THE ABSENT MINDED TEACHERS
Yesterday was an interesting day of subbing. I was scheduled to substitute for a Spanish class at Dos Pueblos High School. I showed up on time, opened the class, and didn't see a lesson plan. That has never happened to me before and I was a little worried about simply babysitting for six classes throughout the day. It's much better when there is busy work to do.
Anyways, it didn't matter, because the teacher came to school! He had canceled his request for a sub but the secretary didn't take note of the cancellation. So I was free to go!
As I was leaving the office the secretary said, "Wait! Phil, there is another sub who isn't here yet. Can you open their class and get them started?"
Why, certainly. The bell had already rung and all the students were just standing outside of the class, waiting for the substitute to show up. So I opened the door and started taking attendance. Moments later the substitute showed up, so I headed back to the office to say goodbye for a second time.
This time there were two security guards in the secretary's office. There was another teacher who didn't show up. This other teacher is actually my friend, Matt. I do Young Life with him. So I was sent over to his classroom where the students had been standing outside for about 10 minutes now. In fact, as I started heading their way, I could see some just beginning to leave.
It turns out Matt had emailed last night for a substitute, but the email servers were down in the office this morning, so the secretary never got the message. Matt's mother flew into town yesterday, but her plane was delayed and came in pretty late. He spent the day with her.
Good thing I was there.
I ended up subbing after all!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thursday, November 08, 2007
THE STABBING
Tuesday was a terrible day of subbing, and I was only in each class for one hour. Done by lunch. You'd think only having kids for about 50 minutes at a time and leaving by noon would be fantastic. At least that's what I thought when I took the job. Unfortunately the only peaceful hour was the first one, in which there were two other aids in the classroom.
The second hour I came within 30 seconds of sending a kid straight to the principal. I was actually looking for a note to write on when he finally agreed to sit in the back where he wouldn't be distracting or distracted.
The third hour I witnessed 7 year olds saying things like dammit and dancing around like monkeys. Seriously!
The fourth hour I actually did send a kid out of the classroom. And then I gave those first graders a pep talk:
"Ok. There is a problem here. Do you know what the problem is? I want to see hands. Yes, you."
"We are being too noisy!"
"That's right. I have to do what your teacher wrote down for me. But it's really hard because everyone is chatty and being distracting. So what can we do to help? Yes? You."
"We need to pay attention and listen better."
"Good! Alright, let's keep going."
Later that class, as I was helping another student, one kid begins punching another kid and ends up stabbing himself on the pencil the victim was holding. Then the stabbed kid leaves class on his own (to go to the office, apparently) and tells the principal that the other kid stabbed him with a pencil.
Tuesday was a terrible day of subbing, and I was only in each class for one hour. Done by lunch. You'd think only having kids for about 50 minutes at a time and leaving by noon would be fantastic. At least that's what I thought when I took the job. Unfortunately the only peaceful hour was the first one, in which there were two other aids in the classroom.
The second hour I came within 30 seconds of sending a kid straight to the principal. I was actually looking for a note to write on when he finally agreed to sit in the back where he wouldn't be distracting or distracted.
The third hour I witnessed 7 year olds saying things like dammit and dancing around like monkeys. Seriously!
The fourth hour I actually did send a kid out of the classroom. And then I gave those first graders a pep talk:
"Ok. There is a problem here. Do you know what the problem is? I want to see hands. Yes, you."
"We are being too noisy!"
"That's right. I have to do what your teacher wrote down for me. But it's really hard because everyone is chatty and being distracting. So what can we do to help? Yes? You."
"We need to pay attention and listen better."
"Good! Alright, let's keep going."
Later that class, as I was helping another student, one kid begins punching another kid and ends up stabbing himself on the pencil the victim was holding. Then the stabbed kid leaves class on his own (to go to the office, apparently) and tells the principal that the other kid stabbed him with a pencil.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
THE RAIN DANCE
On Friday, much to my chagrin, I allowed a girl to do a dance to make rain happen. She said she really wanted to show people this dance she had made up, and so I thought it would be something cute that people would get a good laugh out of. Unfortunately for everyone in the classroom, the dance was dumb and a little bit mocking of Native American dances. It was ridiculous!
This was in math class, mind you.
On Friday, much to my chagrin, I allowed a girl to do a dance to make rain happen. She said she really wanted to show people this dance she had made up, and so I thought it would be something cute that people would get a good laugh out of. Unfortunately for everyone in the classroom, the dance was dumb and a little bit mocking of Native American dances. It was ridiculous!
This was in math class, mind you.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
THE RUBIK'S CUBE
Being unsure of what to write, but sure I must write something...
On Friday I will have substituted at Dos Pueblos for four days this week. Four days! The secretary, Terry Tripp, is wonderful to me--she gives me work all the time.
At DP I am sometimes referred to as the "Cube Guy" or, "Mr. Cube" or, "Rubik's Cube man" because I am obsessed with the Rubik's Cube and I practice it all the time. At school.
Now, this is not to say that I let the kids do whatever they want while I sit in the corner working the cube. I take my job very seriously and make sure that I follow the teacher's instructions to the best of my ability. And THEN I practice my Rubik's Cube. I've gone from about 1min 45 sec to about 1:07 now. My best time is :46 seconds.
Being unsure of what to write, but sure I must write something...
On Friday I will have substituted at Dos Pueblos for four days this week. Four days! The secretary, Terry Tripp, is wonderful to me--she gives me work all the time.
At DP I am sometimes referred to as the "Cube Guy" or, "Mr. Cube" or, "Rubik's Cube man" because I am obsessed with the Rubik's Cube and I practice it all the time. At school.
Now, this is not to say that I let the kids do whatever they want while I sit in the corner working the cube. I take my job very seriously and make sure that I follow the teacher's instructions to the best of my ability. And THEN I practice my Rubik's Cube. I've gone from about 1min 45 sec to about 1:07 now. My best time is :46 seconds.
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