I'd like to blame the time change for their lethargy, but my first hour has been like this all year. They're good kids, but their teenage brains non-social at 7:45 in the morning.
Two of them are leaning agains the cinder block wall when I get here each day. I greet them, and they nod an acknowldegement as I unlock the door and they trudge to their seats. The rest of the class seeps into the room in drops and drops, plopping their backpacks down and staring silently forward.
I use various personality profile quizzes to build writing groups. I try to keep the groups consistent unless there's a clash necesitating a change. I want them to be comfortable and know their team. I want them to chat, question, encourage.
Each day, I start with a question. It's usually something easy, no wrong answers. Waffles or pancakes? What's the best super power? How would you spend $50? Which cartoon are you most like? Or something like this from George Couros:
Two of them are leaning agains the cinder block wall when I get here each day. I greet them, and they nod an acknowldegement as I unlock the door and they trudge to their seats. The rest of the class seeps into the room in drops and drops, plopping their backpacks down and staring silently forward.
I use various personality profile quizzes to build writing groups. I try to keep the groups consistent unless there's a clash necesitating a change. I want them to be comfortable and know their team. I want them to chat, question, encourage.
Each day, I start with a question. It's usually something easy, no wrong answers. Waffles or pancakes? What's the best super power? How would you spend $50? Which cartoon are you most like? Or something like this from George Couros:
But, man, most mornings it's like a crypt in here. They're not disengaged. They do their work (mostly), and they'll answer if I ask them directly, but I think they're about 70% asleep most days. I didn't create the meme check-in above, but when I do create my own, I usually leave off options like #9 because it's the default answer.
I suspect they ought to go to bed earlier. I understand that school should definitely start later. But, I wish they were a little more willing to talk to each other. It's kind of limiting to our lessons. I don't want to be the main speaker; that's not really my teaching style.
We're starting A Raisin in the Sun tomorrow. We'll read at least some of the play aloud. I'm hoping they'll have a bit of fun with that, but I'm a little worried.
Anything fun you've found to wake up teenagers?
I suspect they ought to go to bed earlier. I understand that school should definitely start later. But, I wish they were a little more willing to talk to each other. It's kind of limiting to our lessons. I don't want to be the main speaker; that's not really my teaching style.
We're starting A Raisin in the Sun tomorrow. We'll read at least some of the play aloud. I'm hoping they'll have a bit of fun with that, but I'm a little worried.
Anything fun you've found to wake up teenagers?