Search Results for: blog the raccoon ate my homework

Do your Homework

The semester has ended, final grades are in, and most students and teachers have successfully traveled (if they are traveling) to their holiday destinations. This does not prevent, however, a steady stream of e-mails and questions like “Why do I have such a low grade in this course” from flooding my inbox. While there are no “stupid questions” (as it is often said) there are questions that you could have answered yourself. So, from the instructor, here’s a tip to making sure the question you ask doesn’t make you look incompetent in the first place. Step #1: Read the syllabus. … Continue reading →

End of Semester Woes 2

Earlier this week I posted part 1 of “End of Semester Woes” and I continue that here. If you haven’t read the first part it might be helpful to read that here. At any rate, these are my feelings at the close of the semester as an instructor and an student. Today I’ll be focusing on screwing up as a student, seeking forgiveness (maybe too late), and what to hope for. It’s a peculiar fact of life (it doesn’t have to be a fact but it seems to be) that students, no matter how much they are warned, don’t do … Continue reading →

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses #1: Busy Work

Why is it that students don’t do their homework? What motivates the decision for a student to ignore a task that has been set before them to complete? Why would a student make up reasons for why they were unable to complete their assignments? While I don’t claim to know all of the answers to these questions I certainly see potential clues every day I go to work. If we haven’t met allow me to introduce myself: I’m Kyle and I’m a dad. I’m also a Ph.D. student. I’m also a teacher. I’m also some other things. What’s important, however, … Continue reading →

Ele-Facts

I had an interest in elephants sparked by a conversation today about mahouts — elephant handlers in India. An acquaintance who has traveled far and wide was describing the relationship between elephant and handler, a life-long bond that sounds a lot like a marriage or other partnership. I’ll definitely be writing about mahouts in the near future! But for now, I wanted to share some interesting ele-facts about Asian elephants. The elephant is one of a few animals that use tools. Elephants use sticks to scratch themselves and can learn to use a variety of objects for a variety of … Continue reading →

The Long and Short Of It

Some things you just have to see to believe. Such is the case with the world’s tallest living man. I saw his picture on the “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” website and my jaw nearly hit the floor. His name is Bao Xishun, and he stands 7-foot-9-inches tall. But, what makes his story even more interesting (and this has nothing to do with his inclusion on the website) is what he is doing with his record setting height. Xishun made headlines yesterday for using his long arms to save two dolphins. It really is an incredible story. A couple of … Continue reading →

Celebrity Chimps Headed For Early Retirement

Retirement is supposed to be a happy time. You slave away for decades and spend your golden years basking in the glow of your achievements… that’s the way it’s supposed to work, right? Well, for two chimpanzees that appeared in numerous Hollywood movies and TV shows retirement is coming earlier than expected and is not without controversy. According to news reports, the chimps were removed from a ranch and will retire to a sanctuary to settle a lawsuit alleging animal cruelty. (Not exactly the way you want to end an illustrious career.) A representative from the Animal Legal defense Fund … Continue reading →