am I being a cow bag?

[Blandmum]

One of my students (age 18)

Said student has requested 2 days off from school to see a band play. Will now miss the most difficult part of the A2 course. The band has nothing to do with school, it is a personal thing.

Student asked me to give up my planning time/ lunch/ break time to teach this work separtaly.

I have refused and told the student to work on the topic and see me with any specific probelms, but that i would not teach the whole thing again because the student wanted to skive 2 days.

Does that make me a witch?

[Blandmum]

Kids today, don't know they are born!

We just had to get our kicks by sniffing the bander fluid!!!

[Gobbledigook]

God, my teachers were never that inventive! Good job I was just a great big girly swot!!

[Blandmum]

I'm going to steal that!

I love doing 'slapping hands' in a circle for saltatory conduction!

[beckybrastraps]

I love your Krebs thing! My first "action" lesson with sixth formers was on electron transport chains. I had them all at different (energy) levels; floor, stool, bench, and they passed along electrons (those lovely bean bags that groan when you throw them), changing from reduced to oxidised. And we had some poisons coming in... Oh, I miss it!!

[Blandmum]

have a look at faculty.washington.edu/chudler/neurok.html

for some great ideals on teaching neurosciences from ks3 to ks5....one of the best ever sites!

[roisin]

Who approves the time off MB? And has it already been agreed and signed off?

I think her request is completely unreasonable, and your solution is more than fair.

[Blandmum]

I have done the krebs cucle with play dough as well! had a kinesthetic learner once and this was the only way I couod think of doing it! They made co2 molecules when each C was stripped away. the look on their faces when they added up the bits at the end and saw that it matched the equation was a joy!

[beckybrastraps]

What do the other teachers say BTW? And what about the Head of Sixth Form?! I am gobsmacked that thy're allowed to go! Mind you, at least they're being honest...

[beckybrastraps]

Perfect!

I love the role play. I always used it at every opportunity, especially at A level.

[marthamoo]

Blimey, times have changed - can't believe he even had the nerve to ask. Next thing you'll have them asking if you can possibly go over the lesson for them 'cos 9am is too early and they need a lie in.

[Blandmum]

Ironicaly the h/w set for this lesson is an essay explaining the topic to someone who missed the lesson!

Psychic me!

[beckybrastraps]

Definitely make them squirm first! If you don't have a test planned, spring one on them. Or set a nice long unstructured question for homework. You could give it to this student especially "just to check that you've understood it". I wonder how this one will cope with the tempations of university?!

[Blandmum]

TBH, that was twhat I thout was going on ie playing in a band, then it bacame clear it was going to a gig! FFS!

[puff]

It is a cheek and if you accommodate them in any way, you can bet they'll carry on doing it!

It would be different if they were playing in a band and some important talent scout was coming to see them - I might view that differently. This is just ridiculous.

[Blandmum]

GDG, I have the whole thing on powerpoint, with animations and the works....it is a shit hot lesson, if I say so myself, complete with them acting out the passage of ions etc, role play, the works, VAKI, differentiation, and they would rather go to a gig! I ask you!

[Blandmum]

Of all the things I have taught them over the last 4 terms, this is about the worst thing that I can think of. This or the Krebs Cycle! tempted to let them see the error of their ways before stepping in!

Damn cheak tho isn't it?

'I want to go and have a jolly, so people give up your time to tutor me'

[Gobbledigook]

Sad as I am - I'd rather be in your lesson! I LOVED biology!

[Gobbledigook]

OMG ACTION POTENTIALS!! Now that takes me back!!!

[Gobbledigook]

MB - how can this even be considered? I'm shocked tbh - it's just not something I would ever have thought of asking!!! You just didn't take time off school and that was it!

I think your response was absolutely the right one and if it were my ds asking it's what I'd want you to say as his teacher!

[beckybrastraps]

I'm actually starting to feel sorry for him/her. The problem is though that they certainly WILL have problems getting it, and you will end up having to go over it at some point. But I would wait until after they've done a test - just to have a bit of a giggle at the answers. I mean, to teach them a valuable lesson in priorities.

[Caligula]

Gosh, it wouldn't have occurred to me at A level, that it was my teacher's problem if I missed a lesson even through no fault of my own, like illness. What they did then, was to suggest that you make sure you copy up the notes from your friends. I don't think it even occurred to anybody in the chain that the teacher should re-teach the lesson!

I guess you could suggest that the pupil could tape the lesson, but the problem with that is that it then makes it your problem, not his/ hers.

[Blandmum]

No bloody chance of uderstading that alone eh?

[beckybrastraps]

Ha ha!

[Blandmum]

no idea, no idea

and like you, not in my life either!