My last day in Ms. D's science class, the 7th graders had a test. (Which I mentioned several times over the 7 days, yet some still acted surprised when we got started. Deep sigh.)
Some special ed students take their tests in a different room. There are fewer distractions, they can get the supports they need, and some need extra time. I had a list of who was to go.
Jamal was ready to get started. Class had barely begun, and he wanted to go to the testing room right then. Fine by me. I gathered his materials, wrote his hall pass, and sent him on his way. It was 1:45.
I sent the other two students who were supposed to go out. Then, I got the rest of the class going on their tests--passed out, room silent, instructions given, etc. I did a walk around.
The phone rang.
The teacher manning the resource room called. (I've subbed for her before.) Jamal had just arrived. It was 2:00.
It is possible to get from the classroom to the resource room in 3-4 minutes when it's raining and the campus is crowded with students getting to their next class. (It's a large campus. Lots of students. The crowds do slow one a bit.) I know this because I've done it.
It does not take 15 minutes to go that distance when it's dry and the campus is mostly empty (all the students are in class).
I said to go ahead and let him take the test. Considering Jamal's general lack of effort, I highly doubted he had gone in search of test help.
At 2:30, Ms. K called to let me know she was sending Jamal back. It should take him a minute to arrive, she said. It took him four.
And then he told me he hadn't finished his test.
Silly boy. Extra time is given to students who need it, not students who wasted time they could have used for the test wandering who knows where.
Oh my....I think he has taken Goofing off 101 and probably will not ace that test or pass.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the zeros he had amassed as well as the F on the last test...
DeleteHe fails, it's his own fault.
ReplyDeleteSounds like he's got a very casual approach to tests!
ReplyDeleteMaybe he went out for a cigarette? Graffiti? Slow walker? Under-achiever? Jamal will have an interesting future.
ReplyDeleteSmoking is a non issue nowadays. No one does. (I totally would have smelled that on him if he had been.) I'll go with slow walking, but graffiti is possible. (Luckily, the district just outfitted the school with cameras...)
DeleteToo bad he's wasting his time. I guess it's easier to fail on purpose than it is to try and fail.
ReplyDeleteWhat continues to surprise me is they do behavior like this and think the teachers won't notice. He was so anxious to leave; must have had some type of rendezvous he had to get to.
ReplyDeletebetty
I have a question! Why do they continue to give these students extra chances. It is obvious he isn't interested in school at all! I just don't understand wasting time when there are students who really want to learn!
ReplyDeleteWell, he's special ed. And when they get into those meetings, the kiddos swear up and down that they'll do what they're supposed to, they're trying, and they'll do better. Then they go right back to their prior behavior.
DeleteI wonder what he was doing...checking his phone? Probably. Sneaking a smoke in the bathroom? Maybe. Secret rendezvous? Possibly. Or maybe he just walked as slow as he could. Too bad he's not more engaged. If only he knew what we know *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI love how so many students somehow think that teachers dont' communicate with each other. Duh.
ReplyDeleteAnd I write down the time he left on the pass.
DeleteOh my, I wonder what he was doing
ReplyDeleteI bet he was just wandering. Luckily, the campus has cameras, so we could go back and review the footage.
DeleteI was an A/B student who got passes to take a diabetic acer for snacks. Now that's a fond memory. Nobody cared that we blew off class time. And he was a hottie. ~swoon~ Thank you for that memory.
ReplyDeleteGood times?
DeleteOh, yes. He was a character. I still miss him but haven't tried looking on FB. I'm afraid trying to look up old friends would be disappointing somehow.
DeleteBTW, I've decided to check your blog daily. I really enjoy it but took quite a while last night to catch up for the week. ~grin~ Keep up the great blogging!
Thanks. Mondays I usually post about what I'm knitting, and Tuesdays I post my what if questions. The subbing stories stay to the latter half of the week.
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