Post date: May 4, 2016 1:11:28 AM
Wrapping up the Semester: Getting Ready for Finals--Posting for May 3, 2016
This week is the last one of regular classes, with Finals Week starting on Thursday, May 5th. The end of the semester--my final one--has made me reflective. Here is my list of things I love about Finals week -- and hate about Finals week.
What do I love about Finals week?
We get a two hour block of time to do an activity and talk to my students: it makes assessment a priority, and it makes it easier to do something meaningful.
It is one more chance to talk to my writing students, one on one, about what we have accomplished together, what they still need to work on, and their plans for the future.
It’s an opportunity to “show us what you got” in the case of my Technology in the Classroom class: students present their Thematic Units by showing us their Google Slides presentations or Prezis and Web quests.
It’s a chance to review the course, for my Intro to Literature students, who get into small groups and discuss their favorite readings from all three units: Fiction and Creative nonfiction, Poetry, and Drama.
For everyone, it is a signal that the semester is winding down, and we survived.
There is a sense of “summer is here,” with students breaking out the flip flops, shorts, t-shirts, and all of us enjoying the sunshine.
I love to see how most of my classes have really developed into a community of learners, with students talking before and after class, and often times resulting in new friendships.
I enjoy seeing the small triumphs of students who were shyer and did not make eye contact early on now smiling, looking at me, and interacting with a handful of trusted students.
Finals week is something like harvest for teachers, and it is rewarding when you see that all of your efforts, and your students' hard work, has resulted in something significant--beyond test scores, beyond letter grades, and beyond completing the course work. So, one of my favorite things is having students stop by my office to tell me that they were accepted at UNI, that they got that job promotion, or that they have the confidence to tackle that "hard class."
What do I hate about Finals Week?
Students who walk in an hour later, and then panic when they realize they’re late.
Students who don’t check their campus email very often – and missed all of the reminders to come early!
Students who didn’t read the syllabus and course calendar, and noticed that they also included information on the Final exam time, but still feel compelled to complain that it isn't fair.
Students who disappear for 6 weeks and show up, right before Finals, still thinking they can pass the class.
The pressure of reading and scoring a variety of tests, papers and projects in a timely manner so that I can calculate students’ final grades.
By my calculations, I have survived at least 50 Finals over the years between my time at Iowa State, Marshalltown Community College, Buena Vista University, and Hawkeye Community College. My family knows that I am not going do much for Christmas until after Finals are done in the fall, and I am a little distracted on Mother's Day, because I probably stayed up late to grade and have to go home and grade some more after our family get together. It will be interesting to see how this next year goes, as I adjust to retirement, and no longer have to deal with Finals!
Last updated on May 3, 2016