School and grades are a major part of life. Some students strive to make good grades, while others expect to be handed them, and still others just want to slide by with Ds to pass. With the students come their parents who have dreams for their children and want them to earn good grades, be handed good grades and even those parents who don’t care one way or another. There are teachers today who give students the grades they earn, those who bump up grades some, and those who just hand them out freely for just doing the work.
In every school there are all different types of students. Most of my graduating class I would say just wanted to get by, graduate, go to the community college; that is like an extension of high school since 50 to 80% of every class goes there usually, or go into a trade-school. There are those students however that try their best to earn those A grades by studying, taking notes, paying attention in class, and doing homework. I was one of these students. Too prove my point about my class being in the just get by frame of mind, at the start of junior year only five students out of 100 students had a grade point average of three point five or higher. To me this was shocking especially considering the class of 2010 from the same high school who have had the same exact teachers had 17 students with a grade point average of three point five or higher going into their junior year. Of course almost all students wouldn’t mind being handed a grade occasionally for just having done the work but most students don’t expect this to happen often, especially students who worked super hard on something when someone who just scribbles stuff down gets the same grade.
Teachers either make students earn their grades, hand them out freely, or some do both. I have had teachers where if you do not study lots and lots, pay attention in class, take good notes, do every single assignment, and go to every class there is no way you could get an A in the class. While there aren’t many teachers to that extent teaching today, it does still happen. Usually you find more teachers that are willing to work with students to earn that desired A. They will occasionally take homework as completion if it was difficult, provide a curve on a test, let the class argue points back on a test, or will have extra credit opportunities available. This type of teachers is my favorite because if a student is putting forth the effort in class and on test but maybe had a little trouble with one chapter or isn’t a very good test taker they can still make an A or a B and have earned it. I have had one experience in my life that I had a teacher that handed out As to his class. My freshman year of high school I took a history class that was taught by the head football couch. On Mondays in class he would assign us the end of the section or the end of two sections’ questions to do while he sat at his desk and watched football film. Although he did require his students to keep a notebook with all the questions answered so he could call us up to look at our work. However, when I say look I really mean glance and if all the questions were answered he would give us the full amount of points. Sometimes certain students would write random sentences that weren’t about history and included the teacher’s name. He never noticed this. For his end of the year exam it was questions from our old test which he gave us to look at during class for a full week before exams. This younger teacher was forced to retire at the end of that year because of his teaching habits and other reasons. Teachers who want there students to earn their grades yet want them to still do well are the most popular and well liked teachers.
I agree with Suzzane Britt that not all students are earning the grades they are given but that’s not a reason to give up on the educational system and say that college is just like high school. I believe that super hard and super easy classes will always exist in every level of education, but by taking courses with a variety in difficultly the students are learning more and being less stressed.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Blog #2
Throughout life individuals have dreams, ambitions, and achievements that they pursue. These ambitions could be to beat a video game or to earn a certain number of points in a game. Achievements may include not missing any school days or to earn a top grade in the class. A wide range of possibilities exist, because every person is different. One of my ambitions was to make my high school’s annual blood drive a success.
As winter turns to spring the National Honor Society at Carlyle High School is beginning to plan for and then work at the blood drive held by the school and the American Red Cross. One senior member of National Honor Society is in charge of all the planning, running, and coordinating of the blood drive. A junior member is also selected to help this senior member and to prepare for being in charge their senior year. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be in charge of the blood drive my senior year. This was a big job, so I choose Ashley, my younger sister and junior National Honor Society member, to help.
And so the work began. First I held a meeting with all the members of National Honor Society to pass out signup sheets and to explain who exactly could donate. Donators must be at least 16, have permission from a guardian until the age of 17, not have gotten piercings or tattoos within a certain time period, and not have visited certain parts of the world within the past year. The goal that was set between the Red Cross, our club sponsor, and me was then announced to the group. Our goal was to have 110 successful donators and to sign up about 175 possible donators. Each of the 18 members of National Honor Society also had the goal of signing up 10 people; whether it was students, teachers, parents, other family members, or people in the community. As the date of the blood drive drew closer the signup sheets were given to me so I could start filling in when people would like to donate. Also for the students who would like to donate we printed out blood drops to put their name and time on. Senior members, Ashley and I colored the blood drops red. We also placed flyers and posters throughout the community to spread the word of the blood drive that was to be held.
The National Honor Society members had two more responsibilities. First of all members were asked to either buy or make some kind of snack. This could be cookies, chips, or pretzels. They were also asked to bring in a bottle of soda for the group when we ate the pizza lunch. Secondly the members were asked to sign up to work at the blood drive. The options included snacks, set up, sign in, talking to the donors, clean up, and more.
On the day of the blood drive I got to school at 7:15 and was there until 3:30. I got there early to put up flyers, signs, and the blood drops. I also wanted to be there when the trucks arrived from the Red Cross. I worked the whole blood drive from 9 until 2. Then it was clean up.
The blood drive was pretty successful. We had fainters, those who chickened out, some who forgot they signed up and others that couldn’t for other reasons but the turnout was good. Although we didn’t reach the goal of 110 donors we can really close and the work of the National Honor members made me proud.
As winter turns to spring the National Honor Society at Carlyle High School is beginning to plan for and then work at the blood drive held by the school and the American Red Cross. One senior member of National Honor Society is in charge of all the planning, running, and coordinating of the blood drive. A junior member is also selected to help this senior member and to prepare for being in charge their senior year. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be in charge of the blood drive my senior year. This was a big job, so I choose Ashley, my younger sister and junior National Honor Society member, to help.
And so the work began. First I held a meeting with all the members of National Honor Society to pass out signup sheets and to explain who exactly could donate. Donators must be at least 16, have permission from a guardian until the age of 17, not have gotten piercings or tattoos within a certain time period, and not have visited certain parts of the world within the past year. The goal that was set between the Red Cross, our club sponsor, and me was then announced to the group. Our goal was to have 110 successful donators and to sign up about 175 possible donators. Each of the 18 members of National Honor Society also had the goal of signing up 10 people; whether it was students, teachers, parents, other family members, or people in the community. As the date of the blood drive drew closer the signup sheets were given to me so I could start filling in when people would like to donate. Also for the students who would like to donate we printed out blood drops to put their name and time on. Senior members, Ashley and I colored the blood drops red. We also placed flyers and posters throughout the community to spread the word of the blood drive that was to be held.
The National Honor Society members had two more responsibilities. First of all members were asked to either buy or make some kind of snack. This could be cookies, chips, or pretzels. They were also asked to bring in a bottle of soda for the group when we ate the pizza lunch. Secondly the members were asked to sign up to work at the blood drive. The options included snacks, set up, sign in, talking to the donors, clean up, and more.
On the day of the blood drive I got to school at 7:15 and was there until 3:30. I got there early to put up flyers, signs, and the blood drops. I also wanted to be there when the trucks arrived from the Red Cross. I worked the whole blood drive from 9 until 2. Then it was clean up.
The blood drive was pretty successful. We had fainters, those who chickened out, some who forgot they signed up and others that couldn’t for other reasons but the turnout was good. Although we didn’t reach the goal of 110 donors we can really close and the work of the National Honor members made me proud.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Blog assignment 1
Memories, experiences, and moments occur in life in many areas. As a child most of these memories, experiences, and moments take place at school. These could be happy, sad, frightening, remember able, or anything really. I have had my share of these memories while I was in preschool, kindergarten, grade school, middle school, junior high school, and into high school.
As I look back to the year I spent in preschool I remember spending it with Ben, Jake, and Ashley. Ben and Jake were brothers that lived near our house. Ben is my age while Jake is the same age as Ashley. Ashley is my younger sister. The four of us spent lots of time together as we attended preschool in Hoffman.
Just the mention of kindergarten and grade school springs experiences and memories to my mind. I remember being in Mrs. Kampwerth’s kindergarten class and learning to read along and having nap time. I remember that at Thanksgiving we cut up the sleeves and bottom of a t-shirt and put colored beads to make Indian costumes. The beads included metallic, neon, and of course glittery. At the end of kindergarten there was a graduation where as young girls we got to wear pretty little dresses and have our hair curled, which was pretty special. Also at graduation as graduates we got to pick a colored balloon tied to a can of Ski. In grade school the teachers continued to encourage and improve our reading and writing skills. I remember my third grade teacher Mrs. Sinclair loving to read and really encouraging her students to find the joy in reading as well. In grade school came the field trips to places like the zoo, apple orchard, or Magic House. I fondly remember my mom or sometimes my dad coming and walking around holding their hands with some of my friends. But this part of childhood couldn’t last, I was growing up.
Growing up meant moving to the fifth and sixth grade building known as St. Mary’s. In fifth grade my class learned of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. We weren’t old enough to completely understand what was happening but the looks on our teachers face told us that it was awful. I remember sitting in Mrs. Kuhl’s class and having her trying to explain it to us. This part of our education also had us doing new and exciting things though. We were allowed to join band and pick an instrument to learn. I wanted to play the flute at first but ended up playing the oboe. Also with a new school came lots of new projects. As students we built Roman structures, Native American Homes, and made a Christmas memory book. I remember working hard with my dad’s help on the Leaning Tower of Pisa and a pueblo. The memory book had us thinking creativity to write poems and also reading a poem by someone famous. But this time couldn’t last forever either, and it was time for junior high school.
Junior high school was a time to prepare for high school. There were new exciting classes and projects along with teachers. I experienced switching from classroom to classroom for every single class for the first time. This was a big deal. We had locket launches for science in eighth grade and higher level math classes. As we had this graduation we entered the new world of high school with its huge school and more students.
Memories and experiences from every year of school will stick with me as I continue with life.
As I look back to the year I spent in preschool I remember spending it with Ben, Jake, and Ashley. Ben and Jake were brothers that lived near our house. Ben is my age while Jake is the same age as Ashley. Ashley is my younger sister. The four of us spent lots of time together as we attended preschool in Hoffman.
Just the mention of kindergarten and grade school springs experiences and memories to my mind. I remember being in Mrs. Kampwerth’s kindergarten class and learning to read along and having nap time. I remember that at Thanksgiving we cut up the sleeves and bottom of a t-shirt and put colored beads to make Indian costumes. The beads included metallic, neon, and of course glittery. At the end of kindergarten there was a graduation where as young girls we got to wear pretty little dresses and have our hair curled, which was pretty special. Also at graduation as graduates we got to pick a colored balloon tied to a can of Ski. In grade school the teachers continued to encourage and improve our reading and writing skills. I remember my third grade teacher Mrs. Sinclair loving to read and really encouraging her students to find the joy in reading as well. In grade school came the field trips to places like the zoo, apple orchard, or Magic House. I fondly remember my mom or sometimes my dad coming and walking around holding their hands with some of my friends. But this part of childhood couldn’t last, I was growing up.
Growing up meant moving to the fifth and sixth grade building known as St. Mary’s. In fifth grade my class learned of the tragedy of September 11, 2001. We weren’t old enough to completely understand what was happening but the looks on our teachers face told us that it was awful. I remember sitting in Mrs. Kuhl’s class and having her trying to explain it to us. This part of our education also had us doing new and exciting things though. We were allowed to join band and pick an instrument to learn. I wanted to play the flute at first but ended up playing the oboe. Also with a new school came lots of new projects. As students we built Roman structures, Native American Homes, and made a Christmas memory book. I remember working hard with my dad’s help on the Leaning Tower of Pisa and a pueblo. The memory book had us thinking creativity to write poems and also reading a poem by someone famous. But this time couldn’t last forever either, and it was time for junior high school.
Junior high school was a time to prepare for high school. There were new exciting classes and projects along with teachers. I experienced switching from classroom to classroom for every single class for the first time. This was a big deal. We had locket launches for science in eighth grade and higher level math classes. As we had this graduation we entered the new world of high school with its huge school and more students.
Memories and experiences from every year of school will stick with me as I continue with life.
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