Happy Friday!

We were displaced again today for sophomore testing, but the plans for today were perfect for camping out in another teacher's room--students took the final vocabulary quiz before Spring Break and had time to read for SSR. I also touched base with each student regarding their grade. When a student expresses dismay, I ask the following:

• Did you take advantage of the quiz corrections? (study questions for quiz 1 and correct & reflect for quiz 2--check PowerSchool to see if your student did so)
• Are you on task on Moodle Mondays? (Many students "missed" a quiz that was work during lab time on 2/11; others are distracted by the Internet--I do not have the option to block it) 
• Do you follow the directions handed out in class and posted on Moodle? Or do you just guess what to do? 
• Do you study for vocabulary quizzes? 
• Is your handheld technology distracting you? (I have an astounding number of students who chat, text, and game throughout the hour--despite being as to put their handhelds away)
• Do you use class time to work on assignments and/or get help or do you socialize? 
• Do you ask questions in class or come for help outside of class if you don't understand the class content or an assignment? 

If students are active learners they will exhibit those behaviors--and if they do, grades are never an issue.