The Uncertainty Principle

Over the last several weeks of classes, I've noticed that it's impossible to predict whether a given student be in class on any particular day. In fact, there are several students on the roster whom I haven't seen yet. Weirdest of all, in this menagerie of truancy, is the steady appearance of new students.

After speaking with Molly, it seems that there's a large variety of reasons for this. In some cases, the students were being shuffled to smaller classes where they'd get more attention, in others they needed to switch course times for scheduling reasons, so on and so forth. I can't help but find it strange and off-putting that students have not yet settled their schedules over a month into the school year. The needless distraction of having to learn a new teacher's protocol, getting used to the new schedule, familiarizing themselves with the new class, all work together to take away valuable time from actual education.

I find that our classes are usually struggling to make net progress on a day to day basis. This issue is particularly noticeable in the fourth hour class which has over thirty students. A typical class period is split into the following sections:

1. The Starter - A short set of ~5 problems meant to emphasize important aspects of the previous lecture. During this period, Molly will generally walk around and check to see if the students have completed their homework.
2. Checking - Time during which the students correct their starter, and correct their own homework.
   
3. Lecture/Quiz - Meat of the class, often the time during which new topics are introduced. Quizzes are frequently held on Friday in order to cement the previous week of learning.
4. Homework - If time permits, Molly will help the students get a head start on the homework.

The schedule doesn't appear too hectic, but when the class period is 58 minutes long it gets a bit tight. When you add in the time it takes for students to get out notes, hand in assignments, and other small but necessary tidbits, the class seems like it's a non-stop whirlwind of activity. Whenever I have some free time, I've been trying to come up with suggestions on improving the class efficiency, but no eurekas just yet.