And another little goodie!
I have a student (in the same class as the previous postings) who is, according to what I hear, a superb drummer. Will probably be his profession when he escapes...er graduates from high school.

He's not particularly fond of school.

So, I am reading his book report and by the second page, I get that 'feeling'.

Now, when I think on the matter, I never actually saw him read the book he had selected to read as he sits in the back of the classroom. (The front is packed with 'problem' kids.) When I checked with him that first reading day, he told me he'd left the book at home, because he'd started reading it there (which is plausible since he's lived for a couple of years in Toronto, so his English is really very good...when he puts in the effort), but he gave me the name of the book, "The Book of Dragons", which title exists on several books, one of which I know for a fact is a novel-- I own it. He assured me that it was over 200 pages (their minimum) and I moved on to the next kid.

I didn't think any more on it. When we had reading periods, he was quiet and seemed to be reading.

But his book report indicates that the author is one Michael Hague. Now MH is an award winning illustrator. When, I ask myself, did MH write a book? So I log on to Amazon and check. Hmmmmmmmm.

Don't you love that section where you can read the table of contents? Seems the MH book is a collection of short stories. Nine of them in all. With illustrations by Michael Hague. Number of pages: 160. (Far too short. I never would have permitted this book.)

Now then, reading his report, it would seem that my little drummer has selected the shortest of the entries and has tried to pass it off as the *entire* book.

One story out of nine done. Hmmmmmmm.

So, at the top of his Book Report, I have written: 1/9 of the book read, 1/9 of the marks assigned. 1/9 of 200 is 22. Oh, but he wrote his report in pen, which is something ( for a long list of reasons) I never allow in my class. Not even black pen, which is what he's done his report in. So, he loses the usual additional 10 marks for using a pen. End result: 12/200 or 6%.

I await his oral interview...which is based on the book he's supposed to have read. And his written term exam, which, though they don't yet know, is a summary (200 - 225 words) of their novel.

Being the bitch that I am, I shall wait until after the written exam to arrange his interview.

Sigh. Kids must really think we teachers are really stupid.