Algebra 2. The students had a test the next day, so the assignment for this day was for them to review. They had a study guide, and the teacher had given them the answers to the problems on the study guide. They were good to go.
Not so fast. Not everyone was present when the study guide had been passed out. Uh oh. (This was the Monday after Thanksgiving. They got the study guide just before the break.)
Normally, a teacher will leave extra papers when the assignment is something like this. But I got the feeling that this teacher hadn't planned to be out. (The phone call that morning was my first indication.)
It was a simple oversight. It happens.
I had a student show me what the worksheet looked like, and I went hunting. I found it pretty quickly. I thought all was good until a student told me that the teacher has passed out a sheet with the answers on it (instead of giving them the answers in a lecture as I had assumed).
Again, I went in search of worksheets, but I was coming up short. Two girls asked if they could go see if another teacher had them. I wrote them a pass.
They hadn't been gone two minutes when I happened upon the worksheets. Naturally.
It took a while for the girls to return. When they did, they had the answer worksheets. The teacher they had gone to see made a bunch of copies. That we didn't need.
Ah well. All's well that ends well. (I hope they all did amazingly well on the test.)
Thank goodness the assignment was just to review. I imagine the teacher will have to provide extra time for the kids who didn't have the review sheet to study before giving them the test.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it. We did find the worksheet, after all.
DeleteAt least they did what they were supposed to.
ReplyDelete"They hadn't been gone two minutes when I happened upon the worksheets. Naturally."
ReplyDeleteYep. That's always how it happens. Glad they were found one way or another, though.
Figures you would find the worksheet after the girls had left. Isn't that how it usually happens?
ReplyDeletebetty
Good for you for sorting the problem. Hope the kids did well.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised they really went to see if another teacher had the answers! (based on other stories you have told us)
ReplyDeleteI think I should hit this harder on the blog: the stories I tell here are the most interesting ones. Good kiddos don't generate as many stories. But they still exist, and I encounter them daily.
DeleteThat is so true!
DeleteJust another day living the dream, huh?
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting start to the lesson.
ReplyDeleteOh yea. It's always the first part of the period (especially earlier periods or periods where it's different than the rest of the day) when things get "interesting".
DeleteOf course you'd find them after they leave. That's always how it goes, isn't it? Maybe the teacher should have left a note telling you where to find them.
ReplyDeleteAs a substitute, you are constantly being thrown into sink or swim situations. Do you ever dream of predictability?
ReplyDeleteVR Barkowski
Yay for finding the worksheet :)
ReplyDeleteYes yeah!
DeleteI subbed one whole week in an emergency without a single lesson plan. The biggest problem for me was that I never subbed for the grades, but the principal was desperate and I was a friend. Well, you know how creative subs can be. The kids survived and I did, too. Congrats on figuring out what to do.
ReplyDeleteThose are the worst. I'm so happy I had lesson plans.
DeleteIt figures you'd find them at the wrong moment. LOL
ReplyDeleteThat's how it usually goes.
DeleteAt least this one had a happy ending. Another day in the life. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteYeah, well at least I had lesson plans. That's always good.
DeleteAlgebra was scary for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry.
DeleteIt's hard to find stuff sometimes (particularly when the teacher has a messy desk). I regret having a messy desk now and what I inflicted on relief teachers!
ReplyDeleteMessy desks don't bother me. Of course, her worksheets weren't anywhere near her desk...
DeleteHi Liz ... life leads us along those sorts of paths - the kids and teacher had initiative in making sure there were sufficient copies - even if not needed. Still they'd hold sway for something else ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteGlad to see that you played it by ear and that it worked out!
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteGlad it all worked out in the end. They seemed to do what they were supposed to do, even if the extra paper was not needed ... naturally. Murphy's law, eh?
ReplyDeleteIt's funny. The teachers that leave extra anything have the classes where it's not needed. Murphy's Law indeed.
DeleteAh yes. That happens here at home with scissors. I go buy a new pair and find the old one almost as soon as I get home. lol
ReplyDeleteThat was nice of the other teacher to make all of the copies, even if it turned out that you didn't need them.
ReplyDeleteThe teachers are really supportive, especially of subs and on days when things aren't going so well.
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