The ninth graders are reading Of Mice and Men.
I'm doing a long-term assignment for an English teacher on maternity leave.
Since all of the English teachers are doing the same thing at the same time, I checked with Ms. W to make sure that the next day we were going on to chapter 3. Alas, her class was behind. So, rather than get ahead of the group, I took a day to "discuss" what we had just read in chapters 1 and 2.
I prepared. I went through the chapters and found some discussion questions and created a slide presentation to help move things along.
I was ready.
Thursday morning, first period.
To break up the discussion a bit, I thought it would be fun to show a short video that references the book. And I found the cartoon I had vaguely remembered.
I intro'd the video by saying that Of Mice and Men is well-known in pop culture. Then I hit play...
We got to the point where Daffy was going to find a real rabbit for the abominable snowman when the buffering wheel of doom appeared on my screen.
Aaarrrgggghhhhh!!!!!
While I attempted to get the video to play again, I asked the kiddos what allusions they caught. They caught the obvious ones, so I was pleased. With them. With my computer, not so much.
(I have two computers going, one with the meet and the other I use to project stuff for the class. It's simpler.)
I did everything I could think of. I did a hard shut down of the computer. Twice. A restart. I attempted to load things, but it just wasn't going to let anything play.
After a few minutes of this, I had the kiddos work on the questions for the chapter that were due. And then I spent the entire period trying to get the stuff to work again.
No dice.
Deep sigh.
Well, at least they had time to get their questions done.
Friday morning, I had second period. Also ninth grade.
I loaded everything. Crossed my fingers...
And it all worked perfectly.
Sigh.
At least my preparations were used for something. Yay?
That sounds so frustrating!
ReplyDeleteIt was.
DeleteDefinitely no fun.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how technology evolves, it will find ways to break on you.
ReplyDeleteSorry it didn't work the first time.
ReplyDeleteThat is a hilarious cartoon, by the way.
Yay. How frustrating. And that cartoon? I looked it up and there are so many references in popular culture to Of Mice and Men - who knew?
ReplyDeleteOh yeah. Any time you have a big, dumb guy with a little, smarter guy, it's Lennie and George somewhat.
DeleteGeorge! I never connected the 2.
ReplyDeleteThey're so ubiquitous that no one really thinks about it.
DeleteMmmm, mysteries of technology ;)) Hopefully it works for the second class!
ReplyDeleteI've never read Of Mice and Men, so any connection in pop culture is lost on me. Bugger about your first class but I'm glad that effort wasn't wasted!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely no fun 😥😥
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't.
DeleteSo frustrating to have your efforts messed up by some bug.
ReplyDeleteIt was.
DeleteI know how it can be frustrating when you preaper everything and in one moment it stop work. It's good that work perfectly next day.
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It is.
DeleteComputers, amazing though they are, if they are not working correctly they can become the biggest pain in your rear!!
ReplyDeleteThey can.
DeleteHow frustrating. But thanks for reminding me of this awesome cartoon. :) Be well!
ReplyDeleteI think this was from one of the movies, and there was a reason Daffy had the shirt half on.
DeleteI wonder if they going to read the same books 50 years down the road.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
Hi Liz - well I admire you for making the best of it ... and I loved the video clip - all the best - Hilary
ReplyDeleteOh, gosh. That's frustrating. Technology can be a pain when it doesn't work correctly.
ReplyDeleteIt can.
DeleteI remember the cartoon! A fun way to start your lesson, regardless of the tech problem. Gold star for you, Liz.
ReplyDelete