Dead Again

We’re in the middle of dead week. I know that means that this is a time where we don’t introduce new material due to the fact that we are so close to finals, but for me it has a different meaning. I call this “dead week” because I feel like I’m dead on my feet. Lately it has just been a blur of grading and conferencing with students about how well they need to do on the final. The students, by the way, seem much more relaxed (almost disinterested).

It could be that I’m just wound up a bit tighter than the kids, but there are signs that they could dial up their care factor some. For example, I’ve left their last major assignments (poetry portfolios) on my back table for them to pick-up as they left my class. Nearly eighty percent have been left behind. One kid even said, “Who cares? You already told us our grades on them.”

Well, this was true. I did give them their grades ahead of time, so that they would aware of what they needed to get on their finals. But here was a chance for them to look at my thorough comments. It was a chance for a learning moment. You heard them though, “Who cares?” They got their grades already. Yay Education!

Is there such a thing as a “dead decade”? If so, then I think I’m closing in on it.