This happened on Friday.
After school I did my grocery shopping. I left school, drove to the store, went inside, and did my shopping. I only needed a couple things, so I was quickly on my way. I got into my car, turned the ignition, and everything went wacko.
The electrical stuff in the car turned on like it was supposed to, but when I tried to start the engine, I lost all power. Then I heard a clicking noise. Then my alarm went off.
It took way too long to get the alarm to stop sounding. I attracted the notice of the others in the parking lot. Then I tried to get the car to start again, and again I had to deal with the stupid alarm. Alarm, but nothing else.
My battery was dead.
Well, I have AAA and a cell phone, so I called for help. And I waited.
Turns out that I should have replaced my battery two years ago. Oops. Luckily, AAA now has battery service, so the driver replaced my battery then and there. That saved me from having to drive around on a Friday evening looking for an open place to install a new battery.
Now I have to reset my car stereo. Losing power wiped all of my settings.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Fake Amanda
Today I covered a 7th grade world history class.
I needed a silent room. I was not getting it. So, I warned them: "I will take down the names of those who continue to talk." This only works when I cover some teachers. This was one of them.
They fought me on it for a moment. I stared down the few whose names were going to be on my list. Then one of the girls (the talkers were all girls in this group) told me to write down her name. "I'm Amanda," she said.
She offered up her name way too easily. I was suspicious. I checked the seating chart. Sure enough, Amanda sat in that seat. But she did not look like an Amanda. She did not feel like an Amanda. I was sure I was being lied to.
Twenty minutes later (I had gotten my silence, so I didn't need to make my list) two other students were exchanging words. "Amanda, I have it here." The first student was talking to a different girl, not the one who claimed to be Amanda. I knew it!
After a quick perusal of the seating chart, I figured out who the fake Amanda was. Joanna. I was pretty sure. The two girls had probably switched seats.
Then someone called to the fake Amanda, calling her Joanna. I was right.
I don't know why they do this. I don't know what they get out of it. Today? They get honorable mention in my note to their teacher.
I needed a silent room. I was not getting it. So, I warned them: "I will take down the names of those who continue to talk." This only works when I cover some teachers. This was one of them.
They fought me on it for a moment. I stared down the few whose names were going to be on my list. Then one of the girls (the talkers were all girls in this group) told me to write down her name. "I'm Amanda," she said.
She offered up her name way too easily. I was suspicious. I checked the seating chart. Sure enough, Amanda sat in that seat. But she did not look like an Amanda. She did not feel like an Amanda. I was sure I was being lied to.
Twenty minutes later (I had gotten my silence, so I didn't need to make my list) two other students were exchanging words. "Amanda, I have it here." The first student was talking to a different girl, not the one who claimed to be Amanda. I knew it!
After a quick perusal of the seating chart, I figured out who the fake Amanda was. Joanna. I was pretty sure. The two girls had probably switched seats.
Then someone called to the fake Amanda, calling her Joanna. I was right.
I don't know why they do this. I don't know what they get out of it. Today? They get honorable mention in my note to their teacher.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Duplicates
Today I was in an 8th grade U.S. history class. The assignment was to read through a section in their textbook aloud, and to make my life easier, the teacher had name cards (each student's name is on an index card so I could randomly pick the next reader).
"Brittany."
"Which one?"
I didn't think anything of it. I provided the last name. So, when the second Brittney came up, I automatically used her last name. But when I found a third Brittny, I started to wonder. There were four Brittanies (different spellings but the same pronunciation)...in one class!!!
I know, I've noted this sort of thing before. And duplicate names happen. Often. But four? That's unusual.
Though, Jasmine is a pretty popular name, too.
"Brittany."
"Which one?"
I didn't think anything of it. I provided the last name. So, when the second Brittney came up, I automatically used her last name. But when I found a third Brittny, I started to wonder. There were four Brittanies (different spellings but the same pronunciation)...in one class!!!
I know, I've noted this sort of thing before. And duplicate names happen. Often. But four? That's unusual.
Though, Jasmine is a pretty popular name, too.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Assume the Position
Head bowed. Hands under desk or in backpack/bag/purse/pocket. Fingers twitching. And usually something large on the desk. These are the telltale signs--a student is text messaging.
It's pretty obvious. I can spot one in seconds. Yet, they either deny that they have it or they question how I could possibly see it.
I guess they think they're being sneaky. Or they think I'm an idiot. Whatever. Cell phone use is rampant, probably because it's forbidden.
The girl this morning thought I had magical powers. "How did you know?" Oh please. It's easy to spot--when I'm looking, that is.
It's pretty obvious. I can spot one in seconds. Yet, they either deny that they have it or they question how I could possibly see it.
I guess they think they're being sneaky. Or they think I'm an idiot. Whatever. Cell phone use is rampant, probably because it's forbidden.
The girl this morning thought I had magical powers. "How did you know?" Oh please. It's easy to spot--when I'm looking, that is.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
It's a Damn Lie
I was covering a high school biology class today. I overheard the following:
"They say that blood is blue in your veins because it hasn't touched the air. But when they draw it out into that tube, it isn't touching the air, yet it comes out red. Blood is never blue. I don't believe it. It's a damn lie!"
On the one hand, at least the topic was biology related. The problem (besides the obvious)? Today's assignment covered ecology and biodiversity.
Sigh. Freshmen. I guess it could have been worse. She could have been a senior.
"They say that blood is blue in your veins because it hasn't touched the air. But when they draw it out into that tube, it isn't touching the air, yet it comes out red. Blood is never blue. I don't believe it. It's a damn lie!"
On the one hand, at least the topic was biology related. The problem (besides the obvious)? Today's assignment covered ecology and biodiversity.
Sigh. Freshmen. I guess it could have been worse. She could have been a senior.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Schoolwide TV
"Oooh, there's Jose," the girl said.
"Which Jose?" her friend asked. "There are a couple of them."
To which I had to interject, "There are several Joses on the soccer team."
"The one with the pretty eyes," the first girl replied.
That doesn't exactly narrow it down for me.
It was an exciting day at the high school. They have a TV production (and screenwriting) class, and about every quarter they produce a short television show. It is broadcast throughout the school during specific periods. Teachers have the option of showing or not showing it.
I like to see it. Unless the teacher has specifically instructed me not to show it, I do. Occasionally I get to sub for the class, and it's interesting to me to see them working on the show and then see the final product. It's amateurish but entertaining.
In the above incident, soccer team highlights were showing. It seems I can't escape those guys.
"Which Jose?" her friend asked. "There are a couple of them."
To which I had to interject, "There are several Joses on the soccer team."
"The one with the pretty eyes," the first girl replied.
That doesn't exactly narrow it down for me.
It was an exciting day at the high school. They have a TV production (and screenwriting) class, and about every quarter they produce a short television show. It is broadcast throughout the school during specific periods. Teachers have the option of showing or not showing it.
I like to see it. Unless the teacher has specifically instructed me not to show it, I do. Occasionally I get to sub for the class, and it's interesting to me to see them working on the show and then see the final product. It's amateurish but entertaining.
In the above incident, soccer team highlights were showing. It seems I can't escape those guys.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Assembly
NOOOOO!!!!!!!
I hate assemblies. If I know that one is coming, I will do what I can to avoid that school on that day. But many times I get blindsided by them--like today.
I wasn't the only one blindsided. Several full-time teachers were also confused. I guess the informational email went out late yesterday.
But I was discussing my general dislike of these things. They are generally loud. The students are all wound up, and I can never keep track of my class (more than half will vanish on the walk to the gym). I never know where to sit. I always feel a little out of place. And they're just not that interesting.
Today's assembly was to congratulate the winter sports teams. So, we got to listen to coaches introduce their teams. And they announced the popularity contest winners (the king and queen of the upcoming dance). Whoopee.
Today's exercise was especially painful. It took forever for the students to file into the gym. Then it took a good ten minutes before anything got started. The microphone kept cutting out, and the MC had to switch her microphone at least five times.
I overheard an assistant principal telling a teacher that the whole day was just a mess.
Figures. Mercury is retrograde (for only four more days!).
I hate assemblies. If I know that one is coming, I will do what I can to avoid that school on that day. But many times I get blindsided by them--like today.
I wasn't the only one blindsided. Several full-time teachers were also confused. I guess the informational email went out late yesterday.
But I was discussing my general dislike of these things. They are generally loud. The students are all wound up, and I can never keep track of my class (more than half will vanish on the walk to the gym). I never know where to sit. I always feel a little out of place. And they're just not that interesting.
Today's assembly was to congratulate the winter sports teams. So, we got to listen to coaches introduce their teams. And they announced the popularity contest winners (the king and queen of the upcoming dance). Whoopee.
Today's exercise was especially painful. It took forever for the students to file into the gym. Then it took a good ten minutes before anything got started. The microphone kept cutting out, and the MC had to switch her microphone at least five times.
I overheard an assistant principal telling a teacher that the whole day was just a mess.
Figures. Mercury is retrograde (for only four more days!).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)