I've been struggling with this post for days. It still might not make much sense...
It was Thursday. I was covering the Mandarin class. No, not that one. Different school. Apparently Mandarin is a thing now. At least for this school district.
That morning, I woke with a sore throat that went into full blown head cold for the holiday weekend. (If you noticed that I wasn't around the blogs, that was why.)
It turned out to be not a bad day. Which is a good thing when one is starting to feel miserable. However, I was warned about sixth period. They were the "interesting" group.
When the teacher told me this (Ms. L was there that morning as she was chaperoning a field trip to a local temple), I took a look at the seating chart (with pictures!), and I did recognize the students she warned me about.
Jake was one. I did get to chide him on pretending to be Steven. When the other students overheard this, I informed them that Jake preferred to be called Steven. And I told Ms. L about this later. I so hope they tease him about it for the rest of the school year--from that day, two weeks.
Ms. L explained that she had placed one girl, Monica, as a sort of buffer between the boys. If the boys got too bad, I was to let Monica move away.
Class started, and Ryder shooed Monica out of her seat and took it. Monica was a willing participant in this, so much so that when I informed them that I had an accurate seating chart, they did not move.
Okay then. Just another addition to the note.
Towards the end of the period, a few of the students who had gone on the field trip returned. This is pretty standard.
But it freaked the other kiddos out. "Ms. L is back?!?"
Suddenly, Monica and Ryder knew exactly where their seats were, and they were in them.
Ms. L did not return. After the class was dismissed for the day, I did manage to locate Ms. L and let her know how the day went. She found the seat swap interesting.
Alas, poor Monica was in for it. (Although, one of the boys I was warned about did not behave badly, so he got a pleasant surprise the next day.)
I am so sorry you have not been feeling well. Spring time colds or allergies are such a pain cause you want to be out doing and moving about but you feel like crap. Now for me....my nerves are not what they used to be when I was younger, I don't take silly crap well and I want to win over them so I would not be able to do what you do!! High five to you. Feeling bad and dealing with kids, not a good combo for me...
ReplyDeleteThanks. At least it was cold and dreary that weekend, so it wasn't like I was missing being out.
DeleteWhat was his pleasant surprise that he got? Mandarin, how interesting. And what temple was the field trip for? Interesting on that too!
ReplyDeleteHope you are feeling better by now!
betty
I’m shocked. Shocked, I tell you, that Monica andRyder were actually able to remember where their seats were!
ReplyDeleteMe too ;)
Delete'Boo!' on feeling poorly. Mandarin does seem to be an important language to learn these days. If I could, then I would learn Cantonese, so I could speak with most of the elderly Chinese folk who live here & take public transport.
ReplyDeleteIdeally they'd have a class somewhere.
DeleteSeems like the last period of the day can be a challenge even with really good kids, and a nightmare with bad ones! So funny how these developing brains work. Today's my granddaughter's last day of kindergarten. Now that's a fun age!!
ReplyDeleteAhh. I hope you're feeling better by the time I've read this.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm feeling much better. Thanks.
DeleteYes, it was very quiet around my blog. That explains it. Monica probably didn't want to chance being around the boys.
ReplyDeleteMandarin + Jake w/ pals + a rotten head cold. Yup. Sounds about right.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it wasn't a great period.
DeleteI love that when they sat wrong and defied you, you were able to just "okay, note to Ms. L." and get on with the day. When you're sick, stress doesn't help. Glad you stayed calm.
ReplyDeleteThey don't get that my instructions need to be followed or there are consequences. They learn this eventually, though.
DeleteHi Liz - summer colds aren't helpful - hope it clears up. I think a lot of schools are moving into Mandarin - they are here too. Kids - just glad it's not my life! Have a happy weekend ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you deal with these kids. Kuddos. And I hope you feel better.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I do.
DeleteOoof, they need substitutes for the substitutes. Glad you got through it and had a long weekend to recuperate.
ReplyDeleteYup, I needed that weekend. I need this one, too ;)
DeleteHope you're feeling better today, Liz.
ReplyDeleteHi Liz! Hope you are getting better and have completely recuperated.
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting about your perspective of the class. How they suddenly remembered their proper seats must have been fun to watch!
Mandarin. It's all Greek to me.
ReplyDeleteI hope you made paper crowns with their names on them too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're feeling better and I hope you got some rest this weekend as well. Nope. I can honestly say the teaching life would most definitely not be for me. You rock tho and the kids need you!
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteSore throat is long gone. The cough, however...
ReplyDeleteYou should get someone to come in through most classes saying the teacher is returning or similar so you get them to behave!
ReplyDelete