Reading the Clock

I was scheduled to go to the continuation high school for day two of a two-day assignment. I got a call in the morning telling me that they had to pull me. There were not enough subs to go around so I was being sent to...

Elementary school.

I was not happy about this.

(I avoid elementary school for various reasons. They know this. I was not given a choice.)

But none of this was the fault of the elementary school staff or the students. And the fifth grade class wasn't too terrible.

We were midway through their math assignment. A student asked how long until recess.

I pointed out the clock...

Frequently in the middle school and sometimes in the high school when I point out the clock, the kiddos inform me that they "can't read" it. And I grumble and sigh. They seem to be perfectly content not knowing how to read an analog clock.

No, I don't help them out with this. They can figure it out.

So, when the fifth graders asked how long until recess, I figured we could go over clock reading.

The clock on the front wall was set up for learning to read a clock. (I'd think they learned that younger--I recall it being part of the curriculum in second grade--but I know from experience that they don't.) The teacher had posted the minutes on the outside.

I asked when recess was. They knew and said. I asked what time it was. I took a volunteer. We read the time off the clock. The student managed it. And then I had them subtract...

They were able to figure it out.

And now I know what I'm going to do next time a student informs me they can't read the clock on the wall, whether it be in middle school or high school. If they don't know their elementary school lessons, we can go over them again...

Reprieve

Thursday, two weeks ago. I was covering for a special ed teacher who co-taught all day. It's a pretty easy gig when the other teacher is present (as opposed to also having a sub).

I was to co-teach with three different teachers. Plus, I was to cover an extra period somewhere else. The schedule was:

• Period 1: co-teach English 8 with Ms. W.
• Period 2: co-teach English 8 with Ms. R.
• Period 3: co-teach math.
• Period 4: co-teach English 8 with Ms. R.
• Period 5: conference (but I was to cover a science class).
• Period 6: co-teach English 8 with Ms. W. 

In other words, I was not in the same room two periods in a row. So, I got to do lots of walking that day. 

During first period, I got a call from the office. Instead of co-teaching third period, I was to cover a different English class. As luck would have it, that room was right next door to the class I'd be in periods two and four. Okay, then. 

Second period. The eighth graders were writing an essay. It was pretty quiet in the room. 

So, the noise from next door was more pronounced. 

We could hear voices. We could hear banging. It sounded like kiddos were running into the walls. Or just hitting them. (Neither scenario is ideal.) 

All I could think was, I have to cover this class next period. Eeek. 

It was so bad that Ms. R went next door to yell at them. It didn't make a dent. 

Period three wasn't nearly as bad. They were a bit obnoxious, but there were only a dozen or so of them, so that made the period that much easier. 

And I'm done, right? Well, not so fast. 

I book assignments ahead when I can. One look at my calendar, and I saw that I was scheduled to cover this same class all day in a couple weeks. For three days. Eeek. 

I'd worry about that when it came time. I took a breath and got through the rest of my day. 

When I period sub, if the note I want to leave is going to be longer than "the class was fine", I like to email it. So, when I emailed the teacher, I let her know that I was scheduled to cover her class later. Having the communication open is better than not, right? 

She emailed me back. She was not going to be out for three days, only one. 

I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Three days with that group... But one day I can manage. And I put it out of my mind. 

It was Thursday of last week when I called to book some dates for this week. The only class I had scheduled was for Friday for this teacher. 

There was a math class for Thursday... Well, for Thursday and Friday. But I already have a gig for Friday. Well, it's better to stick with the same class for two days if the teacher is out two days, so they could just reassign that English class... 

And now there are none. Instead of tonight sweating out having to deal with that class tomorrow, I am scheduled to return to a high school math class. 

I've been granted a reprieve. Woo-hoo! 

Assuming that all goes according to plan. Lately, that's not so certain. (See tomorrow's post.)

The Bad News

It's district writing assessment time!

Four times a year, the district requires all the kiddos write an essay on a given topic. Each grade level is assigned a prompt and is given articles (and sometimes videos) to use as sources.

They've been doing this a couple years now, so the kiddos are used to the procedure. (And I've covered this a few times, so I'm used to the procedure as well.)

I was at the continuation high school. It was day two. (They get three days to write.)

Period one went much as I expected. I had to keep after kiddos who kept talking.

Period two went a bit better on the talking front. However, well, this is what I wrote in the note:

The good news: They stayed pretty quiet and I didn't have to keep after them whispering...
The bad news: ...because most of them were sleeping, so I had to keep waking them up. 

Although, to be fair, it was the week after the time change. I was dragging myself. However, I'm sure we would have had a similar issue even without Daylight Saving.

Oh, the Butterflies

At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements. 😉

We've been having butterflies everywhere. I first saw them on Friday, but I wasn't surprised, as the news reported what was happening. And it was just amazing to stand as butterflies flew past me. (It wasn't as fun as they flew past as I drove my car. I was very anxious about not hitting them.)

But I can't take these things at face value...

What if this isn't a butterfly migration? What if they butterflies are fleeing something we can't see?

An Old Knit Friend

I haven't posted the last couple Mondays. I didn't forget. I just didn't have anything to write about.

I'm working in scarf land, on scarves that I've written about before. We're at what is known in writing as the muddle in the middle, and there's really no story there.

Well, there's story, but it's of the things-are-going-along-nicely variety. There'll be nothing much to report until I have finished objects to show off. (Although, I could tell you all about how my yarn somehow got stuck in a zipper and I couldn't get it unstuck so I had to cut it. There. Just did.)

And so, I had nothing to write about for today until I was perusing other blogs. Lily Element showed off her latest pair of fingerless gloves. And they made me think of my gauntlets...

Yes, there's a story...

Several years ago, I saw these knit on a knitting TV show. (Well, not these, exactly. I hated the cable pattern used, so I substituted my own.) And I had to have a pair.

They're perfect for those mornings when it's cold enough that I sort of need a jacket, but the cold will burn off by mid morning. So, I'd put on the jacket to get into work, take off the jacket as soon as I get in the classroom, and have to carry the jacket back out to my car. It's silly to wear a jacket for maybe 15 minutes and then have to lug it around the rest of the day.

These gauntlets fit perfectly in my bag.

I liked them so much that I made a pair for every female on my Christmas list that year after I finished my own.

I've had mine ever since. They mostly live in my car. I've worn them a few times this winter. So, they're never far from my mind, mostly like ambient lighting or that side table that is just always there.

So, when I saw Lily Element's gloves, I had to share the pattern for these.

I did a cursory search right then, but to no avail. Then I searched the blog. Surely I had posted about these. (Nope. Turns out these predate the blog.)

Ah well. I knew I had a copy of the pattern somewhere. I'd be able to find the correct pattern name so I could search it that way. (I was pretty sure it was no longer on the website for the TV show it was on as that TV show has been off the air for a while.)

I pulled out my knitting notebooks. In the third one I located the pattern. And the date on the printout is 10/18/2005. So, um, yeah, it's been a while.

At least little ol' organized me had kept the pattern with my modifications and the cable pattern I'd substituted in. So I could totally make another pair today if I was so inclined. (There are a couple modifications I'd make today as there are some techniques I've learned since I made these that would make them all that much better.)

First I tried the URL on the printout. I was not at all surprised when it took me to a 404 error page.

The pattern name wasn't all that notable. I'd already used it when I did that cursory search for the pattern before. But my printout had the pattern designer's name. I typed that into Ravelry, and the pattern's page popped up.

Alas, it looks like the pattern is unavailable unless one wants to buy the book of all the patterns from the TV show. Sigh.

Ah well. At least it gave me something to post about today. This post prompted me to get pictures, and now I can add these to Ravelry. Perhaps it's time to go through the wayback files and find other knits that predate the blog.

Nah. I'm sure I can come up with something new. Although, maybe not next week.

And, in a momentary weakness, I went and signed up for the A to Z Challenge again. Not that you'll notice, likely. I'll do as I do every April since 2013 and keep on keeping on, just fitting my normal post to the letter of the day. Some letters are trickier than others. (But X falls on a Saturday, so that's just a picture of something X-related this year. What will I come up with? I have no idea.)

Mystery Science Theater 3000, Eighth Grade Edition

Eighth grade English. Friday. The teacher left them a video.

It was the classic Twilight Zone. We had time to watch two episodes. "The Fugitive" and "Little Girl Lost". (If you want to refresh your memory, they're available on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and CBS.com.)

It had been a difficult day. One period would not stop talking. Another whined about having to watch something in black and white. The advanced group was even a challenge to get settled.

I had been warned about sixth period. I braced for the worst. 

After booting a kid for defiantly eating in class (his parting shot: "fatty Patty"), the rest of the group sort of almost settled. And then I started the show. 

Did they sit back and enjoy the show? Of course not. The kiddos heckled the screen. 

They compared the old man in the first episode to R. Kelly. They made fun of the crazy contraption that healed the little girl. 

Then there were all sorts of suggestions for the second episode. I had to assure them that the man was the girl's father. (They were dubious on this point.) They urged the father to look in the closet for the little girl. They argued the pocket universe looked dumb. There were references to Poltergeist. 

It was like being in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, but rather than a human and two robots, the theater was filled with loud, obnoxious eighth graders. 

I begrudgingly admit much of their comments were on point. Alas, the way they commented...

Missing the Scene

Tenth grade world history. Their assignment: continuing watching the movie Swing Kids.

Natalie claimed the bean bag cat on the teacher's desk. She said she needed it. It was hers. While the request was a bit odd, it wasn't terribly out of the ordinary. And I didn't see the point in arguing.

The reason for the comfort stuffed animal soon became apparent.

In case you're not familiar with the movie (via IMDB):

A close-knit group of young kids in Nazi Germany listen to banned swing music from the U.S. Soon, dancing and fun lead to more difficult choices, as the Nazis begin tightening their grip on Germany. Each member of the group is forced to face some tough choices about right, wrong, and survival. Written by Susan Southall 

We got to a scene where some Nazi youths beat up one of our central characters. It's rather brutal. They pummel him and kick him when he's down. Repeatedly.

That's when I noticed Natalie. She was turned away from the screen, tossing the toy from hand to hand. Ah. It was too much for her.

I can relate. There's a point where certain scenes get to be too much for me. I've become a bit desensitized to a lot of what we see as normal on TV, but when I was younger, I had a lower threshold.

So, when her classmates were telling her it was okay to turn around when the beating was still happening... Not okay. Not nice at all.

I let her know when it was actually safe to turn around.

Some friends...