New classes

I'm still in the process of getting to know the personalities of my classes. My second block American Lit class is pretty laid back. I can let them work on their own quite a bit. They stay focused and work well. My third block College Comp class is a treat. These kids love writing and learning. I'm blessed with that bunch.

My fourth block American Lit class is hell on wheels. A lot of characters and personalities. So I have to take the reigns more. That means a lot of 'traditional' old-school teaching - lecture, notes, forced discussion, and reading check quizzes. They can't handle more than 20 minutes of free work time. That's how it'll have to be until we can come to an understanding of how this class will work. If I could eliminate five or six young men from this class, I think I could give them 45 minutes of time to work on their own, but that's not reality. They aren't maliciou kids; they just don't want to work. And those few are in danger of turning my class - and those who want to work - into total chaos. That can't happen.