Peek-a-Boo

It was the passing period between 1st and 2nd period. I was standing at the door (I like to watch the crowd).

Oh, I should mention that these were 7th graders.

James (not his real name) stumbled up to the room. He was holding a gray hoodie sweatshirt over his eyes. Two other students helped guide him up the three steps that led to the doorway, and then they helped him inside.

I tried to discern the reason for this. I asked James what he was doing. I asked the other students what was going on. I got no answers. I even told James to take the silly sweatshirt off of his face, but this was also ignored.

The two other students helped James to his seat. His chair was on the table. He took the chair off the table and put it on the floor. He had to do this one-handed as the other hand was still holding the sweatshirt over his eyes. It turned out that he had put down the wrong chair, so he had to repeat this procedure for the chair next to it.

James then sat down. He was at the back of the room, and I'm going to assume that he couldn't hear me, otherwise he was just being deliberately defiant, as I again told him to remove that sweatshirt.

I tried to catch James' eye. He let the sweatshirt slip so that one eye could see, but when I looked at him, he hid behind the student in front of him. Then he peeked out of the sweatshirt--holding the thing over his nose and mouth leaving his eyes free. And again he hid behind the student in front of him.

Then the bell rang, and I stopped paying attention while I got class started. By the time we had done the Pledge, the moment of silence, and the announcements, James had forgotten his little...game? I don't know what else to call it.

7th graders. Still very much children. Still playing silly games.

Familiarity

I covered a senior class today.

I think I've been subbing too long. Today's group? I met many of them in 7th grade. I remember doing battle with some in the 8th grade. I was there when they took the CAHSEE in the 10th grade. And now they're seniors.

They know me too. I know they weren't listening when I did my introduction bit (I know because many were talking over me), but when they needed to ask me a question, they asked me by name. Not, "Hey, sub." Not, "How do you say your name?" Nope. They called me by my name, pronounced correctly, and I doubt they even noticed that I had my name on the board.

It was a very strange feeling. However, it was very easy for me to leave names of misbehavers. I knew who was who, even if they were in the wrong seats.

A Strange Quiet

The bell rings, and I'm faced with a class just sitting there, looking at me expectantly. The room is silent.

I wasn't quite sure what to do. Such things don't happen. A sub in the room? Chaos reigns. They don't sit there and wait for me to speak.

It's much more common for me to have to ask for the class's attention, wait, ask for attention again, and then get most of the rumbling to stop. I'm used to talking over students while explaining the assignment. I'm used to having several students later ask what they're supposed to do because they weren't listening the first time (to which I usually reply that they should have been paying attention when I explained).

This group? All rapt attention as soon as the period started. And then they got right to work!

These are the good days. These are the teachers that I always agree to sub for.

My Vote

I got home from work to find two messages on the answering machine. Both political. Both for the same candidate. Yesterday I got two as well. And that just ticks me off.

I've been dutifully throwing out all the election fliers. I don't read them. I especially don't read the ones that have lots of positions on different propositions. Things that say "Voter's Guide" go into the trash fast.

DON'T TELL ME HOW TO CAST MY VOTE!

Sorry. Didn't mean to yell.

I will make up my own mind. I will vote the way I wish to vote (or not vote). I will not be dictated to.

So, basically, all political persuasion is lost on me. It only angers me. It may even convince me to vote against.

No Mondays

There are no Mondays in February.

Well, the Mondays do exist. They still come between Sunday and Tuesday. But they aren't school days.

In the district I sub for (and probably others as well) the end of the semester occurs on the Friday of the week that contains January 31st. The district gives its teachers a planning day on the Monday following the end of the semester. Non-student day means that there is no need for subs. This falls on the first Monday in February.

The second Monday in February is Lincoln's Birthday. I've noticed that it has become less of a holiday in recent years. I wonder why. Well, it doesn't really matter. The district I sub for still takes it off, and that makes two three-day weekends in February.

Now, the third Monday in February is still widely celebrated: President's Day (or formerly Washington's Birthday). That makes three three-day weekends in a row.

And as for the fourth Monday in February...well...um...okay, it's not a holiday. It's a school day. So, technically, there is one Monday in February. But it happens at the end of the month. And saying "there's only one Monday in February" doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

Super Week

Today they play the Super Bowl. Tuesday is the big primary day Super Tuesday. Two "super" events in one week? Does that make this Super Week?

Just wondering.

Intelligence Test

Finals. I was covering a 12th grade AP English class.

Their final consisted of over 50 multiple choice questions and one essay. I had to make sure that I got all of the tests back after they were finished (for test security). All the tests were numbered; I just had to make sure that I went through and counted them all.

Technically, keeping the tests in order was my job, but I wanted to see if they would catch on. They were old enough. They were smart enough. But were they paying attention?

The first three students that turned in their tests did not have enough information to go on. But then I had three tests to work with: #6, 14, and 26. I laid them out sideways with their numbers clearly showing and enough space to fit the missing numbers in between. The next two students to turn in their tests? They just laid them right on top.

The next group (I'm not sure why, but they tend to finish in packs) caught on. I went over to straighten out the tests, but four of the five were put in the proper place in the number sequence. Success! Unfortunately, the next group to finish just laid their tests right on top with no notice of the numbering system.

It alternated from there. I was not saying anything to them. I was just seeing if they would catch on. Some did. Some didn't. So, I kept fixing the tests so at any one time I knew which numbered tests were still out.

Then they were all just about finished. Only three tests were still out. Test #3 finished, and he laid his test right on top of test #2 (not under as he should have). But then #23 came up to the front and placed his test between #22 and #24. And then the only test still out was test #1. Well, he couldn't screw that up, so I was done.

Yeah, I know it's silly, but imagine sitting and watching a class for two hours. A silent class. A testing group. I needed something to entertain myself.