My personal blog about the random things that are in my life: writing, knitting, and substitute teaching.
Thursday, June 20, 2019
I'll Allow It
Those of you who have been following my blog for a while know what comes after the last day of school... SUMMER SCHOOL!!! Woo-hoo!
Summer school started last Monday. My first call came on Thursday.
When I got there, the summer school principal, Mr. E, walked me to the room. From what he said to me and to another passing teacher, it was clear Something Happened on Wednesday, and I likely didn't have much in the way of lesson plans.
Perhaps I'll find out what happened later...
As expected, there were no lesson plans. But it turned out the class had gotten books and had had a homework assignment the previous day. Okay, cool. I'd assign the next selection in the book (which turned out to be an excerpt from Antigone). It was a first semester tenth grade English class.
As we were getting started, a girl informed me that Mr. G (their teacher) had said they could finish the homework in class.
I'm terrible at lie detection, but this was clearly a lie. It was in the way she hesitantly said it. Another girl had previously said Mr. G was going to check their homework. Add all that together, and it just feels like a lie.
But, considering how I didn't have actual plans, and it is summer school, I went with it.
Sure, they could finish up the questions for the excerpt from Candide and turn it in by the end of the period.
(My general policy towards homework is: if the teacher specifically asked me to collect it or stamp it, I do so. If the teacher made no mention of it in the lesson plan, it doesn't exist to me, even if a student lets slip that there was homework.)
Summer school classes are two hours long. This was one way to kill some time.
15 comments:
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Seemed like it worked and you got through the day so it was a good thing!
ReplyDeletebetty
The lies never go away. I never wanted to go to summer school...and I was lucky
ReplyDeleteI wanted to get ahead in math, but when the time came, I just couldn't. I don't regreat that decision.
DeleteHappy First Day of Summer School! :D
ReplyDeleteIf it kept them busy and quiet, yes!
ReplyDeleteI applaud your decision. Two hours sounds like an eternity at that age!
ReplyDeleteIt is, and it isn't. Summer school is weird. The blocks seem long, but then they don't. The day seems to go quickly.
DeleteNow I'm all curious about the Wednesday Incident.
ReplyDeleteWow, Antigone for tenth graders? I didn't even get that stuff until twelfth grade.
We never had to study anything like Antigone. And they certainly haven't done it in my Barbarians tenth grade English class (and he's in the advanced English class).
ReplyDeleteI am also curious about what happened Wednesday....
ReplyDeleteAlas, I may never find out.
DeleteShort day for you. Long day for them.
ReplyDeleteYes and no...
DeleteAt least they decided to do the homework instead of just chatting.
ReplyDeleteWell, some of them, anyway.
Delete