Stan's Tips Jar
Student Distracted by TV Noise?
I have recommended the following to the student who can't
do his homework because of the distraction of television noise during home
study time, and it's taken the student's learning to a new level:
With many students the challenge of concentration while
the TV or radio is playing is a serious factor that affects their interest
level and their ability to do well. I offered this bit of advice: Buy and
wear a good set of pistol range ear protectors for use during TV hours.
This little trick has given many of my students assistance in getting
their work done.
In the evening they can sit at the table in the TV room
and not be bothered by the noise. This also lets the parents watch TV and
observe their child doing their homework at the same time. It also lets
the parents see that their student is actually working and not messing
around in their room. So, use the headsets. They really work. They aren't
expensive. They make for a happy family and concentration is maximized.
Let's talk about student
EXCUSES.
I always tell my students that there are almost no excuses
for not getting your work done. First I do not overload my students with
homework as I realize that there are at least 5, maybe 6 different
teachers giving homework to them daily. But, when I tell them I want it, I
want it then, not tomorrow!
Now you might be given an excuse like, "I didn't have time
because friends came over." or "I didn't have time because we had to go to
the airport." You will get any number of kinds of excuses. The airport one
is easy. Why couldn't you do it as you were riding to and from the
airport? And, What is most important: Your friends or your studies? Oh,
you had a football game to cheer at or play in? The privilege of cheering
and playing is given because of your passing grades.
In my book, Teaching
Out of the Box, I give a true life example of how making
homework a MUST changed the life of a boy named Jason.
Now for two examples that, appropriately, I let pass when I was teaching:
-
I had a young boy come to
class one day and he told me he didn't have his work done. I noticed
that he was on crutches and another student was carrying his books. I
asked him what happened and he said he broke his leg. I asked how the
accident
happened. He replied that he'd been hit by a car. I said where did it
happen? He replied, "Oh, at the hospital." Where at the hospital?. I asked and he said,
"Near the emergency ward entrance." To which I said, "Now don't tell me,
an ambulance hit you." He just smiled and said, Yep. Homework? Nope!
That's OK.
-
I got a call one morning before school started from Jill's
mother and knowing my rules about homework, she felt that she must call
me and see if just once I could let her daughter slide for not having
her homework done.
She said that a tragic thing had happened and our conversation went
something like this:
Mom: Well, we had this dog named "Fluffy," a little
cockapoo we'd had for many years. Everyone loved Fluffy.
Me: Yes, what happened?
Mom: Well, Fluffy ran out in the street last night and got
run over by a car.
Me: Oh, I am sorry to hear about that.
Mom: Well, that isn't all that happened. Fluffy wasn't
killed immediately but was trapped under the car. It had her pinned to the
street and Fluffy was howling mercilessly with Jill standing beside the
car. She saw the whole thing.
Me: I can see Jill's nerves are shattered.
Mom: That isn't the bad part. Jonah, our 83-year-old
neighbor, who was just the love of the neighborhood, came out running with
a car jack and started jacking up the car to get the Fluffy out, and he had a
heart attack and died.
Me: (Silence, Silence, Silence) I am so sorry. Don't worry
about Jill's grades or even her homework all this week. The next day her
homework was complete.
You see there are legitimate excuses.
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