I'm not generally in a class long enough for certain issues.
I remember certain students. In some cases it's due to bad behavior, but not always. It might just be an unusual name that does it. Busola is one of those.
Once I found out I was going to be in this ceramics class for a bit (because the teacher broke his collarbone), I knew I was going to want seating charts. Mr. P does not have seating charts because the students don't really have assigned seats.
Take a look at the picture above. They sit on stools at big tables. Ten to twelve students can fit around a table.
I made seating charts anyway.
It took me most of a day. That second day. I went around to each table, asked each student their name (my preferred method of taking roll), and marked that down on a seating chart. I then recopied the seating chart to make it neat and "pretty".
Yes, it was labor intensive. And yes, it was so worth it.
Because roll then took me about two minutes. I could look over each table and see who was missing.
Of course, the students didn't necessarily stay put. A couple liked to wander. There's one boy who chooses between two tables, depending on the day.
But, I didn't mark anyone absent before stating that I was going to mark them absent. I did this at their table. The rest of the table either confirmed the student was absent, or they pointed out where that kiddo was. (They could have been up getting supplies. They might have been in the restroom.)
However, if I knew the kiddo by name, I didn't call out to confirm absence. And usually I'd spot where those kiddos were. Like Busola.
So, when Busola came at me during week two, angry that I had marked her absent for two days, I could state (with the roll sheet as proof) that I had not. (She sat in one seat when I made the seating chart, but she was about two seats down from there the rest of the time.)
Curious, I called the attendance office. Had I made a mistake?
Nope. It turned out that Busola had been marked absent in the period before the one she had with me. She misread her attendance on whatever app it is that the students use for that.
(And, it turned out that the attendance office is a month behind inputting substitute teachers' roll, anyway. So, it couldn't have been me.)
At least I didn't screw up. But I find it funny that Busola was so certain I had missed her.
Oh yes, don't you love it when someone is sooo certain about something when you know it isn't right. That happened to me the other night. My husband was watching a commercial and he said, "That's my car" as in the car he wanted to buy. I said "Nope" because I knew which car was in the commercial and I also know what car he wants. He kept insisting it was and I kept denying it until it got to the end when the announcer named the make and model. He stared, dumbstruck and said, "That's not my car." I did revel in the "told you so" moment more than I probably should've.
ReplyDeleteIt's like the more certain they are that you are wrong, the more likely that you are right. That must be a scientific law or something.
DeleteYou are the sub and don't know all their names, obviously. It's the only excuse. She never misses a day. Ever. 😉
ReplyDelete(She did miss at least two days while I was there. Just not those two.)
DeleteA little vindication for you.
ReplyDeleteYou nailed her! Making that roll call was such great foresight. Busola, in your face.
ReplyDeleteThat seating chart was such a life saver.
DeleteAnd it's your fault she misread the report, too, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteWe didn't realize this, and she never said anything to me after, so no. I like to think that she was chagrined after and wouldn't dream of bringing it up again.
DeleteShe probably assumed it was the sub screwing up. They always pick on the sub!
ReplyDeleteI'm just tripping off of the fact that Ss can use an app to check their attendance record! Wow.
ReplyDeleteAnd their grades. In real time.
DeleteThere are days when they're all on their phones, checking out what grade they got on some test they just took.
Yes, there is a grade app for their phones. (The attendance is on it as well.)
How can the office be that far behind in inputting subs' attendance sheets? Won't that cause havoc sometime down the line?
ReplyDeletebetty
You'd think in this day and age we'd get it right with the backup of all this technology but nope.... back to the drawing board eh?
ReplyDeleteThe era of apps is still so new to me. I try to stay relevant, but wow. An app for attendance? I just showed up when attendance was required. Very simple. I think we're living in a simulation. Heh...
ReplyDeleteIt's more of an app that connects them to the school's data system. If they have too many tardies or unexcused absences, they get Saturday school. This way they can make sure their attendance has been recorded correctly (though, to make changes, they have to talk to the relevant clerks at the school).
DeleteI don't see much change in schools or people attidudes.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
Wow...there always seems to be something going on. And to find out the office made the mistake.
ReplyDeleteThe office didn't. She misread the app.
DeleteI still can't get over the names. Is it common for there to be so many unusual names these days? I know there are kids with unusual names at schools here, but they don't seem to be anywhere near as common as in your classes.
ReplyDeleteDid she ever apologize to you?
ReplyDelete