My school district is out next Tuesday. Mentally, I had prepared to be "done" earlier this month, thinking "oh, jobs will be really slim in June, who hires a sub the last week of school?"
Answer: everyone, apparently. I have worked every single school day in June, and I'm booked tomorrow, Monday, and hopefully the last day of school (had a teacher ask me but it's not in the online system yet.)
Over here on the west coast it has been unseasonably cold and cloudy, which makes it feel like the school year will go on forever. But the signs of the end of school are there: packed up boxes in classrooms, test study guides, libraries and textbook rooms in disarray, hyper kids. On days like yesterday, when I had 7th graders all day at AK-8, this is a Good Thing. "Nearly done!" I think to myself, with relief. But days like today, with some of my favorite freshmen at OHS, I get a little wistful and the rays of sun are a Sad Thing. It is especially hard as a sub because while I care about them very much, the kids don't really know me and won't miss me too much. Also, since I am applying like mad to any available jobs, I may not work for the district next year and therefore probably won't see them again.
Sigh.
Showing posts with label AK-8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AK-8. Show all posts
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Irritating
As my dear readers know, I teach mostly high school but in a wide variety of schools, from alternative high schools for inner city near-drop-outs, to a high school in a district populated mostly by rednecks, to a high school in "the hills" of suburbia with the kids of lawyers and professors who are just one step down from sending their kids to private school.
Anyways, I was at this rather well-off school this week and had the math class FROM HELL. I think the most infuriating thing about it is that these kids are supposed to know better. Demographically, they have been raised in 2-parent homes, gone to nice schools with high standards since Kindergarten, are likely to go on to college, and have been exposed to the value of an education (family, friends, and neighbors who are doing well thanks to their degrees.) Even if they don't match these demographics, they are going to a school where these attitudes are the norms and the predominant culture. So it makes me angry when they are rude, off-task, loud, and openly hostile to learning because they are squandering the opportunities that my other students don't have.
Since one of the purposes of this blog is to vent, and because I can't say it to their faces, I will say it now: YOU ARE AN IDIOT.
Yes, you, white male Soph-o-moron. You are ruder than the middle schoolers in the special education class for kids with behavioral disorders at AK-8.
Yes, you sassy girl. You think you are soooo street when you listen to your headphones during class and bop along to the words instead of listening to my explanation in math, but a know a few single moms on the north side that can kick your butt in work ethic. And they will, and I will laugh.
Yes, you, Junior in Algebra 1. You think you are delightfully, counter-culturally average. In a school with over achievers, you revel in not achieving. You wear your C's with pride. Let me tell you, there is a world beyond this high school. A world where lots of Juniors are in Algebra 1 because they have been hampered with sub-par schools their whole life, because they don't have parental support after school, because they don't believe college can be a reality for them. Stop wasting your time on sitting around, your parents' money on weed. Or don't. I really don't care, because tomorrow I'm going to go to a different school and expend my energy on kids who need it. Right now, as you graffiti the table and tear your worksheet up into little pieces, I'm imagining you pumping gas for all the students who clawed their way out of poverty by using all the opportunities provided to them at school and beyond.
OK, that feels better.
Anyways, I was at this rather well-off school this week and had the math class FROM HELL. I think the most infuriating thing about it is that these kids are supposed to know better. Demographically, they have been raised in 2-parent homes, gone to nice schools with high standards since Kindergarten, are likely to go on to college, and have been exposed to the value of an education (family, friends, and neighbors who are doing well thanks to their degrees.) Even if they don't match these demographics, they are going to a school where these attitudes are the norms and the predominant culture. So it makes me angry when they are rude, off-task, loud, and openly hostile to learning because they are squandering the opportunities that my other students don't have.
Since one of the purposes of this blog is to vent, and because I can't say it to their faces, I will say it now: YOU ARE AN IDIOT.
Yes, you, white male Soph-o-moron. You are ruder than the middle schoolers in the special education class for kids with behavioral disorders at AK-8.
Yes, you sassy girl. You think you are soooo street when you listen to your headphones during class and bop along to the words instead of listening to my explanation in math, but a know a few single moms on the north side that can kick your butt in work ethic. And they will, and I will laugh.
Yes, you, Junior in Algebra 1. You think you are delightfully, counter-culturally average. In a school with over achievers, you revel in not achieving. You wear your C's with pride. Let me tell you, there is a world beyond this high school. A world where lots of Juniors are in Algebra 1 because they have been hampered with sub-par schools their whole life, because they don't have parental support after school, because they don't believe college can be a reality for them. Stop wasting your time on sitting around, your parents' money on weed. Or don't. I really don't care, because tomorrow I'm going to go to a different school and expend my energy on kids who need it. Right now, as you graffiti the table and tear your worksheet up into little pieces, I'm imagining you pumping gas for all the students who clawed their way out of poverty by using all the opportunities provided to them at school and beyond.
OK, that feels better.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
We Wish You Were Our Teacher All the Time!
This statement is a double edged sword. Just as you get all happy and proud that a student said that to their substitute teacher, you get the follow-up:
"... because you let us talk all period."
"... because we never get to watch movies with our regular teacher."
"... because you're pretty."
Today, though, I got a great comment:
"I wish you were our art teacher all the time because instead of just telling us our paintings are bad, you show us ways to improve them and tell us when we do it well."
Aw. Thanks kid. I try.
"... because you let us talk all period."
"... because we never get to watch movies with our regular teacher."
"... because you're pretty."
Today, though, I got a great comment:
"I wish you were our art teacher all the time because instead of just telling us our paintings are bad, you show us ways to improve them and tell us when we do it well."
Aw. Thanks kid. I try.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Up, Up and Awaaaaay!
Just had 2 very nice days at AK8 Part Deux - a different K-8 school that the AK-8 teacher moved to which is also called .... AK-8. Anyways, I saw all grade levels, drew elephants and value scales and volcanoes, discussed "Washington Crosses the Delaware" at length, and somehow survived the technology classes too.
Tomorrow I believe I am taking off work and taking off in a plane! I'm hoping not to work but you never know if your favorite teacher will have an emergency. Then I'm headed to the East Coast without my laptop for a few days.
Ta ta!
Tomorrow I believe I am taking off work and taking off in a plane! I'm hoping not to work but you never know if your favorite teacher will have an emergency. Then I'm headed to the East Coast without my laptop for a few days.
Ta ta!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
My, how they've grown.
One of the main things that I miss about being a classroom teacher is the bonds and relationships one forms with their students, and the opportunity to see those students grow. Sure, I get to go to OHS and check in on my former charges, but I am not experiencing the growth with a fresh batch this year.
Even as a substitute, though, you can see some growth. For example, I was at AK-8 today, with the Wednesday kids that I used to see weekly in the fall. The eighth graders today came in, were relatively polite, mostly did their work in a non-messy way, noticed the time, cleaned up completely, and headed back to class! Color me speechless! Now, of course I can't take credit for more than a tiny percentage of their education, so at the end of the day I went down the hall and complimented them to their teacher. She said that's the third compliment she's gotten today - they went on a field trip and were praised by the Courthouse staff and the city bus driver who took them there. So they really are growing!
Even as a substitute, though, you can see some growth. For example, I was at AK-8 today, with the Wednesday kids that I used to see weekly in the fall. The eighth graders today came in, were relatively polite, mostly did their work in a non-messy way, noticed the time, cleaned up completely, and headed back to class! Color me speechless! Now, of course I can't take credit for more than a tiny percentage of their education, so at the end of the day I went down the hall and complimented them to their teacher. She said that's the third compliment she's gotten today - they went on a field trip and were praised by the Courthouse staff and the city bus driver who took them there. So they really are growing!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Gravy Train Has Left The Station
So all school year I have had a weekly gig, filling in for a former co-worker at his new school. For health reasons he needed one day off a week, so there I was as regular as clock-work.
It was a great thing for me in many ways, because it was a guaranteed job that added into my monthly paycheck quite nicely, it added structure to my week which is rare in the world of substitute teaching, and it was nice to create connections with "my" kids.
What wasn't so great was the actual job itself - an art room in a K-8 - it was filled with mayhem and stress. Pretty much, starting at 8:15 I got a group of kids for 45 minutes, then as one group rolled out the next rolled in, so no break at ALL until 11:45. No time to clean paint trays, set out new materials, go to the bathroom, grab a snack. Add to this the crazy organization of the day - 5th graders followed by 3rd graders followed by 7th graders followed by 2nd ... and it was a whirlwind of stress and activity. I never left without being totally exhausted.
So, when I found out that this teacher's physician will not be writing any more excused notes, I had very mixed feelings. On one hand, it was a day I started to dread every week. On the other, now that weekly safety net is gone. Hopefully my other contacts will pick up the slack and the gravy train won't be missed.
It was a great thing for me in many ways, because it was a guaranteed job that added into my monthly paycheck quite nicely, it added structure to my week which is rare in the world of substitute teaching, and it was nice to create connections with "my" kids.
What wasn't so great was the actual job itself - an art room in a K-8 - it was filled with mayhem and stress. Pretty much, starting at 8:15 I got a group of kids for 45 minutes, then as one group rolled out the next rolled in, so no break at ALL until 11:45. No time to clean paint trays, set out new materials, go to the bathroom, grab a snack. Add to this the crazy organization of the day - 5th graders followed by 3rd graders followed by 7th graders followed by 2nd ... and it was a whirlwind of stress and activity. I never left without being totally exhausted.
So, when I found out that this teacher's physician will not be writing any more excused notes, I had very mixed feelings. On one hand, it was a day I started to dread every week. On the other, now that weekly safety net is gone. Hopefully my other contacts will pick up the slack and the gravy train won't be missed.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Kids say ...
The most bizarre things.
Overheard 5th graders chatting (and started taking copious notes)....
Boy 1: Pulls something small out of his pocket. OMG! The tracker! They're sending banshees after us!
Boy 2: How did you get that?!?!
Boy 1: I put it in my pocket when I was pretending to throw away my plasma gun in the forest ...
Boys continue to discuss the epic battle in the forest while I grab furiously for pencil and paper. An important point of order arises: are they called force fields or bubble shields? And, how much does it protect you from things with blue tentacles.
Overheard 5th graders chatting (and started taking copious notes)....
Boy 1: Pulls something small out of his pocket. OMG! The tracker! They're sending banshees after us!
Boy 2: How did you get that?!?!
Boy 1: I put it in my pocket when I was pretending to throw away my plasma gun in the forest ...
Boys continue to discuss the epic battle in the forest while I grab furiously for pencil and paper. An important point of order arises: are they called force fields or bubble shields? And, how much does it protect you from things with blue tentacles.
Boy 3: What if you had a Breeder on your team? That would be awesome.
Boy 1: Yeah, but they don't have tentacles ...
Oh man, do I wish I had a plasma gun, if only for pretend.
Boy 1: Yeah, but they don't have tentacles ...
Oh man, do I wish I had a plasma gun, if only for pretend.
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