-> One Deming practice is team work, I have used 
-> teamwork on projects to
-> help students work together for each others' benefit.
 SK> 
 SK> If I am understanding you correctly, the term "teamwork" which you are
 SK> using is a synonym for "cooperative learning" which requires group
 SK> interdependence? If I'm not correct on that, please elaborate on the
 SK> difference.
Yes, in the past I have used cooperative learning, however--I am going to try 
one or more of the team building exercises out of the book I have been 
quoting.
-> Generally, I don't accept papers under a "B" unless the student
-> absolutely refuses my help or is suspended.
 SK> type of thing while another does not.) Comes out that re-testing is a
 SK> privelege earned in this teacher's class by coming in for tutoring
 SK> outside of class and learning the problems that one 
 SK> missed on the test.
 SK> Then one is allowed to retest. Since she only 
 SK> teaches basic courses like
 SK> Pre-Algebra and Algebra I, this is probably fine. I know that many of
 SK> her kids don't take advantage of this opportunity 
 SK> that she offers. This
 SK> is her way of offering "extra credit" and is the only form of "extra
 SK> credit" that she offers.
 SK> For myself, I couldn't keep up with the correcting work. As it is, I
 SK> have a pile of papers across the room I should be 
 SK> working on right now.
 SK> (I've managed to avoid them so far this vacation, 
 SK> but I'm going to have
 SK> to get down to it today.)
I think that a project oriented course would allow students to build quality 
into their work without requiring regrading to that extent.  I also find that 
when students realize that you are through taking junk from them, most 
straighten out which tends to lower the amount of regrading.
 SK> I'm curious, even though you accept no work lower 
 SK> than a B, do you ever
 SK> have students who refuse to do the work? What grade 
 SK> do you give them? A
 SK> zero?
Students that refuse to do the work required are given an incomplete for the 
six weeks.  Our district allows teachers to do that.  After a period of time, 
fifteen days--I think, this automatically turns into an F for the period.  If 
they make up the work, I am glad to upgrade their records.  I also have 
students that can't make that "B" level easily, special ed kids and some of 
my bilingual students.  I give them credit for work in progress to encourage 
them on.  All of this has made me reflect on any learning process that goes 
on in my class and focus more on delivery of lessons so there is knowledge of 
task, etc..  Yes, this is harder, I could use a canned lesson for every day, 
but the students would be bored as would I.  I think I have six incompletes 
out of 180+ students for the third six week period.
--- Maximus 2.02
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