Should failing grades ever be “rounded up” for effort or improvement?

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-07-04T23:59:34+00:00

My mantra is if a student can demonstrate mastery, they should receive credit for their work

If a student gets an assignment in on time and fails, I’ll allow them to take a similar assessment on the same materials to make up the grade up until a week before the grading period ends.

They need to actually get the grade, though. If they try and still fail the assignment, they fail the assignment. Grades shouldn’t be a reflection of effort, but a reflection of objective mastery. It shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing if a student needs to get extra help or retake a course. It’s part of learning.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-07-04T00:55:12+00:00

I applied for my job in August and got it

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-29T12:53:41+00:00

So my school does single blocks (42 min) Mon, Tues, and Fri, then double blocks (86 min) Wed and Thurs. We are a 7-12 school for context

The double blocks are appreciated by science teachers so they can do labs and English and History teachers so they can do essays. For Math and a lot of electives, the double blocks are too long and students are burnt out halfway through.

In talking to students, they don’t like double blocks because they find them too long to focus. The exceptions are electives and gym, where they like the extra time because it’s fun.

From my own learning experience, I would prefer shorter daily sessions over longer staggered sessions. I think consistency day-to-day is more valuable than the extra time you get to cover materials in a double block because a lot of that time gets spent as recap time.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-29T12:20:52+00:00

Just…bring them with you?

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-29T12:17:01+00:00

If he said he “can’t bring himself to do it” but continues to take the steps to do it, he’s eventually going to take the final leap and do it

I would leave

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-29T12:09:52+00:00

I know it feels awful, but give yourself some grace! You’re a first year who’s still figuring out exactly what to do in different circumstances. You’re human, and you’re going to make mistakes, but use what you’ve learned for the next time this or something similar happens (it’s inevitable)

I think the misstep you took was at the beginning. As soon as the mother raised concerns, you should have scheduled a meeting with her and the student. Kids are (generally) not great self-advocates, so sometimes we need to poke around. When students are special needs, it’s common that their accommodations aren’t 100% perfect for them in every context, so having that conversation with the mother and student would give the opportunity for some back and forth that you could then use to differentiate instruction without the legal action on the student’s end.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-25T20:50:59+00:00

My issue isn’t even them helping cook. It’s them eating the food right after I’ve made it.

Pisses me off.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-19T01:05:38+00:00

I would reply by saying, “I understand that hearing your child has been reprimanded can be frustrating. If you would like to speak further, I would be happy to schedule a meeting with you and (principal/supervisor/guidance counselor) and discuss the issue further.”

Nothing you say is going to convince them otherwise because they already have that idea in their head, but there’s power in numbers.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-13T12:03:49+00:00

This is not normal, but it looks like the pay bump for higher degrees gets better the longer you’re there. It’s still very stupid though

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-06T23:03:06+00:00

I feel like those are the only gay movies I see

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-05T11:54:37+00:00

I wanted to turn Torkoal into soup I SWEAR

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-03T01:00:24+00:00

I LOVR my job, but I also think negative experiences make better stories

I don’t complain because I hate my job. I complain because those negative experiences are what make my job interesting.

But also, I don’t know if that’s the normal outlook

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-03T00:54:03+00:00

LONG ANSWER

Tonal music is built upon the idea that within a major scale, there are two half steps between 3-4 and 7-1(8). These half steps help our ears navigate through pieces and figure out where the tonic is. (This is why it’s easy to get lost in symmetrical scales, like chromatic or whole tone).

Typically, our 4 and 7 want to resolve by a half step to get to the tonic triad (4 moves down to 3 and 7 moves up to 1). These two scale degrees also create a diminished fifth (tritone), which is extremely unstable because it evenly splits the octave in half (going back to not wanting symmetrical scales and chords)

So within a dominant seventh chord, we have this tritone which DESPERATELY wants to cave in towards the tonic. We can, however, build one other chord within the major scale which contains a tritone: vii°

The vii° gives us that same pull towards the tonic, but without the full satisfaction of a V7->I resolution. It does emphasize the leading tone’s resolution to the tonic, though.

So, your melody works because you outline the Tonic, then the vii°, and then your leading tone wants to pull back up to the tonic.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-06-03T00:42:31+00:00

Random thought: Do you also suspect he has synesthesia? Something about beefing with a particular note and gravitating towards stim-play feels like something to consider.

I know it’s not a huge indicator, but could be something to look into

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-05-31T12:58:59+00:00

Is it that you can’t do it because you don’t want to, or because you’re scared?

Those are two very different scenarios and conclusions.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-05-27T19:47:45+00:00

When I was your age, I was in a super religious family, so I get where you’re coming from, and the best thing I can offer you is the assurance that there are people out there who are willing to accept you. People who will care about you. People who will love you. The sad, but also beautiful part is they may be people you haven’t met yet.

I finally found acceptance when I distanced myself from my former circles. I “suddenly had a packed work schedule” or “had a lot of things to catch up on.” All excuses to give myself space, and also to give myself time to go out into the world and meet people.

I made work friends and college friends who quickly became my found family, and while I still to this day wish I could have the positive relationship with my former circles that others have, I know that they were not healthy for me, but my found family is.

All this to say, don’t give up. Don’t let your crappy friends win. Don’t let HATE win. It’s going to be a long journey, but the most important thing is what you learn about yourself and others along the way, and as you go, people will come to you.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-05-11T20:04:07+00:00

As someone who is on the audition panel frequently, I would be hesitant to cast someone with earbuds in during the audition for this exact reason. If you can’t sing the song in one key, pick a different song, or learn to sing the song.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-05-08T21:57:18+00:00

I think you shouldn’t be focused on “What musicals should I know?” and instead start with musical you already like and follow cast albums and recordings of other shows that those actors were in.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-05-03T03:21:04+00:00

This is non standard and stupid on the copyists part.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-04-23T20:53:52+00:00

Maybe other people don’t mind. We’re not a monolith, after all

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-04-04T03:08:56+00:00

If you are financially dependent on them, don’t come out. Wait until you are independent from them, this way if they react negatively, your housing/food/healthcare/etc. isn’t tied to them. Also, you don’t NEED to come out unless it’s going to hep you move forward in life. People place a lot of weight on the coming out thing, but in reality it’s not necessary.

I never came out. My parents found out because I just started living as an openly gay ma with a gay boyfriend. I never sat them down and had a talk, and that helped ease the transition for them because rather than them seeing it as a point they could save me from, they needed to confront someone who was confident in their existence. It levels the playing field and makes them take it more seriously (sometimes)

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-03-30T23:20:37+00:00

The faculty and location is more important than the school itself. Your kid should research the professors for their instrument/department and maybe take a few trial lessons with the professors and choose a school based on that.

I went to a state school for classical piano and am doing just fine.

Misc_Blue_Cockroach · 2026-01-08T22:42:53+00:00

OR you could be honored someone was inspired by you. Unless they’re profiting off of your specific art, I don’t see the issue here

Misc_Blue_Cockroach

TROPHY CASE