Salvete,
I'm back.
It has been quite a while, with several misadventures. Students have left the special program of which I am a part, and I am sure several more will be gone after the semester. However, others are chosing to stay. They want help getting to college, and have embraced the teachings of the instructors who care for them. It has been exciting to watch them grow, and heartbreaking when their home lives challenge them and they suffer. We had several incidents occur over the last few weeks, and although they will pass, the students are still hurting now (and we know that now is what is most important to them, the only moment in time that they know or acknowledge).
Additionally, today is the first Anime Club meeting in three weeks! The students have playfully given me a hard time for being absent, though they take care of themselves when I am not around by going to park and playing Red Rover, etc. I will not lie, the break from their emotions and craziness has been nice, but I found myself missing it nonetheless. The ennui was dispelled almost immediately, though, upon the reconvening of the masses. At least they are watching a movie today (Origins), so they are subdued. Hopefully the movie is long enough to carry over into the next meeting.
Anime Club will not be meeting next week, but what joy I feel at that prospect is immediately laid aside due to an overwelming dread for where I am going to be in order to miss the meeting. Once a month over the last three months (December included), I have been subjected to what is called SIOP Training. These trainings are the pinacle of why I hate educational theory. The leader talks to us like we are five and she is seven, I am surrounded by goody-goody elementary teachers, and I am forced to film myself teaching for a project. My intense dislike is exacerbated by my least favorite co-worker being there. I had to sit next to the person at the last meeting, and the person was tolerable, though certainly not lovable. We are grouped for next week for the showing of the videos, and hopefully will not have to be in a room together again after that. Ever.
SIOP Training was the proverbial straw, and I the camel. I had been contemplating for some time going back to school to get my PhD in English. I thought I could stand being a teacher forever, but that is just not the case. I thought after my first year that the useless seminars would get better. Then, I switched districts, and I told myself that all the useless seminars had to do with me being new to the district. Now, it is my second year here, my third year teaching, and still I suffer. I feel like making tallies on the wall, a la prison. My co-teacher is 35 years old, has been teaching for more than ten years, and he is undergoing the same SIOP training as I am. I was in the copy room the other day, and a teacher randomly asked me, "Do you think you could do this for thirty years? This is my thirtieth year." I slowly backed away in horror at the prospect of myself as a rotund, 55-year old teacher who had become disenchanted years before but could not escape because of retirement considerations. That same week, the very same week that I had decided difinitively to start applying, another teacher told me, "Get out of here and get your PhD while you can." Perhaps these incidences were co-incidences only, but they were duly noted and filed away. I have now applied to Duke, UNC, A&M, SMU, UNT, and Tech.
My actions are not to say that I dislike teaching itself. I rather enjoy having a captive audience. I love the kids, but there will always be kids. If I get a PhD, I can teach at a deeper level, and deal with college-age students. I can be a student again while earning the degree, which is what I love doing best of anything. I was meant to be an academic. Yes, I know there will be meetings and trainings when I am a professor. That is not the point. The point is academia. The point is freedom. The point is doing what I need to do. Husband has been infinitely supportive, as have my recommenders. I am so looking forward to Feburary/March/April when I find out who has rejected me. Or, even better, who has accepted me. I hope they accept me.
That's all for now. Still 45 minutes left in Anime Club.
Save me.
Valete,
Magistra
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
My balogna has a first name...
Salvete!
The eternal question: is doing your hair more important than homework? Of course it is!
A student walked into my class today with his hair freshly braided. I asked him how much time he had spent doing his hair, since I knew how little time he spent doing his homework. He became immediatley defensive, saying that he couldn't come to school looking like a fool with his hair like that guy's (as he pointed to a responsible boy in the class, including the necessary "no offense"). I told him he looked like an even bigger fool if he didn't have his homework done.
The argument went on for a little bit, and the guy with the bad hair (an amazing afro that I think is pretty cool) stepped in to try to explain some things about responsibility. Eventually, they came back to me, and I told the irresponsible student that I thought he was full of balogna. He took offense, of course, which encouraged me to insult him further. He just makes it too easy.
I have now spent the rest of class pretending that all I could hear come out of his mouth was the phrase, "I'm full of balogna," every time he asks me a question.
Valete,
Magistra
The eternal question: is doing your hair more important than homework? Of course it is!
A student walked into my class today with his hair freshly braided. I asked him how much time he had spent doing his hair, since I knew how little time he spent doing his homework. He became immediatley defensive, saying that he couldn't come to school looking like a fool with his hair like that guy's (as he pointed to a responsible boy in the class, including the necessary "no offense"). I told him he looked like an even bigger fool if he didn't have his homework done.
The argument went on for a little bit, and the guy with the bad hair (an amazing afro that I think is pretty cool) stepped in to try to explain some things about responsibility. Eventually, they came back to me, and I told the irresponsible student that I thought he was full of balogna. He took offense, of course, which encouraged me to insult him further. He just makes it too easy.
I have now spent the rest of class pretending that all I could hear come out of his mouth was the phrase, "I'm full of balogna," every time he asks me a question.
Valete,
Magistra
Saturday, September 25, 2010
If you try sometimes, yeah you just might find...
...I got what I need!
A specific child is no longer in my class. This child, who (of course) shall remain nameless, was a hol[ier than thou] terror for six weeks. I wasn't aware that a fifteen-year-old could know everything, including what was best for itself*, but apparently this child does. The child also is fully trained in educational best practices (to a degree far beyond both of mine), and is fit to decide what it will need after the age of 18, a place it has not been but seems to know all about.
And I ask you, why should we read books in English class? Preposterous. Yet, the child seems to have decided that this must be so. I ask you too, why should we take notes in a style confirmed as a best practice by law schools and 30+ years of research? Ridiculous! Let the reform begin!
On a less sarcastic, caustic, and demeaning note, this week may have been a rough one, but it was nothing compared to what it could have been, had this child still been in my class.
That is not to say that I did not love the child. Of course I did. In a way. A small, very difficult-to-see,-detect,-or define way. Am I embittered? Certainly not. Am I relieved? Of course. I could have survived all year with it in my class. I originally typed, "very well could have," but then decided that that was a falsehood. There would have been nothing going on that anyone would have described as "very well."
*I refer to the child as "it" in order to refrain from revealing the gender, not to suggest something about the gender (or the usual lack thereof that comes with the pronoun "it").
Anyway, we took the kids on a field trip this week. They had a wonderful time, and I rode on a school bus, surrounded by germs. The germs germinated, and became a cold or some other contagious plague. At least it was not the flu. *Knock on wood.* I am over it now, since I received the infection on Tuesday. Hopefully this means that my immune system is appropriately fortified against any new strains of whatever, and I won't get sick the rest of the year.
Speaking of sick, I watched "Shutter Island" today. It was recommended by a friend, and was very good. I will now recommend it to you, my non-existent audience.
Valete,
Magistra
A specific child is no longer in my class. This child, who (of course) shall remain nameless, was a hol[ier than thou] terror for six weeks. I wasn't aware that a fifteen-year-old could know everything, including what was best for itself*, but apparently this child does. The child also is fully trained in educational best practices (to a degree far beyond both of mine), and is fit to decide what it will need after the age of 18, a place it has not been but seems to know all about.
And I ask you, why should we read books in English class? Preposterous. Yet, the child seems to have decided that this must be so. I ask you too, why should we take notes in a style confirmed as a best practice by law schools and 30+ years of research? Ridiculous! Let the reform begin!
On a less sarcastic, caustic, and demeaning note, this week may have been a rough one, but it was nothing compared to what it could have been, had this child still been in my class.
That is not to say that I did not love the child. Of course I did. In a way. A small, very difficult-to-see,-detect,-or define way. Am I embittered? Certainly not. Am I relieved? Of course. I could have survived all year with it in my class. I originally typed, "very well could have," but then decided that that was a falsehood. There would have been nothing going on that anyone would have described as "very well."
*I refer to the child as "it" in order to refrain from revealing the gender, not to suggest something about the gender (or the usual lack thereof that comes with the pronoun "it").
Anyway, we took the kids on a field trip this week. They had a wonderful time, and I rode on a school bus, surrounded by germs. The germs germinated, and became a cold or some other contagious plague. At least it was not the flu. *Knock on wood.* I am over it now, since I received the infection on Tuesday. Hopefully this means that my immune system is appropriately fortified against any new strains of whatever, and I won't get sick the rest of the year.
Speaking of sick, I watched "Shutter Island" today. It was recommended by a friend, and was very good. I will now recommend it to you, my non-existent audience.
Valete,
Magistra
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Anime Club Commences Again
Hey there.
Er, Salvete.
I've resigned myself to the fact that I will never be teaching Latin again. I'm too specialized now in my department. I've been trained to teach upper-level classes, as well as trained to pilot a program for kids in the academic middle. I get to use Latin many days, but so much of it has slipped away. I still love it, but I am ready to accept that I am done using my Latin certification for which I worked so hard.
Now, on to less dismal thoughts!
Anime Club has indeed begun again. Expect posts on Wednesdays. Unbelieveably, everything is graded and I can pen a post. There are approximately 40 students in my class right now, half watching "Princess Mononoke," and half doing various other things. There is one student in a gas mask (speaking in a terrible Russian accent), four playing Yugio, and all is well. Just another day at Anime Club.
They have about eight minutes until I kick them out. If you are unfamiliar with the blog, last year I had about 10-15 students weekly. 40 students is a lot, especially considering I only have 15 desks, and am aiming to take that number down to 12. Many bodies are on the floor, which is disgusting, because I am fairly certain that the floor gets cleaned only in the summer. Yay, public school!
But really, my custodian is very nice, and most days we have an awkward conversation in Spanish, often consisting of him laughing at me and calling my teaching partner a gringo. My teaching partner does not speak Spanish at all, and I speak enough to exchange pleasantries. I guess that saves me from gringo status. Not that there's anything wrong with being a gringo, or gringa, for that matter.
It's sushi night, and I am thankful.
Valete (bye),
Magistra (female teacher)
Er, Salvete.
I've resigned myself to the fact that I will never be teaching Latin again. I'm too specialized now in my department. I've been trained to teach upper-level classes, as well as trained to pilot a program for kids in the academic middle. I get to use Latin many days, but so much of it has slipped away. I still love it, but I am ready to accept that I am done using my Latin certification for which I worked so hard.
Now, on to less dismal thoughts!
Anime Club has indeed begun again. Expect posts on Wednesdays. Unbelieveably, everything is graded and I can pen a post. There are approximately 40 students in my class right now, half watching "Princess Mononoke," and half doing various other things. There is one student in a gas mask (speaking in a terrible Russian accent), four playing Yugio, and all is well. Just another day at Anime Club.
They have about eight minutes until I kick them out. If you are unfamiliar with the blog, last year I had about 10-15 students weekly. 40 students is a lot, especially considering I only have 15 desks, and am aiming to take that number down to 12. Many bodies are on the floor, which is disgusting, because I am fairly certain that the floor gets cleaned only in the summer. Yay, public school!
But really, my custodian is very nice, and most days we have an awkward conversation in Spanish, often consisting of him laughing at me and calling my teaching partner a gringo. My teaching partner does not speak Spanish at all, and I speak enough to exchange pleasantries. I guess that saves me from gringo status. Not that there's anything wrong with being a gringo, or gringa, for that matter.
It's sushi night, and I am thankful.
Valete (bye),
Magistra (female teacher)
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Way to End the Day
Salvete.
If it weren't for fourth period, I'd be going home right now. What I do not mean by this is, that without a fourth period, the day would be over, the final bell would have rung, and I would be walking out the door.
Not at all.
What I mean is, without the students in fourth period, I would be so depressed, downtrodden, grouchy, and angry, that I'd be calling in an emergency substitute and leaving straightaway.
Instead, I am still here, and glad to be so. The students in fourth period bring so much light to my day. Perhaps it is their innocence, their naivete. However, third period is naive in its way. Third period is naive in thinking they know what there is to know, in thinking that they are mature, socially aware, and academically adept. Nothing could be further from the truth, on the whole. Fourth period, on the other hand, has an innocent curiosity in what I have to say and what there is to learn. They listen the first time (most times). They don't talk back, and always ask how my day was. They also are always eager to tell me what has happened in their days, and I am no less eager to hear. Of course they have their moments of stupidity, for they are teenagers.
Is it bad to say that, collectively, I love them the most? It may be as bad to do that as it is to choose a favorite offspring. Even if it is in one's heart, one probably shouldn't say it, for fear that it will come back to punish one in some grave way.
No specifics today, just a reflection.
Valete,
Magistra
If it weren't for fourth period, I'd be going home right now. What I do not mean by this is, that without a fourth period, the day would be over, the final bell would have rung, and I would be walking out the door.
Not at all.
What I mean is, without the students in fourth period, I would be so depressed, downtrodden, grouchy, and angry, that I'd be calling in an emergency substitute and leaving straightaway.
Instead, I am still here, and glad to be so. The students in fourth period bring so much light to my day. Perhaps it is their innocence, their naivete. However, third period is naive in its way. Third period is naive in thinking they know what there is to know, in thinking that they are mature, socially aware, and academically adept. Nothing could be further from the truth, on the whole. Fourth period, on the other hand, has an innocent curiosity in what I have to say and what there is to learn. They listen the first time (most times). They don't talk back, and always ask how my day was. They also are always eager to tell me what has happened in their days, and I am no less eager to hear. Of course they have their moments of stupidity, for they are teenagers.
Is it bad to say that, collectively, I love them the most? It may be as bad to do that as it is to choose a favorite offspring. Even if it is in one's heart, one probably shouldn't say it, for fear that it will come back to punish one in some grave way.
No specifics today, just a reflection.
Valete,
Magistra
Friday, May 7, 2010
Testes!
Salvete!
I was grading papers today ("Never an easy or a pleasant task."), and will be for ages hence. These papers are supposed to be research that compares two colleges. I'm glad I was paying attention, so that I could bring you this gChat conversation between my husband and me:
me: Real sentence from a paper:
me: "It also depends on your scores that you get on your testes
him: tee hee :3
me: , which guarantees you a scholarship. hahahaha
him: lol, oh, they will be so supplized at the way the world works
me: testes lol
me: he's gonna prostitute his way into the school with scores on his testes hahahahahaha
This is probably the blog post that draws most closely to inappropriate.
Valete!
Magistra
I was grading papers today ("Never an easy or a pleasant task."), and will be for ages hence. These papers are supposed to be research that compares two colleges. I'm glad I was paying attention, so that I could bring you this gChat conversation between my husband and me:
me: Real sentence from a paper:
me: "It also depends on your scores that you get on your testes
him: tee hee :3
me: , which guarantees you a scholarship. hahahaha
him: lol, oh, they will be so supplized at the way the world works
me: testes lol
me: he's gonna prostitute his way into the school with scores on his testes hahahahahaha
This is probably the blog post that draws most closely to inappropriate.
Valete!
Magistra
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Please...make it stop.
Salvete,
We haven't had Anime Club in a few weeks due to the wedding. I thought I missed it.
I didn't.
The kids have gotten the bright idea to do something besides watch anime. And so. We are having a brainstorming session. (Game-show voice...commence!) What other ideas can we come up with besides watching anime? Let's find out!
1. "Let's do something like Anime Idol except not singing!"
2. "Let's play games!" "That's too general!"
a. Anime Chess
b. Anime Clue
c. Anime Dancing
d. Anime Theater Endeavor
3. Anime picture of the week!
4. Anime's Best Dance Crew
5. Anime's Got Talent
6. Magicians
7. David Hasselhoff
8. Pokemon battle using action figures or cards
9. Summer meetings (kaiboshed immediately)
10. Anime Club Twitter
11. Yahoo Group
12. Anime potluck
13. Art contests (already were doing but stopped happening)
It sort of degenerated into meaninglessness in the middle, but our officers brought it back. Here is how they did it.
1. Singing random snippits of songs (this was often)
2. Rick rolling
3. Kitty dancy thing
4. Chicken dance (current moment)
5. "OY!"
6. Grapevine
7. Reading "Biff, Willy, Linda, Happy" off of the Death of a Salesman poster at the back of the room
8. Weirdo noises which turned out to be big words said really quickly
What joy is mine. One of the students has a staticky verson of "Smooth Criminal" as performed by Alien Ant Farm blasting on her cell phone. They've all congregated at the front of the room to write their names on an Anime Club Contact List. I'm done giving you a play-by-play, because I can't keep up with the chaos. I may have to find something to do outside of the room while they finish the meeting.
At least they bring candy ever week.
Valete,
Magistra.
We haven't had Anime Club in a few weeks due to the wedding. I thought I missed it.
I didn't.
The kids have gotten the bright idea to do something besides watch anime. And so. We are having a brainstorming session. (Game-show voice...commence!) What other ideas can we come up with besides watching anime? Let's find out!
1. "Let's do something like Anime Idol except not singing!"
2. "Let's play games!" "That's too general!"
a. Anime Chess
b. Anime Clue
c. Anime Dancing
d. Anime Theater Endeavor
3. Anime picture of the week!
4. Anime's Best Dance Crew
5. Anime's Got Talent
6. Magicians
7. David Hasselhoff
8. Pokemon battle using action figures or cards
9. Summer meetings (kaiboshed immediately)
10. Anime Club Twitter
11. Yahoo Group
12. Anime potluck
13. Art contests (already were doing but stopped happening)
It sort of degenerated into meaninglessness in the middle, but our officers brought it back. Here is how they did it.
1. Singing random snippits of songs (this was often)
2. Rick rolling
3. Kitty dancy thing
4. Chicken dance (current moment)
5. "OY!"
6. Grapevine
7. Reading "Biff, Willy, Linda, Happy" off of the Death of a Salesman poster at the back of the room
8. Weirdo noises which turned out to be big words said really quickly
What joy is mine. One of the students has a staticky verson of "Smooth Criminal" as performed by Alien Ant Farm blasting on her cell phone. They've all congregated at the front of the room to write their names on an Anime Club Contact List. I'm done giving you a play-by-play, because I can't keep up with the chaos. I may have to find something to do outside of the room while they finish the meeting.
At least they bring candy ever week.
Valete,
Magistra.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Hamburgers at Bicyclers
Salvete...
I just have to remind myself that I'm working with teenagers. Here is a story, told to me by a friend, about an experience with teenagers she had in college. That makes it sound like I was told this recently. She actually told it to me like three days after it happened, and that was about two years ago. Considering the length of time since I heard the story, forgive any inaccuracies.
Anyway, without further ado...
Once upon a time, L was riding her bike to campus. A car, containing two or so teenagers, drove by her. All of a sudden, L was struck by a hamburger. Yes. A hamburger. Ketchup, Mustard, and All.
L, now dirtied with such accoutrements of fast food as are appropriate to being hit with a hamburger by a passing vehicle, filled with rage. However, unable to do anything, continued riding her bike to campus. Behind her, she hears a car. Yes. You guessed it. The same car. Equipped with another hamburger.
Struck again, L filled with rage. The car in question reached the end of the block (a busy intersection) and had to stop sooner than the driver could have hoped. L was able to catch the vehicle, and approached the window. She told the teenager, through the window, that she was going to call the cops. She went to the back of the car, wrote down the license plate, and went on her way.
Those people in the car are the people I work with every day. Here's to you, L.
Valete,
Magistra
I just have to remind myself that I'm working with teenagers. Here is a story, told to me by a friend, about an experience with teenagers she had in college. That makes it sound like I was told this recently. She actually told it to me like three days after it happened, and that was about two years ago. Considering the length of time since I heard the story, forgive any inaccuracies.
Anyway, without further ado...
Once upon a time, L was riding her bike to campus. A car, containing two or so teenagers, drove by her. All of a sudden, L was struck by a hamburger. Yes. A hamburger. Ketchup, Mustard, and All.
L, now dirtied with such accoutrements of fast food as are appropriate to being hit with a hamburger by a passing vehicle, filled with rage. However, unable to do anything, continued riding her bike to campus. Behind her, she hears a car. Yes. You guessed it. The same car. Equipped with another hamburger.
Struck again, L filled with rage. The car in question reached the end of the block (a busy intersection) and had to stop sooner than the driver could have hoped. L was able to catch the vehicle, and approached the window. She told the teenager, through the window, that she was going to call the cops. She went to the back of the car, wrote down the license plate, and went on her way.
Those people in the car are the people I work with every day. Here's to you, L.
Valete,
Magistra
Friday, March 26, 2010
Well, to be fair, that's a big leaf.
Salvete!
Mid-terms are over, thank goodness. A child stayed after school for thirty minutes to finish twenty questions. The test was challenging, but it wasn't hard if you studied. Clearly the student didn't study.
So, now that the weekend has started, my reverie has begun. I am gaming, and the following conversation just happened while fighting these little things called Mandragora. See link for onion reference. In game, my character is really tiny, about the same size as the Mandragora (comes up to your mid-thigh, if that). There are five races to choose from, and the race I chose, Tarutaru, is the smallest (and therefore, cutest). Her name is Cumaea, and my love's name is Gouka. The other people are friends from the game.
Cumaea: he's bigger than me
Ryukashin: everything is bigger than you lol
Cumaea: that leaf is bigger than me
Mochalatte: he's an onion
Gouka: well, to be fair, that's a big leaf
Cumaea: i meant the tree leaf
Gouka: i know
Mochalatte: he's a baby tree
There are about three different threads of conversation going on there. I had to laugh when this went down, so I had to put it in here for your enjoyment. I know it just made me about 1000 times geekier in the eyes of the world, but I'm not sure the world reads this blog, so I don't mind.
Valete,
Magistra
Mid-terms are over, thank goodness. A child stayed after school for thirty minutes to finish twenty questions. The test was challenging, but it wasn't hard if you studied. Clearly the student didn't study.
So, now that the weekend has started, my reverie has begun. I am gaming, and the following conversation just happened while fighting these little things called Mandragora. See link for onion reference. In game, my character is really tiny, about the same size as the Mandragora (comes up to your mid-thigh, if that). There are five races to choose from, and the race I chose, Tarutaru, is the smallest (and therefore, cutest). Her name is Cumaea, and my love's name is Gouka. The other people are friends from the game.
Cumaea: he's bigger than me
Ryukashin: everything is bigger than you lol
Cumaea: that leaf is bigger than me
Mochalatte: he's an onion
Gouka: well, to be fair, that's a big leaf
Cumaea: i meant the tree leaf
Gouka: i know
Mochalatte: he's a baby tree
There are about three different threads of conversation going on there. I had to laugh when this went down, so I had to put it in here for your enjoyment. I know it just made me about 1000 times geekier in the eyes of the world, but I'm not sure the world reads this blog, so I don't mind.
Valete,
Magistra
9 weeks in.
Salvete!
That's right! We are nine weeks into the third nine-weeks. So really, it has been eleven weeks since we came back from Christmas break (I see the word eleven, and always think "elvan"). In my district, the last day of midterms or finals is always a half day for the kids, and a late two-hour lunch break for the teachers. The lunch break is usually so late that coming back up to the building is pointless. I'm sure you get the idea.
In addition to the half day, students go to their third period classes first thing in the morning. As you can imagine, high schoolers struggle with this idea. Being like puppies, they get in the routine of going here first, there second. Any change in their routine causes great emotional distress (what doesn't cause great emotional distress for a teenager?). A student who normally has first period in my room walked in this morning. I greeted him without a second thought (teachers get in routines, too). He walked back out, looking confused. He didn't recognize any of the students in the room (my third period students). I realized both of our mistake, and sent him on his way.
Having students first thing in the morning is something of a challenge for me. For some reason, last year, when school started at 7:25, I was able to be chipper. This year, having first period as my conference, I have become a real afternoon person. I warned third period that I would be a different animal come Friday morning when they walked in. I warned them that I am quite grouchy in the morning, and not to cross me, on threat of death (or something). Incredibly, they took me seriously, and have been angels, else they themselves are still asleep, which is a distinct possibility. I really am grouchy, just not as grouchy as I let on I would be.
Thus far in the morning, little else has gone on. Mid-term time is usually quite subdued, as most of the students take them seriously, and understand that I will give them a zero if they should be caught cheating (I totally would).
I'll let you know if anything else goes awry.
As I typed that last statement, a student raised its hand. "My scantron is off by one, and I don't know where I got off," it said. "Well, you have lots of time left in class, so that's a good thing," I replied. So cruel.
Valete,
Magistra
That's right! We are nine weeks into the third nine-weeks. So really, it has been eleven weeks since we came back from Christmas break (I see the word eleven, and always think "elvan"). In my district, the last day of midterms or finals is always a half day for the kids, and a late two-hour lunch break for the teachers. The lunch break is usually so late that coming back up to the building is pointless. I'm sure you get the idea.
In addition to the half day, students go to their third period classes first thing in the morning. As you can imagine, high schoolers struggle with this idea. Being like puppies, they get in the routine of going here first, there second. Any change in their routine causes great emotional distress (what doesn't cause great emotional distress for a teenager?). A student who normally has first period in my room walked in this morning. I greeted him without a second thought (teachers get in routines, too). He walked back out, looking confused. He didn't recognize any of the students in the room (my third period students). I realized both of our mistake, and sent him on his way.
Having students first thing in the morning is something of a challenge for me. For some reason, last year, when school started at 7:25, I was able to be chipper. This year, having first period as my conference, I have become a real afternoon person. I warned third period that I would be a different animal come Friday morning when they walked in. I warned them that I am quite grouchy in the morning, and not to cross me, on threat of death (or something). Incredibly, they took me seriously, and have been angels, else they themselves are still asleep, which is a distinct possibility. I really am grouchy, just not as grouchy as I let on I would be.
Thus far in the morning, little else has gone on. Mid-term time is usually quite subdued, as most of the students take them seriously, and understand that I will give them a zero if they should be caught cheating (I totally would).
I'll let you know if anything else goes awry.
As I typed that last statement, a student raised its hand. "My scantron is off by one, and I don't know where I got off," it said. "Well, you have lots of time left in class, so that's a good thing," I replied. So cruel.
Valete,
Magistra
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
It's almost time to go: I need tape.
Salvete!
What will happen today in Magistra's classroom? Through the various periods, the children have been up to no good.
A group of three students in third period has decided to see what they can get away with without me noticing. None of their activities are dangerous or ill-intended, but instead are of the gambling nature. How long can I stand behind the tall metal cabinet blowing my nose until Magistra notices? How long can I sit on the floor after the bell before Magistra says something? What happens if I ask Magistra for a hug? At the moment, I find their shenanigans somewhat amusing, but I'm not sure how long I will tolerate them.
The title of the post is the quote of the day. Towards the end of first period, a child approached my desk, and said, "It's almost time to go: I need tape." I just moved on with my day, hoping that the tape would be used for some sort of communal good, intended to occur soon after the student's departure from the classroom.
Fourth period's strangeness is less severe. A student held up a ball made of masking tape. "Miss, look at my tape ball." Clearly, the child has far too much time in art class. I told him it was interesting in such a way that he would know that I was not interested. Naturally, he had to toss it to another student, at which point I had to threaten to confiscate it. I love baby-sitting.
I had made a list of things that happened today. As so often occurs with my note-taking, I wrote down some key words which I later forgot what they meant. The word at the top of the list was "Easter." I'm sure whatever scenario inspired the note was very funny, but it is lost forever.
Valete!
Magistra
What will happen today in Magistra's classroom? Through the various periods, the children have been up to no good.
A group of three students in third period has decided to see what they can get away with without me noticing. None of their activities are dangerous or ill-intended, but instead are of the gambling nature. How long can I stand behind the tall metal cabinet blowing my nose until Magistra notices? How long can I sit on the floor after the bell before Magistra says something? What happens if I ask Magistra for a hug? At the moment, I find their shenanigans somewhat amusing, but I'm not sure how long I will tolerate them.
The title of the post is the quote of the day. Towards the end of first period, a child approached my desk, and said, "It's almost time to go: I need tape." I just moved on with my day, hoping that the tape would be used for some sort of communal good, intended to occur soon after the student's departure from the classroom.
Fourth period's strangeness is less severe. A student held up a ball made of masking tape. "Miss, look at my tape ball." Clearly, the child has far too much time in art class. I told him it was interesting in such a way that he would know that I was not interested. Naturally, he had to toss it to another student, at which point I had to threaten to confiscate it. I love baby-sitting.
I had made a list of things that happened today. As so often occurs with my note-taking, I wrote down some key words which I later forgot what they meant. The word at the top of the list was "Easter." I'm sure whatever scenario inspired the note was very funny, but it is lost forever.
Valete!
Magistra
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Then fall, Caesar.
Salvete!
Twice in one day? No, it isn't the apocolypse.
What have we learned about the comical situation regarding the sleeping/standing student? That if you torture a student and then they walk out, it makes more work for you.
I already knew this lesson, but review never hurts.
I had no intention of writing up the student, but here is what happened:
The student went to the assistant principal's office, as he said he would. Fabulous. Rather than calling me and requesting a prompt office referral, the office let him sit in there and briefly talk with the assistant principal. After school, the student came back to me. I asked him what happened, and he told me the above. I called the office assistant to verify, to discover that what he told me was true. The assistant asked that I fill out an office referral for the student's act of walking out. I know the referral is the right course of action, but the student is the one who referred himself to the office, so he should have to write the referral. I've made a student fill out his/her own office referral before, but it slipped my mind until I had time to sit down and contemplate on this blog.
Oh well. As I said, review never hurts. I have to go put this in the assistant principal's box now.
Valete,
Magistra
Twice in one day? No, it isn't the apocolypse.
What have we learned about the comical situation regarding the sleeping/standing student? That if you torture a student and then they walk out, it makes more work for you.
I already knew this lesson, but review never hurts.
I had no intention of writing up the student, but here is what happened:
The student went to the assistant principal's office, as he said he would. Fabulous. Rather than calling me and requesting a prompt office referral, the office let him sit in there and briefly talk with the assistant principal. After school, the student came back to me. I asked him what happened, and he told me the above. I called the office assistant to verify, to discover that what he told me was true. The assistant asked that I fill out an office referral for the student's act of walking out. I know the referral is the right course of action, but the student is the one who referred himself to the office, so he should have to write the referral. I've made a student fill out his/her own office referral before, but it slipped my mind until I had time to sit down and contemplate on this blog.
Oh well. As I said, review never hurts. I have to go put this in the assistant principal's box now.
Valete,
Magistra
Et tu, Brute?
Salvete!
We're reading Julius Caesar at the moment. If you don't know, Caesar was a real person, but Shakespeare also knows how to take the artistic license, so to speak. Sure, it isn't the most interesting play that the Texas State Board of Educators could have chosen, but it isn't the worst. We could be reading the Henry plays, the which I was supposed to read in college. I, of course, did not read them, but took my chances. I would never encourage my students to do such a thing, though sometimes such a thing is the best thing to do.
Friends, Romans, countrymen! Lend me your ears!
To my right, on the opposite side of the room, a student is standing up. Why? Because he sleeps every day, and I've had quite enough of that. The student's chief complaint in having to stand up is that he fears all the blood will rush to his legs. Perhaps the statement was made in jest, perhaps not. It is hard to tell with this one. Anyway, he's having to stand for about thirty minutes, which is certainly in his best interest, per my observations. What have we learned from this? Don't sleep, or Magistra will make you stand up far from any apparatus on which to lean.
HAHAHA! He just walked out, opting to go to the office rather than stand up and pay attention. Do you know what I said? I said, "See you tomorrow!"
Valete,
Magistra
We're reading Julius Caesar at the moment. If you don't know, Caesar was a real person, but Shakespeare also knows how to take the artistic license, so to speak. Sure, it isn't the most interesting play that the Texas State Board of Educators could have chosen, but it isn't the worst. We could be reading the Henry plays, the which I was supposed to read in college. I, of course, did not read them, but took my chances. I would never encourage my students to do such a thing, though sometimes such a thing is the best thing to do.
Friends, Romans, countrymen! Lend me your ears!
To my right, on the opposite side of the room, a student is standing up. Why? Because he sleeps every day, and I've had quite enough of that. The student's chief complaint in having to stand up is that he fears all the blood will rush to his legs. Perhaps the statement was made in jest, perhaps not. It is hard to tell with this one. Anyway, he's having to stand for about thirty minutes, which is certainly in his best interest, per my observations. What have we learned from this? Don't sleep, or Magistra will make you stand up far from any apparatus on which to lean.
HAHAHA! He just walked out, opting to go to the office rather than stand up and pay attention. Do you know what I said? I said, "See you tomorrow!"
Valete,
Magistra
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Forget American Idol...
...try Anime Idol!
Salve!
I can't remember what I wrote last. However, I'm not sure I keep this updated enough for it to matter. I'm in the second semester at my new job. I became the Anime Club sponsor some time ago (Septemberish), and have been having an interesting time, to say the least.
Today is Anime Idol. This show has been in the works for some weeks. It involes three of our female members (acting as Randy, Paula, and Simon) judging several others of our members singing non-Anime related songs. The songs performed are:
1. "The Campfire Song" from Spongebob Squarepants
2. "Won't Give Up" by Hillary Duff
3. "What I've Done" by Linkin Park
4. "Without You" from Spongebob Squarepants
5. "I Have A Dream" from Mamma Mia!
6. "Let the Little Lady Talk" by Capital Lights
We even have a Ryan Seacrest, using a coke bottle as a mic. I know, right? In the audience, we have approximately ten adolescents waving their arms or headbanging, as appropriate. Believe me, we are getting this all on video, and the public will not be denied what it wants: the much anticpated CD/DVD special edition "First Annual Anime Idol" music and video.
The show just took an interesting turn. The girls as their "Judge Selves" are doing their rendition of Beyonce's "Put a Ring on It" dance. What will happen next in the thrill that is Anime Idol!?!?
But on a more serious note, I have really enjoyed being the Anime Club sponsor. I was hesitant at first, not wanting to take on too much, but the kids really run themselves. If you will, imagine the kind of kid that comes to Anime Club. I won't go into specifics. They are so supportive of one another, no matter what nerdiness comes out of each meeting.
And the winner is...
"Second place, in this contest, is [Mama Mia!]! And, first place, in this Anime Idol (like there are any other ones) is...[Hillary Duff]!"
Now, a rousing chorus of "We are the Champions" by Queen.
Vale,
Magistra
Salve!
I can't remember what I wrote last. However, I'm not sure I keep this updated enough for it to matter. I'm in the second semester at my new job. I became the Anime Club sponsor some time ago (Septemberish), and have been having an interesting time, to say the least.
Today is Anime Idol. This show has been in the works for some weeks. It involes three of our female members (acting as Randy, Paula, and Simon) judging several others of our members singing non-Anime related songs. The songs performed are:
1. "The Campfire Song" from Spongebob Squarepants
2. "Won't Give Up" by Hillary Duff
3. "What I've Done" by Linkin Park
4. "Without You" from Spongebob Squarepants
5. "I Have A Dream" from Mamma Mia!
6. "Let the Little Lady Talk" by Capital Lights
We even have a Ryan Seacrest, using a coke bottle as a mic. I know, right? In the audience, we have approximately ten adolescents waving their arms or headbanging, as appropriate. Believe me, we are getting this all on video, and the public will not be denied what it wants: the much anticpated CD/DVD special edition "First Annual Anime Idol" music and video.
The show just took an interesting turn. The girls as their "Judge Selves" are doing their rendition of Beyonce's "Put a Ring on It" dance. What will happen next in the thrill that is Anime Idol!?!?
But on a more serious note, I have really enjoyed being the Anime Club sponsor. I was hesitant at first, not wanting to take on too much, but the kids really run themselves. If you will, imagine the kind of kid that comes to Anime Club. I won't go into specifics. They are so supportive of one another, no matter what nerdiness comes out of each meeting.
And the winner is...
"Second place, in this contest, is [Mama Mia!]! And, first place, in this Anime Idol (like there are any other ones) is...[Hillary Duff]!"
Now, a rousing chorus of "We are the Champions" by Queen.
Vale,
Magistra
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