The Joys - and Pains - of Teaching Seniors
Saturday May 16, 2009
As the school year comes to an end, many teachers are dealing with the joys - and pains - of teaching seniors. Unfortunately, there is often a certain attitude in high schools that senior teachers often get off easy. Typically, their students do finish sooner than the rest of the school. Further, the worst behaved students have often times left school for good by that point. Despite these positives, teaching seniors is not always a bed of roses. So how do we keep students who are suffering from Chronic Senioritis motivated?
Comments
Having taught seniors for 36 years, I have found the best technique for keeping them involved is Scholar for a Day. Studying a novel, I assign each student to be responsible for leading the class in assigned chapters, discussing analyzing(within specific requirements) and connecting to other works of literature. They must also research any new term, place, or expression they find. My colleageues tell me it is working. They see the kids working hard on their “Day”. I also give a brief quiz each day over the required reading to keep all of them reading. The presentations are worth enough points to make them significant.
I also tell them that “senioritis” is a choice
they make that is not acceptable. The grades for fourth quarter are dependent on their work or lack of it.