Pet Peeves

Got my papers out to grade a few minutes ago, and started through the first page of a test. It was fill-in-the-blank and matching (just the first page). I told them EXACTLY what would be on this section. So I made each blank worth 2 points, so this whole easy part of the test ends up being 30 points, or 30% of the test. I feel like that's generous, since I told them exactly what was going to be on it. I'm being completely honest here. I told them.

And yet even though I still have 5 that I haven't even looked at, already there was more than one person that did not get a perfect score on this part. And it's not like I told them about it the day before. I told them in advance. 

But this isn't even the thing that prompted this post. Oh no, it's something much worse. And as a disclaimer, this test is not the first time this has happened. It's not just a particular student, or even a particular class. There's always going to be kids that do this...

What is it you ask? Is the anticipation killing you yet??

Well...

Okay fine. I'll tell you.

My Biggest Pet Peeve:

When students write, "I don't know how to do any of this" on a test, quiz, or anything really.

WAS I TALKING TO THE BRICK WALL IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM FOR THE LAST 2-3 WEEKS?!

That's just so unacceptable. Do students really think I'm going to feel bad? If you don't get something, then you're aware of it. And you're aware of it before test day. So ask questions. Come in and get help before or after school. Ask your friend who is really good at math, and a huge sweetheart to boot, to help you! OH MY.

Teenagers.

And no, I don't think this makes me a bad teacher. I offer help before and after school. I stay until five freaking o'clock two days a week for night school and I'm available to help them during that time. I'll come early if someone asks me to. I have a study hall and a prep period, which I've been known to give up to offer some assistance. I've introduced students to awesome websites Khan Academy that are great for extra help if the times that I'm available are not convenient for their schedules. And there's often time to ask questions either during a lesson or at the end (I give them time to start their homework for this very reason!)

I'm done. I still have these tests to grade. I could have sworn they went smoothly last year, but maybe I was wrong...

Hiccups

I get the hiccups ALL THE TIME. Really. And they're terrible. And usually loud. Luckily, they tend to go away quickly, but they usually come back.

Why post about this on my blog? Well, because I often get them at school. Never while I'm standing up and teaching, because the excessive talking seems to scare them away. But at the beginning and end of class? Yes. And during tests and quizzes. Definitely.

That's the worst. Having hiccups and having your students just sit and giggle at you. Or if you have a good sense of humor, it's entertaining and something you laugh about later.

But still. Hiccups. Seriously?!

Monday, just go away already!

Posted the following on my Facebook a while ago. If your Mondays are anything like mine, you may find this to be awesome. You also might need to be a foodie and a total geek...

How to cure the Mondays in 3 easy steps:
1. Walk home on a gorgeous day, sit on the porch playing Fruit Ninja for a while, then when you get too cold go inside and do the same until you fall asleep.
2. Order tons of cheap but delicious sushi.
3. Watch 3 episodes of Dr. Who.

In other news, I'm finding a hard time finding motivation to grade things. I've got spring fever worse than my students!

Ideas

I have been a terrible blogger lately and not updated at all. But I want to do better. The thing is, I worked at night school tonight, came home, had dinner, then went to the musical at our rival high school (don't worry, I'm going to my school's on Saturday). We (my roomie and her cousin went too) got home at 10. Needless to say, I'm extremely tired and when I finish typing this, I'm going to bed.

So why bother updating right now?

Well, I was thinking about blogging a lot lately, and I have lots of ideas. I'm looking for opinions on whether you'd be interested in reading about any of them...

First, since my blog is called "Adventures of a Second Year Math Teacher," I thought I should right more about my adventures.
Past Adventures like working at a summer camp, numerous mission trips to Chicago, and a summer project in Rome, Italy.
Current Adventures like teaching math (obviously), planning next year's prom, owning a home, raising support for a mission trip, and volunteering with 6th grade girls. ...and...
Future Adventures like driving across the country and then taking a ferry to Alaska, then another ferry to a little island to spend my summer living on a Tlingit reservation!

And then there's other things.

One thing I'm oddly passionate about is teaching teenagers social media/internet responsibility. I think that's a pretty hot topic in education, right? I have a Twitter page I use exclusively for school and our student council advisor had this great idea: #sweettweetfriday.

And more random things, like...

• Khan Academy (not only can you practice your math skills, but you can learn computer science!)
• "Survivor Algebra" (Check it out at coolmath.com) 
• XKCD (I've blogged about this before, but it never ceases to be awesome)
• The Oatmeal (because sarcasm is awesome... and grammar... and Tesla)
• Settlers of Catan (because I really am a nerd)
• The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (A modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice... math teachers can love literature too!)
• Appropriate use of cell phones as an educational tool
• How I hate when people use Facebook like it's Pinterest (Pinterest exists for a reason, people! Maybe you should sign up!)

There's probably more, but do you remember the beginning of this post when I said I was tired?