Monday. 8th grade English. They were to read quietly. And I had no issues with the classes until fifth period.
As I compared bodies to the seating chart (a couple of them were not where the chart said they should be), I discovered two more students than I should have.
"We belong here. This is our class. We were suspended for a month, and we've just returned..."
But their names weren't on the new class rosters, nor did they have a change of schedule form. So, they were lying.
The rest of the class, however, backed up their story. "They belong here..."
Sure they do. (I wasn't 100% sure they didn't belong. Only 98% sure.) Since the class was fairly settled, and calling security was just causing commotion (oh, how they vehemently insisted--the whole class--that the boys belonged when I tried that!) I decided to play along, making sure to add their names to the class roster.
Is it too much to hope they gave me their real names?
I don't know what they get out of this. They were marked absent (and it's marked as a "cut") in the class they missed. And our class was no fun. They were supposed to be reading quietly.
I made sure the boys did not sit next to each other. And remained quiet. Boring, I'd think.
Ah well. This should be a far more powerful lesson in why one shouldn't "visit" other classes. (And a lesson to the rest of the class in why they shouldn't play along.)
If you're going to cut class, why go to another one? That makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteMakes you wonder what the assignment was in the other class(es) they should have been in that they were willing to deal with the consequences of staying in the obvious class they didn't belong in.
ReplyDeletebetty
That's a good question.
Deletecrazy
ReplyDeleteYup
DeleteThese are the people that will grow up and blame the system for failing them.
ReplyDeleteSummer's coming.
ReplyDeleteHang in there.
:) Not sure what the boys got out of switching classes for the day, but I would have liked it. Especially if my options were like math or reading for the day. Obviously I would take reading over math any day!
ReplyDeleteAnd I bet they were lying about their names. In high school, I got switched to a different science class and on the first day, the kids made up silly names for the teacher to call them. Like OJ and Bacon. :) It was funny and awesome that she just went along with it.
Maybe you should have included photos of the boys in your notes. ;) Would that be against "sub rules"? Then it would be easy for the teacher to determine who the problem kids were.
Well, if they had gotten out a book and read, that would have been one thing. But they just sat there, doing nothing.
DeleteI could include a picture. I'd have to email it, but it'd be doable. The big problem with this is that I keep my phone put away all day, so getting the picture would be rather obvious. I'm not sure if they just wouldn't avoid the camera or just leave at that point.
Two of my sisters are teachers and they swear kids lose their minds at th end of the year.
ReplyDelete@Kathleen01930 Blog
They do.
DeleteScratching my head. Let us know if they show up again??? Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI'm not due to go back to that school for at least another week. I've got a whole 6 days in one special ed class (stay tuned for next week's posts...).
DeleteThat is weird. I wonder what they got out of it. Maybe sitting quietly in your class was preferable to the class they were supposed to be in.
ReplyDeleteMaybe.
DeleteThe great escape! A for ingenuity. D for attempted deception.
ReplyDeleteTheir story wasn't even plausible.
DeleteThe fact both boys say they were suspended for a month, from the same class, sounds like a long shot to me.
ReplyDeleteOh, and you're right. They are known as Yahoo Loops, but I know them as loops because that's what my publisher calls them. I added "groups" to my post to avoid confusion. Thanks!
I've always known them as groups, but they are kinda loops, so that makes sense.
DeleteSuspended for a month? Doesn't happen. The max suspension is 5 days. Anything longer and they go on independent study. And they wouldn't be taken off the roster for a suspension. The more I take that story apart, the more it falls apart.
Perhaps they were too timid to do a real ditch. Or mistakenly thought being counted present somewhere would clear them.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, blogging at Life & Faith in Caneyhead
I did a lot and seen a lot. But sneaking in class after be expelled that is a new one on me.
ReplyDeleteI know. Seriously. But this isn't the first time this has happened to me.
DeleteHuh, I wonder why they'd even attend another class if they'd cut one lol
ReplyDeleteI know, right?
DeleteNo doubt they were lying. The question is why? Eighth graders tend to be self-serving, and I’m not seeing the benefit here. Unless getting by with something enhances their status in some way.
ReplyDeleteVR Barkowski
Maybe they love having you as a teacher!
ReplyDeleteI doubt it. I didn't know them, and they're the kind of students I'd get to know. (In which case, I'd've known where they actually belonged.)
DeleteThat is a strange thing to do, unless they are avoiding another class or person. I love it when kids think that they are getting away with something and tricking the adults, when really the adults are full of suspicion.
ReplyDeleteAvoiding another class is the only thing that makes sense. But why? There's a perfectly good tardy sweep to go to. And while that does count against them, it's better than a cut.
DeleteI was hoping you'd tell us the visitors turned out to be aliens. Oh well. Maybe next time!
ReplyDelete8th graders are aliens. You have sons, right? I'm sure you remember them at 13. (Or are they not that old, yet?)
DeleteI can imagine the conversation as they planned their great scam on the sub. And then the chatter after class as they thought they got away with it. Silly boys.
ReplyDeleteWeird. It's like they did it just to say they could or something. I would be so frustrated.
ReplyDeleteThat actually makes a certain sort of sense. Dealing with that age range as often as I do, I could totally see that as being the reason.
DeleteMaybe they had some really good books, and just wanted some quiet reading time.
ReplyDeleteBut they didn't read. At all. They didn't even pull out a book to make a pretense of reading.
DeleteThey like to play head games don't they? They just didn't realize it still would not be great for them in the long run.
ReplyDeleteNo, they don't really think of consequences.
DeleteFools! When I was wagging lessons or whole days, I could be found smoking around some grotty corner or making out with the latest fella. Never would I have thought of taking up residence in a reading class.
ReplyDeleteI know, right? Much better things to do than infiltrate another class.
DeleteIf I was going to cut class, I would cut school altogether. I don't know why they would want to do this. Unless they just get a thrill in getting by with something.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure that's it. They get to brag that they did it. Silly thing to brag about, if you ask me.
Delete