Maybe I shouldn't have started this blog now, not with everything that's been going on.

All my classes ended early yesterday. That's because I already ended all my lectures, which was only until Eclipses in the Cycles of Nature. No more comets. No more meteors (showers or gardens).

In fact, even when I showed them the list of upcoming eclipses (until 2006), I had to assure them several times that they did not have to copy it down nor memorize it for the exam. If was just for their information of when the next eclipses are going to be.

I had to answer several students again asking the same questions about the coverage of the finals, if there was going to be a final exam, and when the finals is going to be.

It's just amazing how many people are not paying attention if their classmates have already asked the same thing. I couldn't even guarantee that they'll listen if I announced it to the whole class at the start. I guess everything really has to be put up on the chalk- or whiteboard if I don't want it to be asked over and over again. Then it's up to them to read it.

If there's one thing that still hasn't lost its impact, it's looking at a student with an expression of frustration on my face while at the same time rapping my knuckle solidly on the part of the board that contains the information for which he or she just asked.

I can't even be assured that everyone will read it if I send it to a mailing list, as some of my co-teachers have done. There would be those who could say they don't open their e-mail or use the internet. Sending it to their phone, that would be something else to try, although it still wouldn't prevent a student or two from using the excuse of not having received the message.

There were valid questions, such as their class standings so far, especially from the 1250pm class, for which yesterday was our last meeting. At least in the 1030am and 230pm classes, we'll still meet on Wednesday. That didn't prevent the students in those classes from asking, though, since we were finished with all of the topics, if we won't meet on Wednesday.

Should I prevent students from asking questions until the end of the class, except to clarify a point just discussed or a word or phrase written on the board? Should I give negative marks for asking questions that have already been asked earlier? This makes for a more military camp-like class organization, but it does teach them discipline. Casual demeanor can only be accepted from a student up to a point.

Either the students should change or the teacher should change with the students.