Ears and Mouths

[Unkotare]

One of the hardest things to do is to convince students to actually pay attention. It can be frustrating when some students just tune out if anyone other than themselves is speaking. As a result, one student will ask a question, I will answer it, and the student sitting right next to him will ask the exact same question seconds later. I tell students that 90% of life is paying attention and reading directions. More ear and less mouth is the way to go.

 

[The Duke]

In Ye Olden days there was a saying "Children should be seen and not heard."

 

[sealybobo]

One of the hardest things to do is to convince students to actually pay attention. It can be frustrating when some students just tune out if anyone other than themselves is speaking. As a result, one student will ask a question, I will answer it, and the student sitting right next to him will ask the exact same question seconds later. I tell students that 90% of life is paying attention and reading directions. More ear and less mouth is the way to go.

I had attention deficit disorder for sure. Teachers even suggested my mom put me on meds. She got pissed. She said, "stop boring him".

It's so true. K-12 classes are so boring. Now add to that you have a kid like me who can't pay attention.

We recently dug out some teacher evaluations from when I was a kid. Boy was I a disruption in the class. But I turned out alright.

When I moved to an all white school from Detroit, the counselors told my mom besides what she taught me, I learned nothing in the school I came from. Neither did any of the other black kids in that school. The teachers are basically babysitters. They pass a lot of kids just so they don't have to deal with them next year.

In 2022, only 5% of Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) students in 8th grade scored at or above the "proficient" level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading test, meaning that a significant portion of students are struggling with reading proficiency.

I left when I was in 4th grade. So I got out just in time. I wasn't a good high school student. I had to teach myself how to study my freshman year of college. I'll admit I was not a good student.

 

[Unkotare]

Some students have the very mistaken notion that they are in school to be entertained. Learning is work.