Sunday, October 30, 2005

How I Earned the Grade I Got

I got a number of emails from folks who wanted to see this handout I give my kids (and which they are required to have all year in their binder). I cannot claim credit for this - it was borrowed from a lecturer on one of my grad school tapes and I simply modified it.

How I earned the grade I got

If you can answer "yes" to all of these questions, congratulations! You did a fantastic job! If any of these are answered with a "no", then you have some work to do. The key to a better grade is in your hands! If you can change "no" to "yes" your grade will begin to improve! It is all up to YOU!

1. I turn in all assignments complete and on time.
2. I write my assignments in my agenda every day.
3. My work is neat and easy to read.
4. My journal entries are dated, numbered and written in my composition book.
5. My science section of my binder is neat and everything is in its place.
6. I put my full name, date, period and assignment page on all my assignments.
7. I come to class prepared every day with my pencil, my book, my journal, my workbook, my binder and my agenda.
8. I study a little every day so that I am well prepared for all tests and quizzes.
9. If I don't understand something, I ask questions.
10. I care about my future and take pride in always doing my best.

Now underneath this I have a copy of a newspaper clipping I got this past June out of USA Today. It's one of those little snapshot graphics on the front page and this one is titled, Earnings Soar with More Education (data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2004 statistics). It shows the average yearly salary of workes ages 18 and older. No high school diploma is $18,734, high school diploma is $27,915, a bachelor's degree is $51,206, and an advanced degree is $74,602.

Of course, if you're a teacher, you won't be earning that kind of money, but you get the idea!

2 comments:

Princess Lionhead said...

What a great idea!! I am assuming since you got the idea from someone else that you won't mind if I steal it? I shall keep it in my archives until I return to middle school, which will most likely be next year.

Anonymous said...

In November, you complain bitterly that your student's PP presentations lack content, but what you ask for above has little to do with subject matter:

Busy work:
2. I write my assignments in my agenda every day.
4. My journal entries are dated, numbered and written in my
composition book.
8. I study a little every day so that I am well prepared for all tests
and quizzes.

Make the teacher's job easier:
1. I turn in all assignments complete and on time.
3. My work is neat and easy to read.
5. My science section of my binder is neat and everything is in its place.
6. I put my full name, date, period and assignment page on all my
assignments.
7. I come to class prepared every day with my pencil, my book, my
journal, my workbook, my binder and my agenda.

Vague disconnect:
10. I care about my future and take pride in always doing my best.

Possibly connected to the study of the subject:
9. If I don't understand something, I ask questions.

If *your* focus is not on content, how can you expect it from your students?

Consider this list, from Bill Taylor.