I know I shouldn’t be amused, but it is really amusing to watch! Friday my students spent the day in the media center researching slavery. It was a simple follow instructions assignment. I carried through the process of searching Google for specific items, selecting certain websites, and asking various questions about the essay or information. After they finished the 25 steps they were given free time to research slave life, slave narratives, etc… The introduction to this assignment was Thursday. Post test they were to read a section on slavery and slave life. So, they should have been prepared today, that is, IF they followed instructions. This morning they have two questions: a) Describe the living and working conditions of slaves. b) Discuss the interrelationship of cotton production, slavery, and development of the state. Oh my. Deer in the headlights! I do not think they are unprepared to write at least a page on the required information. They are likely just overwhelmed by the prospect of writing one page in 50 minutes. They’re ninth graders, few of which have the mentality of my nine year old procrastinator who once told her Dad not to worry about her book report, she could write in one hour, no problem. Students have been working for thirty minutes now. Several are finished. Those who did not do the reading,as instructed, Thursday and Friday are struggling. Don’t worry. I’m leaving them alone to write at the moment, but we will proof and correct what they have written over the next few days as we discuss everything leading up to the Civil War.