Zzzzzz

Thursday. Seventh grade Spanish I for Spanish Speakers. Eighth period. 

They had a student teacher, so the class went on as normal. For this day, the students were doing oral presentations on various Central and South American countries. In Spanish. 

The student teacher taught the class in Spanish. 

I may have mentioned before that the language I took in school was French. 

So, yeah, I wasn't understanding a whole lot of what was going on. I mean, I got the gist, but I definitely didn't get the specifics. 

I may have also mentioned that I write about what happened last week, so this happened on April 30th. As it was the last day of the A to Z Challenge, I had distracted myself all day by reading blogs. But by eighth period I had completed that. 

And there's just something about sitting there while the kiddos were going through slides about Cuba, speaking in Spanish way better than I could ever attempt, that did not help my drowsiness. 

Sometimes, before bed, I'll play on my phone or I'll read. And there's that point where I kind of blank out, and when I go back and try to continue what I was doing, I'll realize I'm not comprehending anything I'm doing, and it's time to put that all aside and go to sleep. This is what I was feeling while in that eighth period class. 

Not good.

While I was not actively teaching, I was still there as an observer. (It's a legal thing. Since the student teacher isn't employed by the district, a district employee needs to be present.) And I was fading, fast. 

I needed something to wake me up. I checked my email. I flipped through some catalogs. I worked on the note to the teacher (which was largely unneeded because the student teacher would see her the next day). 

Even the fidgety seventh graders couldn't keep my attention. (And they were not behaving well.) 

Did I fall asleep? No. Well... I took a lot of micro naps. I definitely blanked out, many times, but not for long at all each time. 

Not ideal, but somehow I managed to stay mostly awake. 

(I did not stay up too late the night before, and I had gotten a good night's sleep. I should not have been that tired. But some days...)

A School Is a Small World

When I arrived at school on Wednesday, Allie, the secretary I check in with, was assigning the sub in front of me an extra period. So, when it was my turn, I asked if she needed me to cover a class for my prep that day. She did. She assigned me to the AP Environmental Science class. 

My prep period that day was the class after snack. At snack I first headed for the restroom. While I waited, another teacher arrived. Ms. K. The teacher I was scheduled to cover the next day. Before I could say something, Ms. K noticed the restroom line and decided to go and find another restroom. 

Allie had said to call her at the end of snack so she could call security to open the classroom door for me, but the classroom I was going to be in was in the STEAM building. I had covered a couple classes over the last month or so in there, and I had noticed that the building has its own security staff. I figured I'd find him and if I couldn't, then I'd call. 

On my way to the STEAM building, I passed Mr. T, the teacher I was going to be subbing for. I was going to say something, but he was talking to two students and heading the opposite direction. I decided against, and I headed inside. 

I found security talking to a group of students. When he spotted me, he asked me if I needed something. I explained that I was period subbing, and I asked if he could let me in the classroom. He did. And I had a couple minutes before the end of snack to eat the muffin I had brought with me.

The bell rang. I opened the door to start letting kiddos in the room. Who was outside? Mr. T. 

The students questioned why there was a sub and the teacher. Mr. T told them he had a doctor's appointment. Mr. T briefly went over the lesson plan (which wasn't necessary as he had left written lesson plans on his desk), and he asked if I would do a task that he had only just gotten an email about. 

The AP test was to start the next week. (As you read this, the AP tests have started and will continue through next week.) They asked that the students each fill out an index card with their name, student ID number, College Board username and password. Because apparently students don't all remember it, and rather than having to look it up for them (as they have in previous years), they'll have it available. 

Mr. T left. Class started. I passed out the index cards and explained. They had done this last year, so the students knew what to do. I collected the cards back, and then they started on the lesson for the day (studying for the AP test). 

Realizing that I now I didn't have to call roll, I alphabetized the cards, and then I compared them to the roll. I called the name of the missing student. Somehow he had not gotten an index card. Sigh. 

(I passed out the cards and then asked out loud if I missed anyone. Grrrr.) 

Mr. T had printed out the email, so I saw that the cards needed to be returned to Allie. Who is the secretary who checks in us subs. And checks us out. Who I would have to see when I left for the day anyway. I left this info in the note I left for Mr. T. 

At the end of class, I grabbed my stuff and was almost out the door when I came across two students waiting to get in for the next period. I knew the next class would also be period subbed. Because the school is on a two-lunch schedule, and my lunch was next, I had time to let the kiddos in while I waited for the next sub. So, I did. 

The bell rang to start class. No period sub. Before I had a chance to ponder that, the next period's sub arrived, just a touch after the bell. Ms. K. The teacher I was covering the next day. 

(She was grateful I was there as she would have had to find security to let her in. While the class waited outside. After the bell.) 

Again, I didn't have a chance to mention I'd be subbing for her as class had started and the room was full. I told her the lesson plans were on the teacher's desk, that the biology class had a test, and I headed out to my lunch. 

I passed the main office on my way to the classroom I would be in for the rest of the day. Or, I could go through the office... 

I went to Allie's desk. I gave her the index cards. She deposited them into whatever basket she had for that purpose. And then I headed to the teacher's lounge to eat my lunch. 

I've been around long enough to know the various teachers and where things are and how things work. Sometimes I can even make use of that knowledge. 

Stoppable

"So far, despite their best efforts, it's not working out for them." 

One of the things that I've been so afraid/angry about is the attempt to build more concentration camps. Rachel Maddow had something to say about these last week, and it's very good news. It seems I'm not the only one who absolutely is against these things. 

In case the video doesn't work for you, here's a direct link. 

"We have got to stop suing people for hurting our feelings." 

This one's just for fun. In case you're in the mood for a giggle: 

And if you can't see that one either, here's that link. 

That's enough for today. The comments are open for those who wish to vent (or giggle). 

Inside Out

Since last week, I only added about an inch in length. 

But I'm only working on this on Saturdays. (I really, really need to get going on the reluctant sweater, but I never quite find the time.) However, I had my father try this on, and we're at the point where I get to start decreasing for the crown. Woo-hoo!

Although, once this is done... 

One thing I don't think I've mentioned on the blog is how I like to knit things in the round: inside out. 

I'm not sure why I do this. My very first in-the-round project just naturally ended up inside out, and ever since then, I do it like that. 

In this case it might be a good thing. The floats from the colorwork need to be a little loose, or else the hat is too tight an/or puckers. 

So, as I knit, this is what's on the outside:

I'm rather happy at how even that looks. Of course, it's because I'm holding the purple in my left hand and knitting continental while I'm holding the yellow yarn in my right hand and purling that the English way. Because it's two stitches of one followed by two stitches of the other, doing it two-handed makes it go a whole lot quicker. 

Will I have a finished hat next week? Unlikely. Next weekend... Well, the plans aren't the usual plans, so I might not get much of anything done. Although, that's fine. It's not like this is on deadline.

Broken

It had been a pretty mellow Friday. I had special ed biology, and the kiddos were starting a project on genetic disorders. 

It was getting towards the end of the last period. I finished up my note to the teacher, and I sent it off. (I email my remarks nowadays.) I started to pack up my stuff. 

It wasn't quite time for the kiddos to pack up yet. I like to get ready early so than I can focus on making sure they clean up without worrying about my stuff. I had put away my computer, my pencil, and I was putting my water bottles back. I picked one up... 

...And crash... 

I heard something clatter all the way off the desk and onto the floor. 

My water bottle had hit a knickknack the teacher had on her desk. It was a big wooden S, part of her Ms. A tableau. 

A student came over and picked it up. It was in three pieces. 

He tried to make me feel better. He told me that one of her letters was already broken. But there was no way that letter stood up if it was already broken. 

Then it was time for the kiddos to get ready to leave, so I left the broken mess and tended to the finishing up of the period. The bell rang, and the kiddos left. 

I looked around for some glue. Found some Elmer's. It kind of stuck together? 

I left a note. I should probably find where these letters are sold and replace it. Stupid mistake. But it wasn't intentional. Sigh.

Zhuzhing Up the AI

Tuesday. Graphic arts. Fifth period. 

The day's assignment: using Canva's AI, create a poster picturing the student in a future career. And then include information about that career. 

(I'm not a fan of AI. And many students have expressed their dislike as well. The word on how the data centers steal resources has gotten out. But this is not my class, and my job is to execute the teacher's lesson plan. So, that's what I did.) 

Some of the students dove right in, finding the right site and application. Most did not like that they had to upload a picture of themselves (as the AI would insert them into the career image), but they did it. (Well, not everyone. A bunch of them did as little work as possible. I'm sure their grades already reflect their lack-of-work-ethic.) 

I walked around, making sure the students didn't have any questions. 

One boy was staring at his image. It had him as an electrician. He didn't like it, he said. 

I drilled down. What was the problem with the image? What could he tell the AI to do differently? 

Turned out, the background was pink, and that was his only problem with it. 

We found where one could "refine" the image by telling the AI what to change. He typed "get rid of the pink", and I pointed out he should be specific, so he added "make it white". 

The AI replaced the pink background with a white one, changing nothing else. And the student was satisfied. Okay, then. 

It was kind of eerie how the AI took their faces and put them into a real-looking work setting. This would be a great way to help students see a future that they might not be able to picture. But AI? Ugh. 

Have you made images using AI? Did you complete the A to Z Challenge? Do you plan to attempt it next year?

Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...

Yikes, Kiddos

Monday. Middle school intro to culinary. Fourth period. 

(Yeah, it's called "culinary" not cooking and not home ec. Weird, I know.)

The assignment for the day was a worksheet where they had to convert measurements with a pirate theme. That is, there would be a question about storing fish in a barrel (so the pirates had food provisions) and asking how many fish (or how many barrels) and converting from pints to quarts. Or tablespoons to cups. Or gallons to pints. 

The questions made sense. And I thought it was a very clever busywork assignment for the kiddos for the day. 

But middle schoolers...

Yeah, they didn't like this assignment one bit. 

Since I have the science/math background, I understood what they needed to do. And I offered my help to those who asked for it. Some did ask for it.

And then I caught Irene writing on a paper that was not hers. 

Damian spent the period whining. The work was hard. Why did he have to do this? He didn't understand. 

But, did he ask for help? Even when I stood there offering? Of course not. 

Irene? Was writing the answers on Damian's paper. 

No, Irene. Damian must do his own work. But she didn't see my point. Nor did Damian. 

A student asked to use the restroom. I had another girl, Nina, out. When she got back... "But she doesn't come back when there's a sub..." She doesn't? 

Okay, then, time to call security. Nina returned, 25 minutes after she left. In passing I mentioned that I had already added Nina's excursion to my note to the teacher. Suddenly, Nina was apologetic. Could I please leave her name out of the note? Yeah, now she's sorry, now that she knows she'll be held accountable. 

Students taking forever to "go to the restroom" has become ridiculous this school year, so I've been keeping track of how long everyone goes and leaving that information for the teacher. Every day. And especially when I have to call security. 

Then I look up, and Damian is chasing Irene. And I can't get over to stop them as there are a bunch of kiddos standing between me and them. Standing? They had work. There was no reason for them to be out of their seats. 

Yikes. It was quite the class. 

The period after this? Totally mellow and on task. Sigh.

Did you take cooking in school? Do you like to cook? 

Today's A to Z Challenge post brought to you by the letter...