Winter break was over. I got an early morning wake up call. Guess who would be out another week?
I was not shocked by this. The teacher I covered before the break had been out due to shoulder surgery. I half expected her to need more time to recover. So, back to it, the same group I had before the winter break.
Deep sigh.
The teacher was prepared. She left lesson plans for the entire month of January, just in case. So, I knew we were covered. The first day back, they had an assignment in their packets.
All the classes received packets for the unit. The first pages were fill-in-the-blank notes. Then there were pages of various assignments that they would need to complete. These packets were passed out the first couple days I was in the class. They all had them.
After the initial explanation that their teacher would be out another week, I told them to get out their packets...
"What packet?"
"I lost it."
"I left it at home."
I was not shocked. I wasn't even surprised. Since they came to school with their binders and folders and backpacks and such, I figured the packets would have to be in their stuff somewhere. Presumably, it would be with the other school stuff they hadn't looked at in two weeks. (They didn't have homework over the break, so they shouldn't have even needed to take it out of their backpacks.)
Most managed to find their work, and we got underway. Well, except for one notable exception. Blaine.
"You never gave me the packet."
Um yes, yes I did. And you know how I know? He had scores recorded for assignments that were in the packet. Which he couldn't have done if he didn't have the packet.
But he protested he'd never received it. This went back and forth for a bit. Until he realized, "Oh, that packet."
Yeah. That packet.
They will argue over anything, won't they? And then they usually end up losing it, so why bother in the first place (losing the argument).
ReplyDeletebetty
Blaine as in Pretty in Pink? :) Love that movie.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I remember having teachers collect our packets at the end of class just so that no one would have the excuse of "lost it" or "left it at home". Not being the regular teacher though, you had no idea you'd have to deal with this mess upon return from Christmas break. *sigh* At least everyone (or most?) found their packets.
All student names are made up to "protect" the identity of the minors. So, yes, it's Blaine as in Pretty in Pink. Because his real name is also just that annoying.
DeleteCollecting their packets would have been a good idea. But, this is also training in being responsible citizens. Most did manage to find the packets. Eventually.
Amazing how hard they try...
ReplyDeleteHi Liz .. gosh I'd be doing my nut! Kids ... good luck - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteWhy can't they just realize that it is easier to get to work and not argue. Maybe he will become a lawyer. Probably not!
ReplyDeleteOh no. They will crawl over tacks rather than do work. And their grades reflect this.
Delete*shakes head* Silly Blaine!
ReplyDeleteYup.
DeleteSome people will try anything to get out of doing their work :)
ReplyDeleteYou know, I just realized that this reminds me of some of my clients. They are asked to fill out forms....they often say they never got them or they never filled them out. They always like to argue because it is never their fault.
ReplyDeleteI think many of these kiddos are future clients of yours.
DeleteI have hope all these kids will grown up and be responsible citizen.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
That would be nice. Some of them might be.
DeleteI could not do your job. Thanks for being there for them.
ReplyDeleteIt has its benefits...
DeleteYour teacher is brilliantly organised. I have covered classes with NOTHING set, or something esoteric like write a poem about the maths problem given out in your ethics class.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, she was great. The filing cabinet had everything all in folders and ready to go, so all I had to do was see what was on the agenda, pull it out, and pass it out.
DeleteI agree with Sue above. That is one organised teacher!
ReplyDeleteYup. She's been teaching for 27 years, and she's got this down.
Delete