Ok so today was the second round of exams thus far in the semester. I'll be the first to admit I was not exactly efficient in covering the material on the last exam and well, made the mistake of not explaining the instructions on the exam which caused the majority of my students to receive 4's (Chile's grade system is 1-7...4 is comparable to a C and a 7 is an A+). So considering the extremely shocking experience they had last month with exams..I did everything in my power to make this exam an absolute breeze!
First Off, I skipped everything in the book which was not applicable to the exam and didn't even bother clouding their memories with useless information (vital information in english education but useless when trying to pass an exam).
2. Everytime I taught a concept that I knew was going to be present on the exam I gave the ACTUAL test questions along with my examples. Therefore, if students took notes they had nearly every question on the exam in their notebooks to study.
3. I felt the book past concepts too quickly. So apart from the book, This unit I did more extra activities with copies from other useful English books, more hands on activities, and even lugged my speakers to class so they could have more listening exercises.
4. This is the kicker....I made a BLOG for my students which included:e a study guide which I created covering all important concepts of the unit, the ACTUAL evaluation in which I'd be using to grade the students during their oral portion of the exam (no surprises in my grading process), useful websites which shared excellent exercises to practice, AND get this...I literally copied and pasted the actual exam and changed a few words as a PRACTICE TEST. They were aware of the format of the exam..the exact instructions...and what was expected. In their notebooks the actual questions.
And so this weekend I relaxed pleased with all the work I had put in this month to prepare my students. SURE they would ace this exam! Monday morning before class I went to my blog for my students to see if anyone had asked a question. And while putzing around I discovered had the ability to see how many people had viewed my blog. I posted my blog 2 weeks before the exam. Thats 90 students for 14 days...I imagined the number to be high. Can you guess how many even attempted to students of my ninety students?!?!?
5. five. cinco. yup.
And then this morning I greet my students 'good morning' and they groan "oh profe...do we have to take the test today?" After replying yes and completing attendance, I ask if anyone has any last questions about what may be on the quiz..or something they'd like to review. Nobody speaks up. I smirk and say, "well, you guys must know everything. Out of 90 of you..only 5 bothered to study and not one of you has a single question. I am so excited to see the "7"s on all your papers" At first puzzled how I could know who studied. I explain. They bow their heads in shame knowing full well they never took advantage of the resources at hand...and had just lost any chance of gaining my sympathy when they fail the test.
When leaving my first hour class I climb the stairs to my second hour class (my trouble makers) I happen to glance down the stairway and see two of my second hour students: one with english book in hand and the other frantically jotting down "tips" on her hand. I duck my head and groan in despair thinking...ah I wish I wouldn't have seen that. Now I have to confront it..and be a hardass. I think what would be the most efficient and professional thing to do. I think I will wait for the her to take her seat then approach her and say, "go wash your hands! and then you can join us in taking a fair exam today." excellent. super hard ass!
but...
she files last into class. The students all ready to start the exam. I cannot have her miss the instructions and the listening exercise (the first part of the exam) while she is in the bathroom...and I am not about to give her the exam with all the answers written on her hand. Ok, plan B.......write rules on the board for taking the exam. 1. No talking 2. No cheating (this includes: copying a neighbor's paper, using notes taken on your hand/paper/eraser, silence cellphones, if you have a question raise your hand. I go over each rule on the board and I stand above her, speaking to the class, "I have NO tolerance for cheating. If you wish to cheat you can say CHAO to your exam. Please, take care of all distractions at this moment." She snickers with her classmate. I think in my head..I have given her a second chance to get rid of the evidence and she has dileberately ignored the warning. Great..now I must watch her like a hawk during the test and when I see her glance at her hand, I'll rip the test up. Ok...ready, go.
Ok..this is ridiculous. I cannot keep staring at her...not to mention I have to blink. I am being far too compassionate. I know she has the answers on her hand and I need to tend to my other students with questions. She was caught red handed then given another chance. I am going to ask to see her hand when she turns in her completed test and if what is on her had is applicable to the test I will be sure to scold her.
uh oh. here she comes, approaching my desk test in hand smile from ear to ear.
I ask, "dejame ver tu mano" (let me see your hand)
she squeeks, "que?" (what) I touch point to her hand. She shows me her right hand. (of course their is nothing). "la otra" (the other) I mutter. She pulls her sleeve down and shows me her finger tips. I grab her hand and hold her palm to my face, "cuando=when I do, you do, he does, she does, jugar=play..." DAMNIT! She winces with embarassment as the class watches for my reaction. I make eye contact with her, and she sasses, "it doesn't matter. i failed anyway"...I take her exam and scribble something on top of it to be sure it doesn't blend in with the others. The other students stare at me...I glance at my watch "tienen vente cinco minutos mas"(you have 25 more minutes)
Oh the parels of being a professor. I seriously hate having to give bad grades, disciplining and confronting the students. But I am appalled by the amount of disrespect they have. I do what I do because I want them to excel, to comprehend and to succeed. I only have what's best in mind. It sincerely hurts me to mark them absent, give them failing marks, and discipline when rules are broken. But this is part of being a professor and not a student. I must stop "relating" to my students. With being fresh out of college I have so much sympathy for them...heck, who hasn't cheated on a test, who hasn't chosen to sleep in rather than go to class, and of course I have attempted to take tests without having studied a word. BUT all that doesn't matter now...now I must enforce the rules.
I like the nice Kendall better
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