in a perfect world

It's been a while since I updated the old blog. Maybe it's because I am a bit in survival mode. Gone is the innovation and the motivation that I once felt earlier this year. I am trying to figure out how to keep the kids calm enough to still squeeze a little bit more curriculum in. There's a blog I've been visiting a lot lately. http://jtspencer.teacherlingo.com/archive/2008/05/18/the-real-reason-kids-aren-t-motivated.aspx

Mr. Spencer is a thought provoking teacher and sometimes when I read his blog I feel energized about my own job. He's idealistic and has some liberal ideas for change which I appreciate. At the end of the year, though, I am wondering how to make idealism a reality.

I am sorting through how I want to hold students accountable for outside reading. I liked the overviews on Blackboard this year because it was holistic and required students to actually read books rather than fit some reading in for 90 minutes a week. When I read their overviews I could tell if they comprehended or even read at all. But every three weeks leads to Blackboard burn out for all involved. What I'd really like to do is create a blog for students to post about books with images and a place where there can be regular discussions. However, if everyone wrote on the blog it would be too long to read and completely useless. So do I create one for each class? Do I offer guest posts for students who do exceptionally well? I am thinking a meeting with my IATS person is in order to figure out some of these details.

In addition, I am at a loss for what to do with my kiddos who do nothing. Literally nothing. I give you twelve pages of reading and creative writing and tell you it's due tomorrow and some students sit and stare off into space. Tell me absurd things like, "I'd rather do it at home." First off, why in the world would they choose to do work at home when I am giving them time to complete it at school! If I didn't give them that time they'd be complaining that I didn't give them time to get it done. It's a lose lose situation as Michael Scott would say. What's a teacher to do?