It was 7th period at the continuation high school. We spent the period reading a play (well, actually a teleplay of this). After, they had questions to answer. During the last five minutes of class, I collected the packets with the play and their work. Then, dead silence.
It was eerie. They were all sitting in class, staring at me. Most other classes get into groups and talk for that last couple minutes, but not these kids. The silence stretched out...
"Someone, tell a joke..."
Of course, none of them got the reference. I had to explain it to them (although I forgot the correct name of the movie...). I told them it was a good movie. I told them they should seek it out and see it. They just stared at me.
Generally, I'm okay with silence. When they were working on the questions, the silence was great. And I don't mind having their eyes on me, especially while I'm explaining something or giving instructions. But we were done. I didn't need their undivided attention.
I tried other things. Did they have a good weekend? Nothing. What did they think of the play we read? Again, nothing.
Then the bell rang. And they were gone.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Over My Head
I got called to cover chemistry this morning. I figured that I knew enough to handle whatever assignment they had. But then I got to school, and I got a look at the assigned worksheet.
The first question was to find the definition of solvation. Now, I've heard of solvents and solutes, but solvation? They had 60 questions about water and solutions, and most of the questions looked foreign to me. And, it was multiple choice.
The first two classes were honors. I followed along as they worked through the questions, looking things up in the textbook as I could. I found a few of the answers. I knew that I wasn't going to be much help to them.
"What's the formula for salt?"
I knew that one. I replied: "NaCl".
I didn't hear the question, but a girl at another table said to her table mate, "She went to college." I assume that the first girl wondered how I knew that. I didn't see what the big deal was. The girl at the table that wanted the formula explained, "Ms. D. went over this yesterday, and I still don't remember it."
I guess I know more than I thought. At least I didn't make a fool of myself trying to do their worksheet.
The first question was to find the definition of solvation. Now, I've heard of solvents and solutes, but solvation? They had 60 questions about water and solutions, and most of the questions looked foreign to me. And, it was multiple choice.
The first two classes were honors. I followed along as they worked through the questions, looking things up in the textbook as I could. I found a few of the answers. I knew that I wasn't going to be much help to them.
"What's the formula for salt?"
I knew that one. I replied: "NaCl".
I didn't hear the question, but a girl at another table said to her table mate, "She went to college." I assume that the first girl wondered how I knew that. I didn't see what the big deal was. The girl at the table that wanted the formula explained, "Ms. D. went over this yesterday, and I still don't remember it."
I guess I know more than I thought. At least I didn't make a fool of myself trying to do their worksheet.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Aspiring to be a Bum
Jake and Evan in the same class? I should have seen this coming.
They didn't want to do the math worksheet (two-step algebra problems with fractions). Too easy. I reminded them that any work completed would help them get math credits. They need something like 20 math credits to graduate.
Jake explained that he didn't want to graduate. When he turns 17 1/2, he's going to drop out. Then he intends to become a bum. (If I believed any of this, I might have been more concerned.)
Evan then said he wanted to be a bum, too. Jake and Evan congratulated each other, and they promised to share a box under the freeway.
Jake told us of his future bum plans. He planned to beg for change outside the local McDonald's. As soon as he got enough, he'd go inside and buy something. Then he'd go back outside and repeat the process.
Someone (it might have been me) pointed out that it gets cold outside during the winter. It's supposed to get really cold (for us) this weekend. That didn't bother Jake. He said he'd pair up with a female bum.
Once Jake had exhausted the bum thing, he had another story to tell. I asked if it involved math. (At this point, I knew getting them on task was probably pointless, but I had to try nonetheless.) Jake said it did. I knew if he got math into the story he'd be stretching for it, but I knew that I wasn't going to be able to stop him. (Jake can spin a story.)
Jake was at a drug store. Some woman asked him for change. He gave her a couple dollars. She was grateful, and she told a sob story about not having money and Christmas was coming and she had children... A couple minutes later, Jake walked away and the woman drove away. She saw him on the street and called him over to her car. She asked for change.
Jake told the woman that he had just given her change. She was a bit surprised. She told him that "you all look the same". Jake wondered what she was on that would make her short-term memory go like that. I didn't have an answer for him.
That boy needs a blog. I told him he should write these stories down. He didn't see my point.
They didn't want to do the math worksheet (two-step algebra problems with fractions). Too easy. I reminded them that any work completed would help them get math credits. They need something like 20 math credits to graduate.
Jake explained that he didn't want to graduate. When he turns 17 1/2, he's going to drop out. Then he intends to become a bum. (If I believed any of this, I might have been more concerned.)
Evan then said he wanted to be a bum, too. Jake and Evan congratulated each other, and they promised to share a box under the freeway.
Jake told us of his future bum plans. He planned to beg for change outside the local McDonald's. As soon as he got enough, he'd go inside and buy something. Then he'd go back outside and repeat the process.
Someone (it might have been me) pointed out that it gets cold outside during the winter. It's supposed to get really cold (for us) this weekend. That didn't bother Jake. He said he'd pair up with a female bum.
Once Jake had exhausted the bum thing, he had another story to tell. I asked if it involved math. (At this point, I knew getting them on task was probably pointless, but I had to try nonetheless.) Jake said it did. I knew if he got math into the story he'd be stretching for it, but I knew that I wasn't going to be able to stop him. (Jake can spin a story.)
Jake was at a drug store. Some woman asked him for change. He gave her a couple dollars. She was grateful, and she told a sob story about not having money and Christmas was coming and she had children... A couple minutes later, Jake walked away and the woman drove away. She saw him on the street and called him over to her car. She asked for change.
Jake told the woman that he had just given her change. She was a bit surprised. She told him that "you all look the same". Jake wondered what she was on that would make her short-term memory go like that. I didn't have an answer for him.
That boy needs a blog. I told him he should write these stories down. He didn't see my point.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Finding the Floor
Okay, my mind has turned to mush.
I finally finished following all my fellow Crusaders. Whew! You wouldn't think that something as simple as following others would be so hard, but just the physical act of clicking follow over 200 times...
It was a daunting task to start. It reminded me a bit of a "game" I used to play years ago when I worked retail (at a toy store that shall not be named).
There were times when my work area would be inundated with merchandise. It would take over. Boxes everywhere. It would get so bad that there was barely any room to walk. The thought of cleaning it up was too overwhelming.
The trick, of course, is to not look at the whole mess, but to take it in stages. Do a little bit at a time. Not worry about finishing the whole task, but just work on the one thing you can complete. So, bit by bit, I would get through all the boxes. Eventually, I would find the floor.
This is a nice metaphor for writing a novel as well.
Anyway, that's what I've been doing. I've been playing a blog version of Find the Floor. First, I had to follow everybody. I've finished that now. Next comes dropping by everyone's blog.
I've started the whole dropping by thing, but it's going to take some time before I get around to everyone's blog. If I do it little by little, box by box, I'll eventually get it done. I can again find the floor.
(I'm not much of a commenter, though. I only comment when I have something to say. This is true in real life, too.)
I finally finished following all my fellow Crusaders. Whew! You wouldn't think that something as simple as following others would be so hard, but just the physical act of clicking follow over 200 times...
It was a daunting task to start. It reminded me a bit of a "game" I used to play years ago when I worked retail (at a toy store that shall not be named).
There were times when my work area would be inundated with merchandise. It would take over. Boxes everywhere. It would get so bad that there was barely any room to walk. The thought of cleaning it up was too overwhelming.
The trick, of course, is to not look at the whole mess, but to take it in stages. Do a little bit at a time. Not worry about finishing the whole task, but just work on the one thing you can complete. So, bit by bit, I would get through all the boxes. Eventually, I would find the floor.
This is a nice metaphor for writing a novel as well.
Anyway, that's what I've been doing. I've been playing a blog version of Find the Floor. First, I had to follow everybody. I've finished that now. Next comes dropping by everyone's blog.
I've started the whole dropping by thing, but it's going to take some time before I get around to everyone's blog. If I do it little by little, box by box, I'll eventually get it done. I can again find the floor.
(I'm not much of a commenter, though. I only comment when I have something to say. This is true in real life, too.)
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Needing Help
A bunch of math teachers had a meeting today, so I got to cover algebra. Yippee.
The students were factoring quadratic equations. Ms. R. had a different way of doing this, so she made sure I understood her method before the day began. After glancing through the notes, I was up to speed pretty quickly. (It's a great way to do it. Simple and easy for the math-phobic to do once they get the hang of it. If I wasn't sure I'd bore you, I'd give details.)
At the beginning of each class, I stated that I could help if any of them needed it. I prefaced this by saying that they should look through their notes first. I think that was the problem.
It was fourth period. I walked around and helped those that needed it. But there were two at the back of the class who seemed to be doing more talking than working. As I was busy helping various students, I didn't get a chance to call them on it, at least not until near the end of the period.
I approached them in my usual manner: "Are you having some difficulty with the assignment."
They told me yes.
Yes is not the answer I usually get. I usually get students who remember that they should be working, and they at least make a pretense of working after that. So, I followed up the question with, "Why didn't you ask me for help sooner?" I guess my "could help" sounded like "couldn't help" at the back of the room.
There was a little time, so I spent it trying to get those students up to speed. I don't think I succeeded. I didn't have the time I needed.
If only I had asked that question sooner.
**Before I finish, I need to tell what my lie was. That paper I couldn't write: 3rd grade, not 4th. Sandra Ulbrich Almazan and Jeanne both were in the right paragraph, although they didn't pinpoint the exact lie (which was such a small one anyway), so I'm giving them credit for guessing it.**
The students were factoring quadratic equations. Ms. R. had a different way of doing this, so she made sure I understood her method before the day began. After glancing through the notes, I was up to speed pretty quickly. (It's a great way to do it. Simple and easy for the math-phobic to do once they get the hang of it. If I wasn't sure I'd bore you, I'd give details.)
At the beginning of each class, I stated that I could help if any of them needed it. I prefaced this by saying that they should look through their notes first. I think that was the problem.
It was fourth period. I walked around and helped those that needed it. But there were two at the back of the class who seemed to be doing more talking than working. As I was busy helping various students, I didn't get a chance to call them on it, at least not until near the end of the period.
I approached them in my usual manner: "Are you having some difficulty with the assignment."
They told me yes.
Yes is not the answer I usually get. I usually get students who remember that they should be working, and they at least make a pretense of working after that. So, I followed up the question with, "Why didn't you ask me for help sooner?" I guess my "could help" sounded like "couldn't help" at the back of the room.
There was a little time, so I spent it trying to get those students up to speed. I don't think I succeeded. I didn't have the time I needed.
If only I had asked that question sooner.
**Before I finish, I need to tell what my lie was. That paper I couldn't write: 3rd grade, not 4th. Sandra Ulbrich Almazan and Jeanne both were in the right paragraph, although they didn't pinpoint the exact lie (which was such a small one anyway), so I'm giving them credit for guessing it.**
Monday, February 21, 2011
First Crusader Challenge
It’s time for the first Crusader Challenge. Okay, I’ll play.
Secret: Sometimes I surf the Internet while I’m working. Shhh. In my defense, I only do so when I have to, such as while watching a movie for the 5th time. And only if I’m not having behavior issues. I have to do something or else I might lose my mind.
Interesting quirk/annoying habit: Which is which? I’m not sure, so I’ll let you decide.
I use “big words” all the time. (I had no idea what fuliguline meant, but I had heard the word bloviate before.) This annoys the students, but most of the time I don’t realize I’m doing it. Someone has to tell me, and then I don’t understand. “That was a ‘big word’?”
I have to load the dishwasher in a specific way, and I will pull things out and put them back to make sure that it’s loaded “correctly”. The cups have a specific order, the knife blades must be aligned, and the plates have only one spot they can be in.
As for a best character trait… I have no idea. I’m not good at praising myself. It’s so bad that back in the 4th grade when we had a writing assignment called “What is special about me,” I couldn’t do it. I stared at that paper for an hour, and I didn’t write a thing. It was the only assignment that I didn’t do that year. So, sorry, I can’t answer that one.
Favorite thing: I love to make things. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I have a finished object. I make many of my Christmas presents, like this past year I made a soft rabbit-shaped pillow for my baby nephew.
I may have revealed something about me that isn’t strictly true. Can you guess what it is?
Secret: Sometimes I surf the Internet while I’m working. Shhh. In my defense, I only do so when I have to, such as while watching a movie for the 5th time. And only if I’m not having behavior issues. I have to do something or else I might lose my mind.
Interesting quirk/annoying habit: Which is which? I’m not sure, so I’ll let you decide.
I use “big words” all the time. (I had no idea what fuliguline meant, but I had heard the word bloviate before.) This annoys the students, but most of the time I don’t realize I’m doing it. Someone has to tell me, and then I don’t understand. “That was a ‘big word’?”
I have to load the dishwasher in a specific way, and I will pull things out and put them back to make sure that it’s loaded “correctly”. The cups have a specific order, the knife blades must be aligned, and the plates have only one spot they can be in.
As for a best character trait… I have no idea. I’m not good at praising myself. It’s so bad that back in the 4th grade when we had a writing assignment called “What is special about me,” I couldn’t do it. I stared at that paper for an hour, and I didn’t write a thing. It was the only assignment that I didn’t do that year. So, sorry, I can’t answer that one.
Favorite thing: I love to make things. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I have a finished object. I make many of my Christmas presents, like this past year I made a soft rabbit-shaped pillow for my baby nephew.
I may have revealed something about me that isn’t strictly true. Can you guess what it is?
Friday, February 18, 2011
Keeping Track of Attendance
"Can you sign permission slips?"
Normally, the answer is no, but today they were having a special assembly second period only for students who had permission. Since I was the teacher for the day, I figured I was authorized to give that permission. (And I was so thrilled that I didn't have to go!)
It was selfish on my part. This was a two-day assignment, so I had already dealt with second period, and it wasn't good. They were watching a movie. I spent much of class time on top of talking students. I figured with a few of them out of the room, I might have a better chance at keeping the class quiet. It turned out I was right.
During the passing period, a few other students came in with their permission slips. I signed all of them. I didn't really keep track. I didn't really need to. When I took roll for second period, I marked them all absent.
I sort of enjoy taking attendance. It's on the computer. They give us subs a temporary password to access the system. I click on the absent button, and poof, absent. I click on submit, and I'm done.
During the next class, after submitting attendance, I went back into second period's roll just to see. Of the nine I had marked absent, four of those "absents" had been replaced with "verified school activity". I guess their permission slips cleared. Then the period after that, the number of "verified school activity" went up to six.
Technology is so cool! It's a little game I play. I like to check back on previous classes to see if the students' absences are verified. Many times, a student I marked absent in first period will later show up as "illness". And later in the day, I'll find that I don't have to mark some students absent as the system will already show them as absent.
Yeah, I'm way too enamored of the attendance taking procedure.
Normally, the answer is no, but today they were having a special assembly second period only for students who had permission. Since I was the teacher for the day, I figured I was authorized to give that permission. (And I was so thrilled that I didn't have to go!)
It was selfish on my part. This was a two-day assignment, so I had already dealt with second period, and it wasn't good. They were watching a movie. I spent much of class time on top of talking students. I figured with a few of them out of the room, I might have a better chance at keeping the class quiet. It turned out I was right.
During the passing period, a few other students came in with their permission slips. I signed all of them. I didn't really keep track. I didn't really need to. When I took roll for second period, I marked them all absent.
I sort of enjoy taking attendance. It's on the computer. They give us subs a temporary password to access the system. I click on the absent button, and poof, absent. I click on submit, and I'm done.
During the next class, after submitting attendance, I went back into second period's roll just to see. Of the nine I had marked absent, four of those "absents" had been replaced with "verified school activity". I guess their permission slips cleared. Then the period after that, the number of "verified school activity" went up to six.
Technology is so cool! It's a little game I play. I like to check back on previous classes to see if the students' absences are verified. Many times, a student I marked absent in first period will later show up as "illness". And later in the day, I'll find that I don't have to mark some students absent as the system will already show them as absent.
Yeah, I'm way too enamored of the attendance taking procedure.
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