October 30, 2024. The Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series. The next day was Halloween. And I had a middle school assignment.
Let's just say I was anticipating the worst.
And... It turned out that I had two periods of advanced math of eighth graders. Which was helpful.
(Eighth graders, so a bit crazy. And Halloween, so hopped up on sugar. And the whole World Series thing, which meant many not in Halloween costumes were in Dodger gear. But advanced, so better behaved than the usual eighth grade class.)
And then the last group of the day walked in...
This was a co-taught, grade level class. Of twelve students.
The co-teacher took over (as usually happens; when one of the teachers is out, the other, who knows the class and the routine, takes lead). She attempted to explain the work. They weren't having it.
They were working on combining like terms. This can be tricky, but it's so important (as it pops up in math classes after this), so we want to make sure the students understand. Unfortunately, when kiddos are in play mode, it's hard to tell if they understand the concepts being taught.
I had students on their phones. I had one boy whistling. When I asked him to stop, he denied he was doing it. (It was him. I saw him.) Two students wouldn't stop talking (about something unrelated to the assignment).
Only one boy in the class seemed to understand the assignment. It was too easy for him.
Mrs. F (the co-teacher) told me that this boy was supposed to be in the advanced math class, but unfortunately the previous year he hadn't done his classwork, so he got a D in his math class. One can't get a D in the class and get put into the harder class the next year.
Mrs. F shrugged. It was his own fault, really.
I was quite happy when class was over.
Mrs. F told me the class was usually like that. She and Mrs. G (the teacher I was subbing for) are having the worst time with the group. I could see why.
Halloween could have gone worse, I suppose. Next year it'll fall on a Friday.
And here on Long Island some students were in mourning that day because the Yankees lost, but the combination of Halloween and a 3 day weekend (we have a large Hindu population, the schools closed for Diwali November 1) made for an interesting day, I am sure.
ReplyDeleteOh my. Yeah, I wouldn't have wanted to be in New York, either.
DeleteIt’s good news, I guess, when things go better than expected. I’m a little surprised that in advanced classes like that, but what do I know as a non-teacher?
ReplyDeleteThe last group wasn't advanced. I've had some interesting advanced classes, but behavior like that doesn't generally happen there.
DeleteI will assume there was no summer school for the boy who got the D? Or, he didn't care/parents didn't care.
ReplyDeleteNo summer school for middle school. It's a budget thing. They do social promotion, so a kiddo could fail all of 7th grade and be in 8th grade the next year. (This is why we have the continuation high school. They can be a junior with the credits of a freshman.)
DeleteUghhh...I'd hate to teach.
ReplyDeleteSome days...
DeleteWhat a memorable Halloween experience! It sounds like quite the challenge managing a room full of energized eighth graders, especially with the excitement of both Halloween and the World Series. It's clear that the co-teaching dynamic provided some support, but dealing with distractions like phones, whistles, and chatty students must've tested your patience. The story about the advanced student who missed his opportunity due to his own actions adds an interesting twist. Despite the chaos, it seems like you handled it with great perspective!
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DeleteWell hopefully he's doing the work this year and won't get another D.
ReplyDeleteHopefully.
DeleteThat's quite tough - a whistling boy and the talking guys. But this boy, the math wizard, is a consolation, I guess.
ReplyDeleteNot really. He was roaming the room because he was bored. I mean, he did it to himself. Perhaps he'll learn the lesson that he should complete his work.
DeleteOUr teachers here go on strike this coming Tuesday. The sticking points in the contract negotiations center around pay but also around violence in the classrooms. I guess there's so much of it. Some teachers have to wear protective gear and often have desks or chairs hurled at them. They've over it, want a solution. I didn't know teachers are facing such violence in classrooms.
ReplyDeleteThat sucks. I frequently refer to the chair throwing incident, but mostly that's an anomaly here. At least for me. Students who get violent need to be removed from the classroom as teachers can't teach if they're afraid for their safety.
DeleteOmygosh. The Dodgers win AND Halloween??? I'm surprised anyone was tuned into class. I don't think I would be. - It's too bad about that one student. I wonder why he didn't get his work done. That's the mom in me. I was a drill sgt. with my kids when they were in school. They didn't have to get straight A's but they had to do their best and get the work done, in school and out. A different time I guess. I'm surprised they get their phones in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the problem. Students who don't have parents who keep after them to keep up with their schoolwork. The kiddos who have interested and involved parents don't end up in that situation.
DeleteAh, the phones. It's an ongoing problem. How do you police phones when the kiddos do need them (to call home for rides and such), but the school has no lockers in which they can store them for the day?
A long course to get through ;)
ReplyDeleteAre you ok with the big fires right now in California?
They're north of me. I was saddened, though, as it hit Camarillo. I remember subbing at Camarillo High School (many years ago) when I lived in the area. It's such a lovely place. Or was.
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