Seventh grade math. Their assignment was a review packet for an upcoming test. And because they were seventh graders, I spent most of my time trying to keep them settled.
In a class of seventh grade crazy, Jairo stood out. Literally. He refused to sit for much of the period.
So, when with 15 minutes left of class Jairo had packed his stuff up and was ready to go, I noticed.
I informed him that he still had time to get work done. It wasn't clean up time. And he'd better get his work back out and do... something...
He ignored me. He told me he was going to do it for homework.
(At this point, I normally would have made the assignment due right then, but it was a test review. Plus, there were enough students on task, and it wouldn't have been fair to them when Jairo was the only one being difficult about doing the assignment in class.)
Luckily, this was the last class of the day. If he wasn't going to work for the last 10 minutes of class, I'd have him stay 10 minutes after school.
Jairo unzipped his backpack. I prompted him to keep going. He thunked his binder onto the desk. Right direction, but not complete. He opened his binder.
Yes, I had to prompt him at each step. Then the assignment came out, but he said he didn't have a pencil.
There was no work on the paper, but his name was at the top, and there were various doodles in spots. Clearly he had had a pencil. He began a convoluted story of how he had borrowed a pencil from one student for one thing and another for...
Okay. Fine. He would have to remain in class until he finished one problem.
Immediately, Jairo opened the front pouch of his backpack, produced a purple mechanical pencil, and filled in an answer on his page. (A correct answer.)
It's amazing how he put so much effort into resisting doing anything constructive. If he were to apply that single mindedness to work for him...
Too bad I didn't ask Jairo for five problems.
If something seems different today, it is. Monday is usually the day I post my latest knitting or crochet project (although lately I've just been posting the new pictures I've been taking of older projects), and my subbing stories I post later in the week. However, as of "press time", I had no new projects or pictures ready to go for the blog, so rather than going dark like I did last Monday (due to the same issue), I'm rearranging my schedule for this week. I should have some pretty pictures for Wednesday 🤞.
It has always amazed me that being a PITA always results in more work than if they had just done what they were told in the first place.
ReplyDeleteAnother bit of amazement: middle schoolers seem to NEVER have pencils.
I recently sat in on a class of 7 and 8 year olds at a local Saturday German School. (They've a job open & I'm a candidate for the position.) Over 1/2 the kids behaved like Jairo. One kid was even more disruptive. It was a constant struggle, going around from table to table, keeping the kids focused for about four hours in total. In the end, I didn't take the gig.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you. I wonder why they were all like that, though. Did they not want to be there?
DeleteIt's Saturday class, so that could be it. These kids come from somewhat monied backgrounds, I'd wager. The school is in SF & it's private, so $$$. One teacher straight up called the most unruly girls 'spoiled'. :S
DeleteAh, I see. Yeah, Saturday classes would bring out the worst in them.
DeleteMakes you wonder when it began - the need to tell them every step. Or maybe they never were prompted to figure things on their own and parents walked them through everything.
ReplyDeleteOh my, why not just knock out the whole thing if he knew that answer at least? :/
ReplyDeleteOh man... That is the $64,000 question.
DeleteUgh, I had a witty comment all ready to go and my internet issues caused blogger to eat it. Anyway, the lengths these kids go to to avoid doing classwork...
ReplyDelete7th graders are a joy, I'm sure
ReplyDeleteThere's a reason why the tag for 7th grade classes is "7th grade crazy".
DeleteHAHA...the time wasted and he knew the answer. Such fun you deal with daily.
ReplyDeleteHe picked the one he knew the answer to. Although, I'm sure he knew some others. He was just being difficult because he could, I think.
DeleteWas it a Friday on top of it being the last period? I can see why he would have been antsy to leave, though no excuse for not working or following your instructions.
ReplyDeletebetty
I always enjoy these stories. Your trials and tribulations fascinate me, especially how well you deal with them. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say I deal with these things well...
DeleteOften boys that age don't see the need to prove to someone else what they know they can do. Way behind on knitting, way behind on blogging, but trying to get back into both.
ReplyDeletehttps://travelingsuitcase.blogspot.com/2017/10/trinity-college-dublin-and-book-of.html
That must be it.
DeleteBring back corporal punishment! Gah. What a pain in the neck boys that age can be.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder if that wouldn't be helpful.
DeleteI’d have said he has to answer 10 and, if not, he’d stay until that is done just to seem him squirm:) looking forwa4d to your creativity
ReplyDeleteI did actually keep him after class a bit, but over a different issue.
DeleteMy snotty son (now 39) was pretty much like that. His attitude didn't change until he was a Jr. in HS. thing was, he was brilliant in math and everything. Felt he didn't need to prove it. That is, until he realized that he needed high scores to enroll in college. then he proved himself. Snot.
ReplyDeletePoor kid. Something is in his head.
Yeah, that's when it hits. The worst kids suddenly become reasonable individuals around junior year. This is why I love classes of mostly juniors and seniors. Most of the time ;)
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