Ruminations from a Winding Career
Viewing comments for Chapter 2 "4th Period Eighth Graders"Thoughts from almost 50 years
13 total reviews
Comment from Lyn Peters
So happy to have come across another anecdote from your days in the classroom. How awful, to know that so many children are (were) left behind due to (hopefully) well intended policies and how uplifting to know there were (are) educators out there who care enough to make a difference. Thank you, for your service to these communities.
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2021
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So happy to have come across another anecdote from your days in the classroom. How awful, to know that so many children are (were) left behind due to (hopefully) well intended policies and how uplifting to know there were (are) educators out there who care enough to make a difference. Thank you, for your service to these communities.
Comment Written 21-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2021
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Thanks so much, Lyn. Rdfrdmom2
Comment from Mastery
Outstanding writing, Jan. (It is Jan, isn't it?) LOL You were among the missing for so long, I need to be sure my memory isn't failing me. This sounds like the preface to a very interesting sorry. I will keep following. thank you. Bob
ps. Please remember, I cannot keep up with two posts a day...everyday, just so you know. LOL
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2021
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Outstanding writing, Jan. (It is Jan, isn't it?) LOL You were among the missing for so long, I need to be sure my memory isn't failing me. This sounds like the preface to a very interesting sorry. I will keep following. thank you. Bob
ps. Please remember, I cannot keep up with two posts a day...everyday, just so you know. LOL
Comment Written 20-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2021
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Thanks, Bob. Yes, it is Jan. I probably can't keep up with writing 2 posts a day, either. Plus, got to keep some poetry in there, too! Rdfrdmom2
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A lot of people on here tzhink it so important to be high in the rankings that they do two poems a day, ussually one of them is just plain trash, but theyn do not care. they have to get that two a day no matter what. I post one chapter every week to 10 days and I am happy with the result. Bless you jan. Bob
Comment from Vanessa Newman
Great! I am hooked and can only imagine what happens. I am a College instructor so I get it. I am sure that you are aware of this, but the more you show instead of tell, the more engaged the reader tends to be. I wanted to hear the voices of the students in their own dialogue, but I am sure that is what is coming in the book. Well done! Keep at it!
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2021
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Great! I am hooked and can only imagine what happens. I am a College instructor so I get it. I am sure that you are aware of this, but the more you show instead of tell, the more engaged the reader tends to be. I wanted to hear the voices of the students in their own dialogue, but I am sure that is what is coming in the book. Well done! Keep at it!
Comment Written 19-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2021
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Thanks, Vanessa. It's like I heard you in my head when was writing today's piece to post tonight. Rdfrdmom2
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Yeah! Glad I helped and I am sure you will return the favor some day. Let's be buddies.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Reading your authors notes and saw that this class gave you the fondest of memories, I will assume you managed to get them out of the rut. Some teachers are good at that, others aren't really interested and shouldn't have become a teacher in the first place. This class were really lucky. Well done!! :)) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2021
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Reading your authors notes and saw that this class gave you the fondest of memories, I will assume you managed to get them out of the rut. Some teachers are good at that, others aren't really interested and shouldn't have become a teacher in the first place. This class were really lucky. Well done!! :)) Sandra xx
Comment Written 19-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2021
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Thanks so much, Sandra. Don't sell yourself so short. Rdfrdmom2
Comment from ExperiencingLiphe
Uhh, yeah, I totally bet they didn't touch typewriters...lol. These are usually the kids that make lasting impressions and the teachers that know what they're doing can make the biggest difference in their lives.
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2021
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Uhh, yeah, I totally bet they didn't touch typewriters...lol. These are usually the kids that make lasting impressions and the teachers that know what they're doing can make the biggest difference in their lives.
Comment Written 19-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 21-Jan-2021
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Thanks so much, my young friend. Rdfrdmom2
Comment from Elizabeth Emerald
Well--having just read your prior posting--I see that his confidence in your teaching potential was gloriously validated. Clearly you were dedicated from the get-go! Excellent piece.
reply by the author on 18-Jan-2021
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Well--having just read your prior posting--I see that his confidence in your teaching potential was gloriously validated. Clearly you were dedicated from the get-go! Excellent piece.
Comment Written 18-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 18-Jan-2021
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Thanks, Elizabeth. Rdfrdmom2
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Yes, the typewriters were on the students' desks and the eighth graders were supposed to be mature enough not to touch them while doing the math work I wanted them to do. (RIGHT!!!! LOL)
One of my sons' teachers freshman math. He complains of the same thing, the kids are coming to his class without the background knowledge they should know to succeed in math. He blames the elementary teachers. I'm an elementary teacher and tend to agree with him, because we have a group of elementary teacher who do not know math and often skip over it because they can't do it. I see it often and have complained about it.
reply by the author on 18-Jan-2021
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Yes, the typewriters were on the students' desks and the eighth graders were supposed to be mature enough not to touch them while doing the math work I wanted them to do. (RIGHT!!!! LOL)
One of my sons' teachers freshman math. He complains of the same thing, the kids are coming to his class without the background knowledge they should know to succeed in math. He blames the elementary teachers. I'm an elementary teacher and tend to agree with him, because we have a group of elementary teacher who do not know math and often skip over it because they can't do it. I see it often and have complained about it.
Comment Written 18-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 18-Jan-2021
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Most elementary teachers are only required to take one 3-hour class of math in order to teach elementary school. I believe we should have specialists in math and science once kids reach 3rd grade. Rdfrdmom2
Comment from lyenochka
Wonderful! I'm so glad they had you! Can you imagine what would have happened to these people if you didn't teach them basic math? I think you should really emphasize how you took the basketball arguments and made them into math problems they could relate to!
reply by the author on 18-Jan-2021
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Wonderful! I'm so glad they had you! Can you imagine what would have happened to these people if you didn't teach them basic math? I think you should really emphasize how you took the basketball arguments and made them into math problems they could relate to!
Comment Written 17-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 18-Jan-2021
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That will come in the next installent. Rdfrdmom2
Comment from Wendy G
Well written. Reminds me of when I taught Year 8 maths to the slow learners (again only 2 girls) - and I had them for the last hour on a Friday afternoon. I bought each an exercise book, made some "Mad Minute" worksheets with practice on the four basic operations on each, and on different coloured paper. The afternoon was spent working feverishly on worksheets which they then glued into "the special books Miss made for us". They were so competitive to see how many new coloured pages they could add (but they had to be corrected first, and approved.) We ended up having such fun together, and they had a lovely book to be proud of at the end of the year.
reply by the author on 17-Jan-2021
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Well written. Reminds me of when I taught Year 8 maths to the slow learners (again only 2 girls) - and I had them for the last hour on a Friday afternoon. I bought each an exercise book, made some "Mad Minute" worksheets with practice on the four basic operations on each, and on different coloured paper. The afternoon was spent working feverishly on worksheets which they then glued into "the special books Miss made for us". They were so competitive to see how many new coloured pages they could add (but they had to be corrected first, and approved.) We ended up having such fun together, and they had a lovely book to be proud of at the end of the year.
Comment Written 17-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 17-Jan-2021
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Great idea. Wish I had thought of that. Thanks for the review. Rdfrdmom2
Comment from Goodadvicechan
I like this story. It reminds me of my school days. I also like the picture although there are more boys in the class, it is a good choice to select a girl for this story. The girl is more studious than the boys.
The author is good in describing how the boys behave in school, especially during lunch break.
reply by the author on 17-Jan-2021
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I like this story. It reminds me of my school days. I also like the picture although there are more boys in the class, it is a good choice to select a girl for this story. The girl is more studious than the boys.
The author is good in describing how the boys behave in school, especially during lunch break.
Comment Written 17-Jan-2021
reply by the author on 17-Jan-2021
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Thanks, Goodadvicechan. Rdfrdmom2