sadness
September 15, 2006 at 3:53 pm (bad, stories)
I just overheard a student in the hall telling a friend that all his stuff was stolen out of his locker because “I left the sticker on the back of the lock that said the combination.”
Sad.
comfortable reading
September 15, 2006 at 9:58 am (bad, stories)
The Teacher is doing a lesson with her students on the difference between comfortable and uncomfortable reading. She has given them four criteria – friendliness, language, interest, and prior knowledge - that will determine how comfortable it will be for them to read a given piece. The students are being encouraged to only read comfortable reading, and if they have to read something uncomfortable for class, they should read through and just underline the parts that are comfortable for them. The other parts aren’t really important because they won’t understand it anyhow.
An example of uncomfortable reading:
Stress systems show themselves through a “fight or flight” reaction to stressful situations.
Teacher: Do you guys know what that means? I don’t have any idea what that means. It’s so confusing. So just go through the article about stress and underline the easy parts – like things that help prevent stress. It says here that vacations, learning how to relax, and tranquilizers can help stress.
You know, when I was in school, we had to read whatever we were assigned, not just the comfortable parts. And where did this idea even come from? It makes no sense, and makes me need some of those tranquilizers that can help stress.
spicy
September 14, 2006 at 2:01 pm (bad, stories)
The Teacher: So you guys need to find some books to read. I hate reading. Even though I’m a reading teacher, I really don’t like it. Except for my sister’s books that she writes.
Student: Can you bring some of those in, if those are the ones you like?
The Teacher: Well, not really. They’re a little too spicy for school.
Student: Like what? Are they cooking books or something?
(awkward silence)
The Teacher: No, they’re romance novels.
Student: Oh, so they have too much sex in them?
(more awkward silence)
The Teacher: Anyhow, you guys need to pick a book to read.
first day
September 8, 2006 at 6:44 am (stories, ugly)
It was great to see the kids after a summer off. I missed them. One of my sophomores made the varsity football team, and is starting.
In other news, the verbal abuse from The Teacher has escalated. Here is the conversation from today.
Maintenance: Where do you want these computers?
Teacher 1: Well, I guess right against this wall.
Me: Here, let me move my desk so they will fit.
Maintenance: Is there a place we can move this crate of supplies?
Teacher 1: Hmm. Probably over by the door – it will be out of the way and not in instructional space.
Teacher 2 (The Teacher): getting up from class What?! I don’t want that in my space.
1: I don’t want these computers in my space either, but we have to be flexible. It won’t be in the way here.
2: Absolutely not! This is my space and it’s ridiculous what keeps happening to it.
1: I really don’t know where else it can go. We have to be flexible.
2: Oh, please.
1: Oh, please?
2: Just… no. No! Stop interrupting my class with this! This is a done issue.
1: Well, where are we going to put it?
2: In your space! You’re the one who brought it up!
1: We can talk about this later. I’m sorry, kids, for doing this now.
Kids: That’s ok.
2: big sigh Now. What were we doing?
Students: Nothing.
2: No, I was teaching!
…the period ends and students leave…
Teacher 2: Just so you know, I was going to offer to let you put that crate in my space over here. But now I’m not, because you were so rude and interrupted my class.
Teacher 1: Ok, that’s fine.
2: And I am going to write you up for unprofessionalism.
1: Do what you have to do.
2: And another thing. I’m not speaking to you anymore because you’re acting so childish.
1: Do what you have to do.
Picture me during all of this standing by my desk with my mouth hanging open. I had – and still have – no idea how to react to something like this. Think of and pray for me as I try to determine what the best course of action is.
t minus 1
September 6, 2006 at 2:49 pm (bad, stories)
Today I spent most of my time cataloging and alphabetizing all of our books. There are a lot of them.
I also learned that two-inch gaps between the bottom of emergency windows and the windowsill will result in interior water accumulation in the event of a flood. The construction people apparently didn’t know that, but after it thunderstormed today, they said they would try to get someone over to fix it. Until then, we have the hole plugged with plastic bags. Nothing like an aesthetically pleasing learning environment.
The Teacher (as I’ve decided she will be called) asked all of her frosh students why they had been assigned to her class. Like they know. They’re walking around the building like purposeless zombies. Plus, our main task is remediation for the standardized tests. A student has to fail a standardized test in order to be placed in with us. So I thought it would be obvious why students were in our classes. I was wrong.
Overheard today:
1. The Teacher: Do you hate reading? Because if you do, there’s nothing I can do for you.
Note – The Teacher has a degree in literacy…
2. Teacher: To get to your next class, go through the courtyard…
Student: What’s a courtyard?
start your engines.
September 5, 2006 at 8:28 pm (bad, stories)
Well, the school year officially starts tomorrow. Today we were allowed to get in our rooms to move furniture and unpack boxes since we moved into the wrestling room as a result of building construction.
Teacher: (after putting up cubicle dividers with an approximately 24″ opening as an entrance) I want to be able to see the door from my desk, because I want to see my kids come in. But I don’t want to see everyone else’s kids come in. That’s distracting. And I don’t want my kids to be able to see the door.
Me: Well, maybe we ought to move your classroom to the side of the room away from the door.
T: Don’t even start with me! I want this side of the room and I get it my way!
M: Um, ok. I’m just saying that legally the students have to be able to enter your section of the classroom through an opening in the dividers larger than two feet.
T: Oh, yeah? Well, who says that?!
M: The fire marshal.
T: Like he’s ever going to come in here and check. Who cares.
M: It’s really not safe.
T: Well, thanks for nothing! Get out of my space. … You two guys! Come over here and move these boxes, because I’m certainly not going to.
Other things overheard during the day:
While reading through a list of students, another teacher aide commented, “I just don’t get why these parents give their kids names like Sun Yoo Kim. I mean, seriously. Who can even pronounce that? Or Ahmed. That sounds like a terrorist name. Ok. Next on the list is Sharmecia Johnson. That’s pretty.”
More from the Teacher… “Ok, I have just got to get these people to move all this stuff. I can’t picture things where I want them until they are where they should be. That’s because of my spatial disability. Where did all those people go who are supposed to be moving my stuff?”
