Student Failures

Question for Educators: Student Failure
As a teacher, I agonized over students who had "earned" Fs. At the end of the marking period or semester, I entered grades via bubble sheets or a computerized system that didn't communicate with my grading software. The process, while not exactly efficient, was as easy as typing "A" or "C" into the field and occasionally selecting a teacher comment. 

 

When I got to the first "F," I remember anguishing and hesitating to enter "F." With one keystroke, I was declaring someone a failure. For year-end grades this was indeed FINAL. 

 

It's a difficult task telling someone, "You failed." 

 

No matter how many classes the student skipped, how few assignments were completed, or how little effort was exerted, telling a 14 year-old and his/her parents is one of the most most difficult tasks we as educators do. And it should be.

 

Despite talking myself through it--I've done everything I can! and internally blaming the student, If he had exerted more effort--I usually skipped over entering the F's into the system before going back and entering the final failure. I was putting off the inevitable.

 

But during that waiting period, I questioned my own ability,. Why did I not reach and motivate this student?

 

I lamented, Does she truly deserve an F? She showed improvement throughout the year, maybe she deserves a D. What will this do for our relationship; I've invested so much in this kid? 

 

I don't ever remember talking myself out of recording an "F," but I'm sure on occasions I did. 

 

To this day, I cannot think of any student who benefited and learned from a Final Grade of an F, and this speaks to a larger problem. Even though I knew in almost all cases, the F wasn't my fault or an indication of my shortcomings, each of F led to reflection and my own improvement. 

 

I wonder:

1. What are the alternatives to F's for Final Grades? 
2. How can we ensure that students learn from their failures? 
3. With computerized grading systems, have we become desensitized to failing students? 
4. In what circumstances is an F legitimate? 
5. Are F's an indications of  a teacher failing? 
6. Is there an acceptable (statistically or otherwise) percentage of failures? 

 Just some questions and some thoughts. Thanks for reading.

Need to Knows 

Mustang Morning stickers will be printed after school on Thursday. They will be distributed on Friday, April 13. Please update your drafts to include any student who has a D or an F and delete any students you don't need to see. 

Grades are due in PowerSchool April 12. 

Nolan's Story:From Mr. V: We wanted to share with you an opportunity that we have for our Juniors and Seniors.  On Friday, April 13^th, Anita Brockette, a former math teacher at Albemarle High School, will present “Nolan’s Story.”  Nolan, her son and a former student of mine at AHS, was killed in an alcohol related accident right before graduation.  Her story and message are powerful and meaningful, especially at this time of year.  

 

On Friday, Junior and Seniors will be released at 9:20 from their 1A classes to the auditorium. We hope that seniors who have 1A free period will attend this presentation. The Nolan's Story presentation lasts approximately 40 minutes and students will be released to their 1B classes. Freshman and Sophomores will report to Mentorship at the normal time.

All Staff Faculty Meeting April 19 at 8am. 

 
Reminder that all students are required to add a component to their online portfolio for each class. If you have any questions, please seek out Becky Ellis or me. 

We've recently had an increase in number of students in the hallways towards the end of classes, especially 4th period. We have discussed this matter with some of you already, but please be mindful of this as this poses several problems. Most importantly, as educators, we know that our time is limited and each minute matters. 

As you probably know, we have a committee that is looking into ways to improve Mustang Morning. We will be distributing a survey later this week for all teachers to complete for that day's Mustang Morning. The data collected from this survey will assist us in understanding how Mustang Morning is being used and how we would like it to be used.  


Local Grants Available!! Deadline for applications is April 20th.  Information about the program can be found at: http://www.shannongrants.org/

Prom will be on Saturday, April 14 at Fry’s Spring Beach Club from 8-11pm.  We are in search of chaperones to help out with this big event.  If you are able to volunteer some time it would be greatly appreciated!  It’s always a lot of fun to see the kids dressed up and they look forward to seeing their teachers too.

We need chaperones for 1^st shift (8-9:30pm) and 2^nd shift (9:30-11pm).  If you could email Ms. Stott which shift you’d like, as well as any task preference (ticket check in, dance floor supervision, or side room supervision), she will do her best to assign you to your preference (first come first serve!). 

Changes to Google Drive/Sync: This announcement is directed to users of Google Drive for MAC/PC to backup files from your computer to Google Drive. GSuite for Education has announced that Google Drive for Mac/PC will no longer be available after May 12th, 2018. Google Drive for Mac/PC is the application that syncs your Google Drive between the web and your computer. This change does not impact the files that you have in Google Drive on the Internet. The Learning Technologies team recommends teachers and students using the Google Drive application switch to Backup and Sync by Google. Backup and Sync will behave in the same way that the Google Drive application does in syncing your files between the web and your computer with improved functionality.

LEAD recommends ignoring the popup below and instead downloading Backup and Sync by Google.

The transition will be simple by completing the following steps.

1.    Download and install Backup and Sync by Google.

2.    After installation, restart your computer.

3.    After restarting, setup will run automatically all of your files will be synced just like they were before.

 

Field Trips and SOLs 

April 11, 12: Digital Imaging and Photography Field Trip
April 12: Grades locked into PowerSchool
April 13:  Nolan's Story Presentation (see above)
All Staff Faculty Meeting April 19 at 8am.   
April 20: Pep Rally 

Birthdays

April 11: Shannon Deegan and Laura Gaskins
April 12: Michael Parsons

Useful Information

Activity Period Calendar : Mentorship for Freshmen and Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors Nolan Story

Technology / Website Permission Request Form Please use this form to request use of a website or any resource that requires student log-in if the site is not already on the approved list. DART approved list

Morning Announcement Stream: http://streaming.k12albemarle.org/ACPS/links.htm Please be sure to have announcements cued and ready to go at 8:55 every morning.

Announcement Request: http://tinyurl.com/requestannouncement

Teacher Handbook 

Link to Athletic calendar, schedules and rosters

Worth Your Time

20 Ways to Use PearDeck to Engage Students (this is an approved DART program, but does require parent permission)

Another Nail in the Coffin for Learning Styles 

School Initiative Explores How to Support Students Living with Trauma 
 

 

 

Bell Schedules

Pep Rally Schedule (Anchor Day), April 20th

No Mentorship or Club Day, No Long Lunch

1A: 8:55-9:35 (40 minutes)

1B: 9:40-10:15 (35 minutes)

2A: 10:20-10:55 (35 minutes)

2B: 11:00-11:35 (35 minutes)

3A: 11:40-1:15 1st lunch: 11:35-12:05 2nd lunch: 12:15-12:40 3rd lunch: 12:45-1:20

3B: 1:20-1:55 (35 minutes)

4A: 2:00-2:35 (35 minutes)

4B: 2:40-3:15 (35 minutes)

Pep Rally: 3:15-3:50 Please wait for the band or an announcement to dismiss your class.

AM CATEC: Students leave 9:55 (10:10-12:15 at CATEC; student will miss 3A)

PM CATEC: Students leave at 12:05 after eating 1st lunch. Students may return for the pep rally.