Reply #5: I understand your frustration [View All]

[Catshrink]

and have been there, but not to that degree. It is annoying! Advice wise, I tell them the grades are posted and they can check it online or they can come in after/before school but I won't look up grades during class. (I feel that's enabling them and letting them be lazy -- but hold out the offer because a few kids don't have computers at home but then again, they can use the computers in the library.) As for the "what do I have to get on the final" business, I just flat out tell them I don't play that game, they can calculate it themselves. Period. And I don't do it.

That said, my thought as I was reading your post was this. It sounds like this kid is socially awkward and is trying to find a connection with you (and probably his other teachers as well). That connection is grades. He probably doesn't know what else to talk about besides grades. I don't know how you divert that attention -- I always talk about my dogs. Kids love pets and dogs especially. It works.

Will you have him next year also? I am so glad this school year is over. It just seems like it's been so long.