Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Wasted Effort

So, there's this one boy. Let's call him Noah. I've encountered him in class a few times now, and every single time he's tried to convince me that the lesson plan that the teacher meant to leave (but didn't leave) was a video.

I don't know why students do this. I have a piece of paper with the teacher's wishes on it. Teachers tend to be pretty clear in lesson plans. And no amount of begging or wheedling or complaint is going to change what that piece of paper says.

And in many cases, I have no access to videos anyway, so it's not like I can pull something out of thin air. Even if I wanted to. Which I don't.

This day, it was an English class. They were reading The Outsiders. And the lesson plan was to watch the beginning of the movie version.


Noah was in 3rd period. I introduced the class by saying something along the lines of "you've been reading The Outsiders..." Noah chimed in with, "But it's better to see the video first."

Um...

The TV was out. The board said "Movie: The Outsiders". I thought it was pretty clear that we were actually going to watch a video. Yet, Noah was winding up to try to "convince" me to show a video.

By 3rd period, I even had the technical difficulties sorted. (When I wheeled the TV from the corner to the middle of the room, something jiggled and the DVD player and TV lost power. And the kiddos in that class seemed to think that someone needed to come up and help me restore power. Even though I knew what I was doing, and managed to get things going in not much time at all.)

I guess it's a reflex on Noah's part at this time. But it was kind of funny to watch.

12 comments:

  1. These are the same kids who have no idea what it meant to have to get up to turn the channel on the TV. These kids are also the same ones who have to show their parents how to hook things up so they just assume the same with you:)

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  2. Its a hard thing when the ones you're supposed to be teaching knows more technical stuff than you...at least that is what my experience has taught me. My daughter helps me with my website stuff. She's amazing.
    Edge of Your Seat Stories

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    1. It's worse when they think they know more (which in this case they didn't) and get all upset when you're not doing it as fast as they think it should be going.

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  3. It's interesting when there are technical difficulties who steps up and has to help. I've seen it in so many situations, and my hubby who's a tech guru is probably the one who should step up...but he waits to see if they need him. =)

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  4. Well, at least he finally got a yes to his question. I don't suppose he'll stop asking for videos now that he got one, though.

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  5. Makes you wonder if Noah at home is constantly watching videos or TV.

    betty

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  6. I was away from my class last week and the kids told the substitute teacher I let them sit wherever they liked. Wisely I'd left specific instructions to the contrary.
    I must say though I love to show a ten minute video to get the kids engaged at the beginning of a new topic. Gosh... The Outsiders. I remember teaching that ten, fifteen years ago! Maybe Hollywood should make an updated version.

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    1. Yeah, I'd love a version that wasn't so heavy handed with the soundtrack.

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  7. I love the Outsiders! Maybe I would think differently after seeing it 50 times. Kids are so oblivious to things. Sometimes I wonder if their minds are wrapped in bubble wrap or on "sleep mode."

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  8. OK - I should have read this before commenting on the other post. They read the book, then see the movie. But it doesn't make sense that it's being checked out so frequently from my little old library.. Maybe Noah assumed the TV was out and the board was written for the previous class?

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