What Do I Have to Do to Get Them to Care?

Ms. Jensen, a dedicated middle school teacher, was at her wit’s end. Despite her clear directions, generous work time in class, and her “I assign no homework” policy, students weren’t following through. Some rushed through their practice assignments with obvious errors, others wasted time entirely, and too many simply didn’t turn in the work at all.

She tried everything in her usual toolbox: pep talks, reminders, warnings, even a half-class lecture filled with her most motivational lines (and, she admitted, a couple of threats). Still, nothing changed. So she upped the ante: students who turned in quality work on time would earn 10 minutes of free time on Fridays. Those who didn’t? A hit to their grade until work was turned in and improved.

The result? A small boost from the kids who were already doing okay.

The students who were most behind, though, stayed stuck. The lectures started coming more often. The frustration set in. She started waking up at 3am thinking about unfinished assignments and wasted time.

Then, scrolling one night, she found a video of a teacher using an academic circle to tackle the exact same issue. A Problem-Solving Circle. A Focus Circle. She watched it once. Then again. She noted how the teacher sat, the questions she asked, how she listened, and her tone when she responded. The process felt unfamiliar and time-consuming, but also, maybe, hopeful. Afterall, the problem remained and she needed to find a solution.

So Ms. Jensen tried her first academic circle. Just a small one, just with one class. It didn’t fix everything, but one student who rarely turned in work asked for help organizing his binder. Another stayed after class to double-check her assignment. Another asked her to set a timer to help him check-in with himself and stay focused during worktime.

It wasn’t perfect. But it was a start.