So senioritis has hit with full force this May, and many of my 12th graders are no longer putting in the effort with which they attacked the beginning of the school year.

I had a fitness test today and number of them decided to sit it out.

I could get pissed, but I live in a world where I don’t control their behavior, I control my reaction to their behavior.

So instead of giving in to frustration, I simply entered their grades into my grade book and called them over one at a time. I said this,

“So I’m not trying to be dick here, but I need you to recognize the choice you made today.”

I show them their grade on my laptop with a 0 entered in for a test score. (It sunk all of their grades into the 40s and below).

“That’s your grade right now. Its sucks, you’re capable of way more. And by the way, here’s what your grade looks like if you had simply sandbagged the test, took it nice and easy, but still completed it.”

I showed them what their grade looked like with a D instead of a zero. It raised all of their grades to at least a B-. I continue with,

“Now, I know you’re capable of getting an A on this test, I’ve seen you do this before. I’m not telling you that’s what you have to do. It takes full effort for a great grade, and I get it, you’re over getting great grades. But don’t make a dumb choice and just skip it. The cost is too high. I’m going to give everyone a chance to retake it on Wednesday, and I want you to take that opportunity. You got me?”

Each boy I did this with nodded.

Was annoyed in the beginning? Of course I was. Will this reaction lead to an outcome I actually want?

I think it will.