Last week I covered a biology class Tuesday through Thursday. On Wednesday, I was sent to cover a math class on the prep period.
I have covered this teacher's classes before. Mr. D is a special ed. co-teacher, so I was working with Mr. R (who I've written about before) for that period.
As soon as class began, Mr. R asked who had been absent the day before. They had had a test, and the absent students needed to make it up.
One of the students who had been absent the previous day was a special ed. student who takes his tests in a different room. (It's a common accommodation.) As I was covering for the special ed. teacher, I got to go with him.
The testing room was being used for an IEP meeting (which was the reason Mr. D was missing class, as he was the special ed. teacher in it), so the student had to go elsewhere.
As we were on our way to the library, I realized I knew a classroom that wasn't being used that period. And I had a key to it.
I asked Martin if he wanted to go to the library or if he'd rather take the test in an empty classroom. He asked if I was sure it was empty. In fact, once we got there, he was still hesitant to enter until he saw for sure there were no other students there.
Turned out, I had Martin in my sixth period class, although neither of us realized this as he had been absent Tuesday. So, he was familiar with the room.
He took a seat and got to work. And I proceeded to do the things I would normally do on a prep period. I had some stuff to pick up off the students' desks. I updated my note to the teacher. I read some blogs...
Oh, hey, I was keeping an eye on Martin. It was a test, so there wasn't much help I could provide. He was working. There was no one to bother him. He had a couple questions that I answered. But mostly I left him to it.
But still, it felt like cheating. I basically had the whole room to myself, and it felt like a prep period. But I was paid for having worked it.
No, it wasn’t cheating. You did what Martin’s accommodation required.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I was fine with providing a quiet room for him. But then I spent the period doing prep period stuff.
DeleteHa, awesome. Hey, somebody had to be there with him. Think of it as a reward for all the classes that drive you up the wall.
ReplyDeleteI thought when I saw your title that you were going to write about someone who took 6 bottles of hand sanitizer at the store when the sign said "two to a customer." What you did is in no way cheating.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what I would title that post. Alas, I have not witnessed such a thing. But that's just because I haven't been going out.
DeleteSometimes its the way it is where you feel like you are getting paid to do your own thing....enjoy that time for now.
ReplyDeleteYes. Exactly this.
DeleteYou did what was assigned for you to do. I call it responsible for doing your job!
ReplyDeleteBetty
You should not feel guilty at all. ~nods~ I used to do all sorts of things while monitoring emails and such at my previous workplace. That included using my personal laptop for Rosetta Stone Japanese lessons on slow afternoons. I should add my boss gave me his blessing. :) He was pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteConsidering how often I do check blogs while covering a class...
DeleteYou were just doing what he was comfortable with. So there is nothing feel guilty about, that is what I thought.
ReplyDeleteCheating? Not at all. Embrace the luxury of times like an empty classroom with a student taking a test. :-)
ReplyDelete