A middle school art class on a Friday. It didn't go that badly, considering.
Some kiddos are just oblivious. The bell had rung. I was trying to start class. But Andie wouldn't get in her seat until other students pointed out that that's what I was hinting at. By saying, "Okay, class, let's get started."
Yeah, Andie was an issue. And apparently a well-known one to her teacher. Mr. S had left names of those I should "keep an eye on". Her name was at the top.
On this day, Andie decided that she just had to watch the cheerleaders.
She was astounded by them. She could see them practicing though the window, but only if she was standing right in front of it. And she had to watch them.
I told her she could watch them after school. She complained they weren't going to be there after school.
I've been subbing a while. The cheerleaders practice in the same spot every day. And they continue to practice after school. They did this last year. They're doing the same thing this year.
While it may be the beginning of the school year, we're a good month in. Football season is well underway. I'm certain the cheerleaders have been there every other day that I wasn't the sub in this art classroom. So Andie's arguments don't hold water.
And yet she did everything she could to get back to that window at every opportunity.
Middle schoolers. They obsess about the strangest things.
Tell her if she's so obsessed, she should go join the team.
ReplyDeleteI have always said it takes a certain kind of person to be a teacher or daycare operator! You my friend do the kind of job I could not!
ReplyDeleteYes, well, I'm glad I found it, then.
Deletemiddle school kids....sigh
ReplyDeleteI know what to expect when I get sent to a middle school class.
DeleteThey sure do. Especially when it's not doing their work for class.
ReplyDeleteBut..obsessing over cheerleaders is totally normal! Isn't it? Lol, I wasn't even that bad. Not sure what Andie's deal is, but that's definitely strange.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you've got bad seeds who openly defy you, but Andie just seems like she's uncontrollably drawn to the cheerleaders for some reason.
It was rather bizarre. I had all sorts of great inappropriate questions for her, but that would have just made the situation worse.
DeleteIt would have never occured to us to try to get away with standing AT ALL during class unless specifically asked by the teacher to do so. My early 80s junior high school experience was so vastly different from the class with Andie you've described.
ReplyDeleteGoodness knows where our cheerleaders were, btw.
Mine, too. (Same era as you.) I think that the kids like this were segregated from us, because I don't think kids are all that different today.
DeleteI'm glad that most of us grow up. And this age will also.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
Maybe she was studying them to learn their moves?
ReplyDeletebetty
Hi Liz - I suppose longing to be accepted and dying to join them ... times have changed ... we definitely could disturb our lessons ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteImagine if we'd been that oppositional defiant as a kid. We would have been sent straight to the office.
ReplyDeleteYup. But some of these kids don't scare as easily today.
DeleteOh dear I think I was that kid.
DeleteThat's about the last thing I would have cared to watch. ~grin~ I'm glad you take these kids on. They wouldn't get any education if society relied on folks like me. I see kids coming and run the other way if I can.
ReplyDeleteCheerleaders can do some interesting routines, but cheer practice... Very tedious to watch. (I was in band. I remember band practice. Tedious.)
DeleteIt's interesting how it's always the ones that the other teachers warn you about. :)
ReplyDeleteMost of the time, the difficult students are difficult for everybody. It's a rare thing when they're only difficult for one teacher.
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