So, in a weird and yet not totally unexpected twist, my principal is no longer my principal. She has been reassigned. I don't know where she's going...I just know it's away.
I feel weird about it. I should be totally excited because she is CLEARLY insane. She wasn't a good principal. But, I'm not totally excited. I'm kindof freaking out.
At least I knew what I was getting with her, you know? I had gotten used to her brand of crazy. I knew what exactly I could and couldn't do, I knew how the school was ran. Now, who the hell knows what is going to happen. They could send us somebody awesome--but the chances of that are slim to none. It's pretty much a toss-up between complete tyrant and hapless loser. Nobody cares about us enough to give us someone actually worthwhile. We'll more than likely get another principal who has also been reassigned because they sucked it up real bad at their last school.
So, I'm in limbo right now. Anything anybody said two months ago--what I'm teaching, who I'm teaching, what teachers I'm teaching with, really means nothing. I have no idea what the vibe in the building will be, how the whole thing is going to run, how the kids are going to respond to this new person, how this new person treats teachers, etc.,etc.,etc. How effin' scary is that?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
A+!
So, last week was 8th Grade Week. 8th grade week is the reason I never post anything anymore, because I basically had to do it all myself and it ruined my life for about 2 months. We had 4 trips (six flags, skating, Lion King in NYC and a class picnic) and a prom. I'll get some more information about all that on here once I can process it.
Anyway, it was kind of a given that after 8th Grade Week, the 8th graders would taper off in attendance. Promotional Exercises are on June 8th. All the teachers not so subtly encouraged them (without actually saying anything) that they didn't really have to come to school. Principal, meanwhile, informed them that if they miss any school, or even come in late, they can't walk at "graduation." (I know they are only 8th graders, YOU know they are only 8th graders...apparently, this does not matter to anyone but us.)
So, that is all well and good. Principals are supposed to say "come to school," school really isn't over until next week anyway, blah blah blah.
However, if you are going to demand that these kids come to school, HOW ABOUT YOU NOT ANNOUNCE OVER THE INTERCOM ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THAT GRADES ARE DUE TODAY???
So what, exactly, am I supposed to do with these children?
Anyway, it was kind of a given that after 8th Grade Week, the 8th graders would taper off in attendance. Promotional Exercises are on June 8th. All the teachers not so subtly encouraged them (without actually saying anything) that they didn't really have to come to school. Principal, meanwhile, informed them that if they miss any school, or even come in late, they can't walk at "graduation." (I know they are only 8th graders, YOU know they are only 8th graders...apparently, this does not matter to anyone but us.)
So, that is all well and good. Principals are supposed to say "come to school," school really isn't over until next week anyway, blah blah blah.
However, if you are going to demand that these kids come to school, HOW ABOUT YOU NOT ANNOUNCE OVER THE INTERCOM ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THAT GRADES ARE DUE TODAY???
So what, exactly, am I supposed to do with these children?
Saturday, May 9, 2009
"My mother knows I don't use periods, so I don't even care."
Well.
The kids are in the computer lab typing their research papers on social issues. We spent three days in the library researching, and two days in the computer lab typing. Their papers have to be 500 words. I taught them how to use the "word count" function in Microsoft Word, so I have to get word count updates every five seconds.
Plagarism is a huge HUGE HUGE issue. I get it. It wasn't that long ago that I was typing papers. I want to go back and ask my teachers, was it so completely obvious? My kids will copy/past entire paragraphs. In the past four days, I have said, "IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD MEANS, DO NOT PUT IT IN YOUR PAPER!" about, oh, 3948320948093483204i32 times.
So, we'll be in the computer lab, a kid will raise his/her hand to say they are finished. I will walk over, start reading the essay and then find a big word. "Uh, Taylor, what does it mean to have democratic values?"..."Ummm, it means...uhh..."
Right, you're aren't finished.
Everyone else will just sigh and go back to work (using the "synonym" function to try and find a word they do know). Oh, but not Tre. Tre's issue was the death penalty. He told me he was finished. I asked him if he knew all the words in his paper. He said, "most." I told him I wasn't coming over there until he knew what his paper said. Five minutes later, he says he is finished. I walk over.
"Tre, what does 'consulted' mean?"
"It means, like, the same as assaulted."
"No. it doesn't."
"Well, it does to me."
"Tre, I can call this keyboard ice cream, but it's still a keyboard and it's not ice cream."
"Uggghhh. Can't you just look at the rest?"
"fine." 5 seconds later "what does 'a moral issue' mean?"
"that's what the librarian told me to put so I put it."
"But what does it mean?"
"I don't know. She told me it."
"IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD MEANS, DO NOT PUT IT IN YOUR PAPER."
"Well, you said 500 words, and I wrote 500 words, so I don't even care."
"You don't care that you have an essay that you don't understand? What about this part, it says, 'is the death penalty the death penalty is'?"
"It's two separate sentences."
"Where's the period?"
"I don't use periods when I write."
"Tre, is this the essay you want to turn in to me? Because if it is, I'm going to have to have a conference with your mother."
*See title.*
The kids are in the computer lab typing their research papers on social issues. We spent three days in the library researching, and two days in the computer lab typing. Their papers have to be 500 words. I taught them how to use the "word count" function in Microsoft Word, so I have to get word count updates every five seconds.
Plagarism is a huge HUGE HUGE issue. I get it. It wasn't that long ago that I was typing papers. I want to go back and ask my teachers, was it so completely obvious? My kids will copy/past entire paragraphs. In the past four days, I have said, "IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD MEANS, DO NOT PUT IT IN YOUR PAPER!" about, oh, 3948320948093483204i32 times.
So, we'll be in the computer lab, a kid will raise his/her hand to say they are finished. I will walk over, start reading the essay and then find a big word. "Uh, Taylor, what does it mean to have democratic values?"..."Ummm, it means...uhh..."
Right, you're aren't finished.
Everyone else will just sigh and go back to work (using the "synonym" function to try and find a word they do know). Oh, but not Tre. Tre's issue was the death penalty. He told me he was finished. I asked him if he knew all the words in his paper. He said, "most." I told him I wasn't coming over there until he knew what his paper said. Five minutes later, he says he is finished. I walk over.
"Tre, what does 'consulted' mean?"
"It means, like, the same as assaulted."
"No. it doesn't."
"Well, it does to me."
"Tre, I can call this keyboard ice cream, but it's still a keyboard and it's not ice cream."
"Uggghhh. Can't you just look at the rest?"
"fine." 5 seconds later "what does 'a moral issue' mean?"
"that's what the librarian told me to put so I put it."
"But what does it mean?"
"I don't know. She told me it."
"IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WORD MEANS, DO NOT PUT IT IN YOUR PAPER."
"Well, you said 500 words, and I wrote 500 words, so I don't even care."
"You don't care that you have an essay that you don't understand? What about this part, it says, 'is the death penalty the death penalty is'?"
"It's two separate sentences."
"Where's the period?"
"I don't use periods when I write."
"Tre, is this the essay you want to turn in to me? Because if it is, I'm going to have to have a conference with your mother."
*See title.*
Sunday, May 3, 2009
All You Need Is Some Blood and Guts
It is a bad time of year to be teaching 8th grade. They are so ready to be out of there, but there's more than a month left of school. They don't care about anything. I swear I could be at the front of the room saying, "The answer to all of life's problems is..." or "Tomorrow's lottery numbers are..." and most of the class would still be talking or drawing doodles or making googly eyes at somebody else in the class.
We're talking about the American Revolution, so I showed them "The Patriot." We talked about all the ways it was wrong (you know, like how the entire war is not one dude's revenge mission) and I kept pausing it to show them important parts of history (how the British and Americans fought, the bundling bag, etc.) They LOVED it. And I don't think love is too strong of a word. After Mel Gibson kills 20 guys all by himself, they were hooked. I would even warn them, "this part is going to be gross, so if that bothers you, you'll probably want to look away." That just made their attention more rapt.
I had people crying when one guy died, and at the end, one entire class stood up and cheered.
I don't want to be THAT teacher. The movie teacher. Ugh. The thought disgusts me. But wow. For three whole days all of my classes were at full attention.
We're talking about the American Revolution, so I showed them "The Patriot." We talked about all the ways it was wrong (you know, like how the entire war is not one dude's revenge mission) and I kept pausing it to show them important parts of history (how the British and Americans fought, the bundling bag, etc.) They LOVED it. And I don't think love is too strong of a word. After Mel Gibson kills 20 guys all by himself, they were hooked. I would even warn them, "this part is going to be gross, so if that bothers you, you'll probably want to look away." That just made their attention more rapt.
I had people crying when one guy died, and at the end, one entire class stood up and cheered.
I don't want to be THAT teacher. The movie teacher. Ugh. The thought disgusts me. But wow. For three whole days all of my classes were at full attention.
Blowin' Smoke
1. I walked into the office and the secretary told me that Deonte was in trouble, he was allegedly smoking weed in the bathroom. She asked me to go ask him if it was true.
He was sitting in a chair in Principal's back office. I didn't go all the way in, I just kind of stood at the doorway and whispered his name. He looked up, and I mouthed to him, "were you smoking?" and made the "smoking" motion with my hand.
His answer:
"Um, ehh...not reaaally."
2. Rakeem came into class with his eyes half closed. I asked him if he was okay,and he said, "Ehh, heh, heh, yeaaaah. Do you have anything to eat?"
Riiiight. I sent him down the hall to another teacher, who just so happens to be his uncle. "Rakeem is looking a little funny today."
Rakeem comes back to me after school to tell me that it was his allergies that made him act that way. "Yeah, that would be a fantastic excuse if it didn't take you FOUR HOURS to come up with it."
He was sitting in a chair in Principal's back office. I didn't go all the way in, I just kind of stood at the doorway and whispered his name. He looked up, and I mouthed to him, "were you smoking?" and made the "smoking" motion with my hand.
His answer:
"Um, ehh...not reaaally."
2. Rakeem came into class with his eyes half closed. I asked him if he was okay,and he said, "Ehh, heh, heh, yeaaaah. Do you have anything to eat?"
Riiiight. I sent him down the hall to another teacher, who just so happens to be his uncle. "Rakeem is looking a little funny today."
Rakeem comes back to me after school to tell me that it was his allergies that made him act that way. "Yeah, that would be a fantastic excuse if it didn't take you FOUR HOURS to come up with it."
Saturday, April 25, 2009
All I Know Is One Time In Chemistry My Lab Partner Tried To Set Me On Fire
I forgot this other fun little teaching science tidbit:
For two weeks, I only taught what the science IST gave me, basically test prep books. It was like death. Sooooo boring. So, I ended up looking up a simple science experiment and doing that. It was fun. I asked the Science IST if she had any other experiments I could do instead of the terrible test prep books.
She says sure. She brings me a whole crap load of stuff. We are going to see how many drops of water can fit on a penny. (It's cool, the kids guess like 10, but you can really fit like 60-70.) So she gives me all the supplies. I say, "Okay, cool, but what is the purpose?"
Her: You....are....putting...drops...on.....a....penny.
Me: Right. But what is the point of the experiment?
Her: Okay, here is the dropper, and here is the penny....
Me: I Know!! But after we finish the experiment, I say...? I don't know what concept I am teaching here.
Her: Miss Vinson, you obviously didn't pay attention in high school. *Starts to leave*
Me: What the...? Can you tell me what I'm teaching?!
Her: *sigh*, I have been doing you A LOT of favors lately.
Me: Thanks?
Her: it is about surface tension and cohesion.
Me: Cohesion?
Her: *Sigh*
For two weeks, I only taught what the science IST gave me, basically test prep books. It was like death. Sooooo boring. So, I ended up looking up a simple science experiment and doing that. It was fun. I asked the Science IST if she had any other experiments I could do instead of the terrible test prep books.
She says sure. She brings me a whole crap load of stuff. We are going to see how many drops of water can fit on a penny. (It's cool, the kids guess like 10, but you can really fit like 60-70.) So she gives me all the supplies. I say, "Okay, cool, but what is the purpose?"
Her: You....are....putting...drops...on.....a....penny.
Me: Right. But what is the point of the experiment?
Her: Okay, here is the dropper, and here is the penny....
Me: I Know!! But after we finish the experiment, I say...? I don't know what concept I am teaching here.
Her: Miss Vinson, you obviously didn't pay attention in high school. *Starts to leave*
Me: What the...? Can you tell me what I'm teaching?!
Her: *sigh*, I have been doing you A LOT of favors lately.
Me: Thanks?
Her: it is about surface tension and cohesion.
Me: Cohesion?
Her: *Sigh*
Great Expectations
Kenyonna.
She used to come in everyday, sit in the corner and do her work. I didn't really talk to her that much, but she was never rude or anything to me. I heard from two of her other teachers that she was causing serious problems.
Her birthday was about 3 weeks ago. She walked into class, picked up her work, threw it on the ground and said, "I don't know how to do this!" I said, "Kenyonna, you didn't even look at it."..."I DON'T HAVE TO FUCKING STAY IN HERE!!!" And she walked out. What the...
So, i write an office referral. On the referral I describe what happened, but I say that since this entire episode happened in about 30 seconds, and I've never seen her like that before, I'm pretty sure something else is going on that doesn't have anything to do with me.
She comes back to me about 30 minutes later and we talk in the hallway. She tells me that she's mad that her birthday never turns out how she wants it to. I get that, I've been there. I told her that it sucked about her birthday, but she couldn't talk to me like that.I pretty much just decided to let the whole thing go.
(Oh, and side note: every time someone writes an office referral, the administration says that you have to call a parent before they will do anything. Okay.
Kenyonna and two of her sisters go to our school, and all three cause trouble. Once an administrator called the house and had this conversation:
Admin: Hi, I'm calling about your daughter.
Mom: Which one? I have seven.
Admin: Seven! Wow! You must have your hands full.
Mom: What? they're just kids. I could have 12 and it wouldn't matter.)
But ever since then, she won't do any work, she won't talk to me or look at me. It's really weird. She tells people that she hates me and her math teacher. That's fine, but I don't get it.
On Thursday, I was walking around passing out rulers. She had been in the corner sleeping (her usual routine lately) but she had gotten up and walked across the room. I told her to sit down. She said, "If you hit me with that ruler, I will smack you." Again, what the...I wasn't being confrontational, I didn't even yell, "sit down." I kind of rolled my eyes, like, "okay, crazy.." But kids can't threaten me, so I wrote her another office referral (I've only written two all year--both for her!). Nothing happened. NOTHING. She was in my class the next day. Nobody mentioned the office referral. She still wouldn't talk to me, but she did all her work. If she had a question, she would ask another girl to ask me. Again, WEIRD.
But I really tell you that, to tell you this:
So, we get out of school at 2:35. Najee's hair was a huge mess. Takeeta had asked that, if they both finished all their work, could she fix Najee's hair. Okay, fine. it's Friday. When you are finished. (I know, I'm a terrible teacher, I should be taken out back and shot.)
At 2:30, Takeeta started re-braiding Najee's hair. At 2:31, Principal came into my class and starting yelling about how I'm a terrible teacher and this school is about learning, etc., etc.,etc....pretty standard principal talk. I get it, she has to say something, it's good. I know I shouldn't have let it happen, etc., etc.
But after the bell rings, she calls to me down the hallway to come see her. We have this conversation:
Principal: miss vinson, That was completely unacceptable.
Me: I'm sorry. There were only 5 minutes left, and they had finished all their work.
Principal: I don't care if there were 30 seconds left, they need to be working.
Me: Okay.
Principal: I mean, how dare you.
Me: Principal, come on. My class is the only class Takeeta even CAME to today. She was running the halls. And she did WORK for me. She wasn't running around cussing everybody out.
Principal: You have the wrong attitude about all this miss vinson!! We have EXPECTATIONS in this building!
Me: Yeah? Well, if expectations are so high, why didn't anything happen to Kenyonna after she threatened to smack me?
Principal: Right, and you didn't call her mother.
Me: You want me to call that mother? The one who said no teacher is allowed to talk to her?
Principal: *Sigh* Well, *Sigh* I guess I'll suspend her. *Sigh*
Me: Well, don't do me any favors. It doesn't even matter now.
She used to come in everyday, sit in the corner and do her work. I didn't really talk to her that much, but she was never rude or anything to me. I heard from two of her other teachers that she was causing serious problems.
Her birthday was about 3 weeks ago. She walked into class, picked up her work, threw it on the ground and said, "I don't know how to do this!" I said, "Kenyonna, you didn't even look at it."..."I DON'T HAVE TO FUCKING STAY IN HERE!!!" And she walked out. What the...
So, i write an office referral. On the referral I describe what happened, but I say that since this entire episode happened in about 30 seconds, and I've never seen her like that before, I'm pretty sure something else is going on that doesn't have anything to do with me.
She comes back to me about 30 minutes later and we talk in the hallway. She tells me that she's mad that her birthday never turns out how she wants it to. I get that, I've been there. I told her that it sucked about her birthday, but she couldn't talk to me like that.I pretty much just decided to let the whole thing go.
(Oh, and side note: every time someone writes an office referral, the administration says that you have to call a parent before they will do anything. Okay.
Kenyonna and two of her sisters go to our school, and all three cause trouble. Once an administrator called the house and had this conversation:
Admin: Hi, I'm calling about your daughter.
Mom: Which one? I have seven.
Admin: Seven! Wow! You must have your hands full.
Mom: What? they're just kids. I could have 12 and it wouldn't matter.)
But ever since then, she won't do any work, she won't talk to me or look at me. It's really weird. She tells people that she hates me and her math teacher. That's fine, but I don't get it.
On Thursday, I was walking around passing out rulers. She had been in the corner sleeping (her usual routine lately) but she had gotten up and walked across the room. I told her to sit down. She said, "If you hit me with that ruler, I will smack you." Again, what the...I wasn't being confrontational, I didn't even yell, "sit down." I kind of rolled my eyes, like, "okay, crazy.." But kids can't threaten me, so I wrote her another office referral (I've only written two all year--both for her!). Nothing happened. NOTHING. She was in my class the next day. Nobody mentioned the office referral. She still wouldn't talk to me, but she did all her work. If she had a question, she would ask another girl to ask me. Again, WEIRD.
But I really tell you that, to tell you this:
So, we get out of school at 2:35. Najee's hair was a huge mess. Takeeta had asked that, if they both finished all their work, could she fix Najee's hair. Okay, fine. it's Friday. When you are finished. (I know, I'm a terrible teacher, I should be taken out back and shot.)
At 2:30, Takeeta started re-braiding Najee's hair. At 2:31, Principal came into my class and starting yelling about how I'm a terrible teacher and this school is about learning, etc., etc.,etc....pretty standard principal talk. I get it, she has to say something, it's good. I know I shouldn't have let it happen, etc., etc.
But after the bell rings, she calls to me down the hallway to come see her. We have this conversation:
Principal: miss vinson, That was completely unacceptable.
Me: I'm sorry. There were only 5 minutes left, and they had finished all their work.
Principal: I don't care if there were 30 seconds left, they need to be working.
Me: Okay.
Principal: I mean, how dare you.
Me: Principal, come on. My class is the only class Takeeta even CAME to today. She was running the halls. And she did WORK for me. She wasn't running around cussing everybody out.
Principal: You have the wrong attitude about all this miss vinson!! We have EXPECTATIONS in this building!
Me: Yeah? Well, if expectations are so high, why didn't anything happen to Kenyonna after she threatened to smack me?
Principal: Right, and you didn't call her mother.
Me: You want me to call that mother? The one who said no teacher is allowed to talk to her?
Principal: *Sigh* Well, *Sigh* I guess I'll suspend her. *Sigh*
Me: Well, don't do me any favors. It doesn't even matter now.
Hopefully I Can Update The Blog From Prison
So, the CEO of our school system had a fancy plan for schools to have "autonomy," so principals were put in charge of their own budgets. A good idea, I'm sure, if the principal isn't a nutcase.
We are a Title 1 school, (i.e....POOR) and we receive money that is designated as Title 1. (becoming Title 1 depends on how many of your students receive free lunch.) This money is supposed to be used to help those students.
Our esteemed principal has attempted to use this money to purchase the following:
1. a new refrigerator for the teacher's lounge
2. catered food for the 8th grade prom
3. buses for a trip to six flags.
I'm sure there is more, that is just what I know about.
I know these things because I am in charge of all the 8th grade activities. Activities that she created, then decided on the dollar amount for the class dues, left me to do all the work, and then refused to give me any money. She said I could only charge the kids $100. But she included a trip to six flags, a prom, a class picnic, and a skating trip. Then, she runs out of money. so when I give her the invoice for the prom food, she's all, "oh, just use Title 1 money. I never promised you anything else." Awesome.
We are a Title 1 school, (i.e....POOR) and we receive money that is designated as Title 1. (becoming Title 1 depends on how many of your students receive free lunch.) This money is supposed to be used to help those students.
Our esteemed principal has attempted to use this money to purchase the following:
1. a new refrigerator for the teacher's lounge
2. catered food for the 8th grade prom
3. buses for a trip to six flags.
I'm sure there is more, that is just what I know about.
I know these things because I am in charge of all the 8th grade activities. Activities that she created, then decided on the dollar amount for the class dues, left me to do all the work, and then refused to give me any money. She said I could only charge the kids $100. But she included a trip to six flags, a prom, a class picnic, and a skating trip. Then, she runs out of money. so when I give her the invoice for the prom food, she's all, "oh, just use Title 1 money. I never promised you anything else." Awesome.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
The Big Yellow One Is The Sun
So, like I said, the black cloud of test prep left me....momentarily. I was informed yesterday that I will be TEACHING SCIENCE FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. The past six weeks have been reading/language arts. That was horrible. But I could
fake it. Reading. I do that. SCIENCE??? No. Nope. Not at all. The 8th graders have to take a science MSA on April 22. They had science last semester. They didn't pay attention to their teacher. They don't know any science. Like, AT ALL.
I am supposed to teach them all of middle school science in the next three weeks. sweet. The science IST came to me and said she has lessons for me. A bunch of videos. I am supposed to teach this monday. I have seen none of these
lessons she has. She doesn't come to work until 9am. School starts at 7:45.
Today, I anticipated the fact that no one would prepare me for something I know nothing about and they are forcing me to do, so I asked her if I could have a set of science textbooks. She really looked at me like I all of a sudden started speaking Chinese. "What? Why? Why would you need that?"
SERIOUSLY? seriously. Seriously?
Well, I said, you know for vocabulary and INFORMATION. Since I don't know anything about middle school science.
"Oh, well, okay. I'll try to find something."
Gee, thanks so much for all your help.
fake it. Reading. I do that. SCIENCE??? No. Nope. Not at all. The 8th graders have to take a science MSA on April 22. They had science last semester. They didn't pay attention to their teacher. They don't know any science. Like, AT ALL.
I am supposed to teach them all of middle school science in the next three weeks. sweet. The science IST came to me and said she has lessons for me. A bunch of videos. I am supposed to teach this monday. I have seen none of these
lessons she has. She doesn't come to work until 9am. School starts at 7:45.
Today, I anticipated the fact that no one would prepare me for something I know nothing about and they are forcing me to do, so I asked her if I could have a set of science textbooks. She really looked at me like I all of a sudden started speaking Chinese. "What? Why? Why would you need that?"
SERIOUSLY? seriously. Seriously?
Well, I said, you know for vocabulary and INFORMATION. Since I don't know anything about middle school science.
"Oh, well, okay. I'll try to find something."
Gee, thanks so much for all your help.
MSA TESTING: DO NOT DISTURB
wow. yeah. been gone awhile. Prepare for an onslaught of posting.
we just finished our standardized testing this week, so the dark cloud of teaching test prep was gone and things were looking up. But then I remembered where I work. But I'll get to that in a minute. A few other things first.
-The testing schedule was, of course, completely stupid, but whatever. I had to take my homeroom class upstairs and get another class and bring them down and test them in my room. In the process of all this moving, Somebody tells a kid in the class that I am getting, "Wow, y'all are lucky. You get to test in Ms. Vinson's room." Everybody's favorite IST, Ms. Sperry, (who's in the hallway) says very loudly, "WHAT IS SO FREAKING SPECIAL ABOUT MS. VINSON?"
Wow, bitter much?
Later on, she asks me if I heard her say that. Well..seeing as how I was STANDING RIGHT THERE. She then says, "Oh, haha. I mean, do you give them food or something?" What are they, stray dogs? No, I don't give them food so they'll like me, LADY.
And while we're on the subject of the lovely Ms. Sperry...
I have this kid. Jaquan. He's kind of a whiny jerk. But, I have discovered that as long as he is not hot, he'll at least attempt his work. So my classroom has two fans. One is the "Class Fan" and one is the "Jaquan's Fan." Jaquan will stroll in, assemble his workstation of desk, chair and fan in the corner and do his work. Ms. Sperry was all in a tizzy. "Why does he get special privileges? Why are you treating him different?" Blahblahblah. LOOK! maybe it's not perfect. But here's the deal. I have to work in this building everyday and I have to NOT have
the desire to blow the place up. If kids treated me the way all these other teachers get treated, I would feel inclined to BLOW THE PLACE UP. So, if Jaquan needs a fan and a corner to get his work done and not be an asshole, THEN THE BOY IS GETTING A FAN. I don't think it is an unreasonable compromise. OH! and I believe it is MY classroom.
Right, so, moving on. I was having a conversation with another social studies teacher. This teacher told me that Ms. Sperry told HER the story of Jaquan and his fan, but said it like I'm doing something wonderful. Something along the lines of, "Well, all of Ms. Vinson's students are always on-task and working. I don't know how she does it! She even lets a kid have his own fan so he'll do his work. Maybe you should observe her classroom to see how she does it."
I swear her goal in life is to make me think I'm crazy.
we just finished our standardized testing this week, so the dark cloud of teaching test prep was gone and things were looking up. But then I remembered where I work. But I'll get to that in a minute. A few other things first.
-The testing schedule was, of course, completely stupid, but whatever. I had to take my homeroom class upstairs and get another class and bring them down and test them in my room. In the process of all this moving, Somebody tells a kid in the class that I am getting, "Wow, y'all are lucky. You get to test in Ms. Vinson's room." Everybody's favorite IST, Ms. Sperry, (who's in the hallway) says very loudly, "WHAT IS SO FREAKING SPECIAL ABOUT MS. VINSON?"
Wow, bitter much?
Later on, she asks me if I heard her say that. Well..seeing as how I was STANDING RIGHT THERE. She then says, "Oh, haha. I mean, do you give them food or something?" What are they, stray dogs? No, I don't give them food so they'll like me, LADY.
And while we're on the subject of the lovely Ms. Sperry...
I have this kid. Jaquan. He's kind of a whiny jerk. But, I have discovered that as long as he is not hot, he'll at least attempt his work. So my classroom has two fans. One is the "Class Fan" and one is the "Jaquan's Fan." Jaquan will stroll in, assemble his workstation of desk, chair and fan in the corner and do his work. Ms. Sperry was all in a tizzy. "Why does he get special privileges? Why are you treating him different?" Blahblahblah. LOOK! maybe it's not perfect. But here's the deal. I have to work in this building everyday and I have to NOT have
the desire to blow the place up. If kids treated me the way all these other teachers get treated, I would feel inclined to BLOW THE PLACE UP. So, if Jaquan needs a fan and a corner to get his work done and not be an asshole, THEN THE BOY IS GETTING A FAN. I don't think it is an unreasonable compromise. OH! and I believe it is MY classroom.
Right, so, moving on. I was having a conversation with another social studies teacher. This teacher told me that Ms. Sperry told HER the story of Jaquan and his fan, but said it like I'm doing something wonderful. Something along the lines of, "Well, all of Ms. Vinson's students are always on-task and working. I don't know how she does it! She even lets a kid have his own fan so he'll do his work. Maybe you should observe her classroom to see how she does it."
I swear her goal in life is to make me think I'm crazy.
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