The Head-Royce Upper School gives semester finals twice a year. The day before the three days of finals is a day called "Study Day". All teachers are required to be available to answer students' questions and alleviate their worries. In the past, I have left school on these days wanting to: a) slit my wrists b) seriously consider changing professions due to the fact that the students knew nothing or c) want to check myself into an insane asylum due to the chaos and frenzy of anxiety. Historically, students begin to act like freaks of nature, grow a mob mentality and all I am doing is trying to put out fires left and right.
So this year, I posted the following list of rules on my door that students had to read before entering the room.
Mr. Chen’s Study Day Rules and Regulations to make your Experience More Enjoyable
(AKA: How to ensure Mr. Chen will not lose his temper today!)
1) The question “Will that be on the test?” will be returned with a glare of sheer disdain. (If you do not know the meaning of disdain, see your English teacher, as they should have their employment terminated.)
2) If there is more than one student in the room, Mr. Chen will take a question from a student and answer for the entire room. If you have a question that applies specifically to you, please wait for a time when you will be alone OR see Mr. Chen later in the day (say after 2PM) OR email Mr. Chen (echen@headroyce.org) and he will answer your question by return email this evening.
3) If you interrupt or cutoff either Mr. Chen or another student, you will be less likely to be called on if you subsequently raise your hand. Mr. Chen will be keeping mental score.
4) The final will be worth 150 points for Geometry and somewhere between 130 and 140 points for Honors Geometry.
5) Geometry students will be allowed to write corrections for their fall final in the same manner as chapter tests. Honors Geometry students will not be allowed to write corrections.
6) Smile and breathe; you’re going to do fine as you have learned and actually know a great deal of Geometry.
7) As you enter, please bow to Mr. Chen (just like all students do for their teachers in Asia) to signify that you have read and understood these rules.
You may now enter Room 208, a happy place!
The day was great. There was NO chaos or meltdown on the part of any student. And let me tell you how CUTE students are when they try to bow. This is a keeper.
