(If you haven't seen my Monday post, you probably should. It's here.)
Wednesday. Eighth grade U.S. history, fourth period.
I generally wait to deal with attendance until after I've gotten the kiddos started on the day's assignment(s). So, I had done my introduction, passed out their work, and explained what they needed to accomplish. (They had vocabulary, questions, and a game on the Bill of Rights.)
They had been inattentive, but not loud, so I felt I had been able to get my message across. I told them to get started on the work.
Then, with the seating chart in my hand, I visibly started working on verifying who was absent.
The first corner seat was empty. I called the name. The student was on the other side of the room.
As he hurriedly reclaimed his assigned seat, a handful of other students suddenly remembered where their actual assigned seats were. There was a flurry of movement as kiddos shifted to where they were supposed to be.
I mean, what am I, new? Did they really think I wasn't going to check?
I waited until they once again settled, and then I began working on attendance again. Suddenly, the room was a whole lot more settled than it had been.
I haven't had a group try the whole seat swap thing in a while. I suppose I was due for the challenge. Sigh.
The6 think they’re smarter than the sub …
ReplyDeleteThey always do.
DeleteAh ha, another episode of Try to Outwit the Sub, proving some things never change. One of my not-so-fond memories of 8th grade, believe it or not, was the couple of times we had a sub who lost control of the class right off and things went downhill from there. The "good" students in your classes will appreciate you one day.
ReplyDeleteYeah, no one likes to be in an out-of-control class. When I was in 8th grade, that was my math class. Daily. Ugh. Not a good time.
DeleteYes, they always think the sub is easy to fool! And that the sub never tells the regular teacher what when on, and who did it!
ReplyDeleteIt's fun when I run into a kiddo after a particularly brutal note. They are never happy with me. And I save my laughter for later.
DeleteChallenges are good. Keeps you on your toes.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteNew at what you do, NO. But, to any student (kids) coming to class without the reg teach being there and having a sub, its like the red light goes off and tells them it is time to push their luck and just see what they can get away with.
ReplyDeleteThey soon discover the answer is "not much" when I'm around.
Delete