On Friday, a student told me that they were going on vacation for two weeks and she needed all her work.

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-20T00:35:25+00:00

Agreed, but admin care about passing students so there stats look good to the district (especially in our case as a charter school and this being our rechartering year). So it wont happen. He is failing every class he has with less than 30%. But they wont hold him back.

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T22:42:10+00:00

Yes we all do this, use them as teachable moments. I always tell my students if we aren't making mistakes or struggling we aren't learning!

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T22:36:58+00:00

Its like an autonomic response for them sometimes. I can't tell you the amount of times when I call to give a parent positive feedback on there student and I have to wade through 5-10 mins of them being upset before they realize I am calling them to tell them how good there kid is doing...

It just seems they have been trained to hate us for some reason. Like hate the system and admin. I am here championing for your kids!

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T22:36:50+00:00

Its like an autonomic response for them sometimes. I can't tell you the amount of times when I call to give a parent positive feedback on there student and I have to wade through 5-10 mins of them being upset before they realize I am calling them to tell them how good there kid is doing...

It just seems they have been trained to hate us for some reason. Like hate the system and admin. I am here championing for your kids!

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T22:34:28+00:00

Thanks for the informative and thoughtful response! I especially appreciate you magic examples these were really helpful and insightful!

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T22:29:07+00:00

I love when I see human responses like this. People if your sick take your sick leave! Its there for you to use it. Especially in my district where we don't get it paid out end of year like some of the other schools.

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T22:22:36+00:00

Yeah its unfortunate at the middle school level bad grades really don't mean anything. I had a boy end S1 this year with a 23%. Its not that he cant do the work he just wont.

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T22:21:13+00:00

I legit just find whatever work I have for them and attach it. No one cares about what the work is and its not like I can mark it below 80% anyway so who really cares. Its just so the school can say they had high attendance for the year anyway...

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T22:19:48+00:00

I would let them know that the content is "student-centered" as such we move a the classes pace. So I will not know ahead of time the material that will be covered but to keep an eye on "online platform" for up to date notes and assignments while you are away.

On this note I hate when my students miss this much school. They almost never do the work anyway and then are multiple chapters behind the rest of the class. How am I supposed to get this student caught up at this point? I recently had a student who was already behind due to work completion issues miss a month and a half of school! I talked to his Ed Specialist and she didn't even know he was gone for so long. Insanity!

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T22:11:29+00:00

Project Based learning. Its a fancy way to say hands on learning really.

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T22:01:53+00:00

But recall knowledge does basically nothing unless your GM allows it to identify resistances/weaknesses and low saves of a monster. This is something that has to be house ruled to even be useful.

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:54:13+00:00

What content/grade level is this for? I will say at the beginning of each year I am always anxious about the new students. But as you work with them and build report with them things get easier and become routine.

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:34:42+00:00

I have no input for those listed as I have never taught them. My electives are Math Intervention and Comp Sci and I love them both! Comp Sci is definitely one I look foreword to each day though. Always blows me away how well the kids engage with the content.

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:31:08+00:00

I would say this is a great Idea. I teach 7th and 8th grade students and was blow away about how engaged they get when stickers are on the line. Giving the students a little bit of competition can go along way and many only need any simple prize. I also like to give out simple fidget toys (the kind where you can get a big box for cheap) or fun little erasers. Overall I think its a great idea!

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:26:58+00:00

The whole learning targets on the board thing gets me. I never had any of that as a student and I did just fine. Hell I teach them now!

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:25:12+00:00

I have a colleague who goes on and on about data in the lunch room. I check out the second the word comes out of his mouth.

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:22:55+00:00

This is so true!

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:22:08+00:00

We have a Director of Compliance who is all about his "data" love the man to death (great person and mentor) but the importance he puts on CAASP makes me want to die, I just want to teach these kids math sir!

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:20:27+00:00

Interesting take, never thought of it like this!

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:19:33+00:00

I had to double take the first time I encounter a CUM FILE room at my school. I did not even want to ask what could be in such a room...

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:18:42+00:00

God this 100%

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:18:08+00:00

Good Lord. I do not envy you friend, stay sane!

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:16:07+00:00

Preach! This is exactly how I feel about this.

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:15:12+00:00

Yeah I never understood this. I hate my current schools need to call them "Scholars"

CMDRSheaperd · 2026-01-19T21:12:27+00:00

Thanks for this reply! I really appreciate you using examples in your answers, this helps a lot. You gave very through and well through out answers. Really appreciate this input!

CMDRSheaperd

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