I cannot believe that it is March 23. I cannot believe that I still have so much to do with my students. I cannot believe that some of them, particularly seniors, do not realize that time is running out.
I have 21 seniors this semester. The first rough draft of their research papers were due last friday and 12 of them didn't turn it in. Not only did they not turn the rough draft in, they didn't tell me why it wasn't done or even speak to me about it until I approached them.
I am left feeling very frustrated. Didn't we go over the process? Didn't I guide them to find good sources and learn to take notes and write an outline and blah blah blah...? Haven't I worked one on one with most of them to answer difficult questions, learn more about their topics and read articles/books/journals with them? What haven't I done? Oh yeah...I didn't write the paper for them. LOL How silly of me not to have realized that I would need to do that. (sarcasm)
I have to say though, that the papers I did get turned in weren't bad. Attempts were made at integrating quotations and incorporating sources like we had worked on. MLA citations were hit or miss, but they could show me that they were trying. Some students even came to the realization on their own that the voice of their paper wasn't correct. So, I guess there are some moments when it looks like there's really a teacher, teaching.
This process is exhausting for me. I become deeply invested in each of my students and I simply do not have enough time.
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Christin-
ReplyDeleteI think that if it isn't exhausting, you aren't doing your job. So, kudos to you for working hard. In all those papers were there any that gave you hope that your hard work has paid off? Teaching seniors must be a struggle! I have never had that desire before b/c I have always had to observe my own student teachers in their own frustrations with seniors in the spring...rough job! Thanks for sharing.
Yes, there were some papers where I could really tell that my help and our work together had paid off. Of course, those successes give me the strength to continue!
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