they make the rules! There’s no getting around that for me. Have already paid for it too dearly now.
Besides, I love teaching! They just won’t let me make rockets like I wanted to. .what’s a gal to do?
*student evals (edit)