Thursday, November 23, 2017

A Wonky Turkey Day


Happy Thanksgiving.

For #ThrowbackThursday, I'm revisiting a post from November 18, 2010. It was Turkey Day at the continuation high school. Turkey Day takes place the Thursday before Thanksgiving. They serve all the students and many in the district a turkey lunch (although it's served between 9:45 AM and noon). I managed to make it to the school this year (I've missed the last two), but alas, nothing blog-worthy happened. 

It's that time of year again. Today was Turkey Day at the continuation high school.

The administration puts on a school-wide movie to entertain the students while we wait to be called. The TV in the classroom has to be hooked up to the in-school "network" for us to be able to see it. When I finished showing 1st period a video in the VCR, I had to switch the cable so that instead of connecting to the VCR, it connected to the in-school "network".

It's harder to explain than to do. When the teacher told me that he was going to send over the school's tech guy to do it, I told him that I could manage. I did. Unfortunately, there was some interference in the picture.

The students were annoyed by this (we could see the movie, it just wasn't completely clear). They wanted it fixed, so I called the office.

I told them: "The picture is a bit wonky. Could someone come and take a look?"

Michelle thought my word choice funny. She had never heard the word "wonky" before. She wondered if it was a real word.

I was startled. She'd never heard "wonky" before? I understand when these students haven't heard long academic words before, but "wonky"?

I spelled the word for her. Told her that it was indeed a real word. She took my word for it.

The tech guy did come, and rather quickly too. However, the problem righted itself just before he got to class, so he wasn't needed.

(This wasn't my first Turkey Day. I blogged about previous years here and here.)

It's amazing how the technology has changed in just seven years. The classrooms no longer have TVs. Instead, each classroom has a projector that connects to a computer. The "in-school network" is no more. If the school wants something shown to each class, they email the video clip to the teachers, and the teachers can play the video clip on the projector at their convenience. 

And they no longer house the students in one classroom for the day. Instead, they have the students go to each of their classes in the morning, and they call out groups of 30. The newer method works a whole lot better.

12 comments:

  1. It's a bit humbling to realize when you've been blogging long enough to have obsolete posts. I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    1. What's really humbling is to think I've been subbing that long...

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  2. Oh, I really like your update as to how things have changed in not that long a period.

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    1. Yeah, the technology is flying. Now it's a regular occurance to have computers in the class.

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  3. I know that word! Here's hoping you had a good day today.

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  4. Wow such a short few years for so much to have changed(for the better it seems). Hope you enjoyed a great Thanksgiving!

    betty

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  5. I think that some changes to our lifestyles are some much better. It makes life easier for us.

    Wishing a happy thanksgiving to you and your family!

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  6. It's amazing how fast tech changes. Be well!

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  7. I recall taking a basic computer course at an adult school where the average age of the Ss was probably around 60+ & most of them were African-American. This must have been 2005, or so. The teacher was in her 30s, I'd guess, and white. She used the word 'wonky' to describe when a computer malfunctioned. I knew what she was talking about because I watch British TV, had spent loads of time in England, and had English friends. There's no way those retirees had a clue what she was on about.

    Happy Day-After-Turkey-Day, btw! x

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