This is an update on Three and Done, which continues to support jGR like the workhorse that it is. It’s all in better focus for me. It’s not practical to make a note in the computer if a kid has a cell phone out, or starts talking to a neighbor, bc it takes too much time and creates instant opposition. But it does work if I print off off a class roster in the form of a blank spreadsheet from Infinite Campus, which has a series of boxes to the right of the kids’ names. I just divide the box into two to make two little triangles in there, and, using these symbols:
- UT – Unexcused tardies
- BL – Blurting
- C – Cell phone use
- BR – Bathroom trip
I just put one of them in each triangle when a kid breaks one of the rules. Then, during planning, I just write up any of them into the conference atom.
This sounds laborious, it sounds absolutely crazy, but it is working for me. What is more laborious is to have constantly annyoying classroom issues all year while I am trying to teach French to a bunch of adolescents? I have tried everything and found nothing that works over 35 years like this, so I’m doing it, and I like what I see so far a lot. As mentioned, I don’t have to interrupt class by calling attention to the misbehavior or trying to collect the cell phone, etc.
[Note that in this new version of Three and Done there are four less categories. It is far simpler. Note in particular that Blurting has been added – a very necessary addition – and unexcused absences has been dropped. Absences are a huge part of the culture of our school and I decided is way too much trouble to keep up with. I’ll just fail the kid when they miss the quizzes and give them the jGR “O” that they earn when they are absent.]