December 30, 2005
Quick entry (I hope). Before I get on my rowing machine, I thought that I would do a blog entry (trying to keep up with my new year resolution). Even though I used up my free minutes for my internet connection, I think that if I don’t keep up with my entries, I will end up starting the New Year the same way as the previous years, lots of plans and promises, but no results.
After procrastinating for a couple of days, I finally used my rowing machine yesterday. I only stayed on for 15 minutes; I did not want to risk injuring myself. In the past, injuring myself was something I often did. My knees, my back, my arms, my shoulders, etc… At one point in time or another, I am sure I must have injured every muscle in my body. This time, I really want to try to do things right, or at the very least, to do things better.
I don’t have much to write about today. I made a few errand runs today, and spent a couple of hours at the internet café.
My plans tomorrow are to
Go to the internet café to post this blog entry (I'll back date it to the approx. time this was written)
Go to the American Museum of Natural History. I haven’t done a single thing worth writing about this vacation, and I haven’t gone anywhere.
Go to the mall to buy another white shirt.
To exercise on my rowing machine.
Now that I’ve put it in writing, it will be interesting (to me) to see if I follow through with the plan.
END ========================================================
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Yesterday I finally received my rowing machine. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this machine. There is a whole story that goes with this machine, but in trying to keep with my new resolution, I am going to try to keep this short. Below is a cut and paste from an e-mail that I’d written. I can save a little time by cutting and pasting it below.
…A little bit of background information might help you understand my situation.
*I made a full payment by check.
*Although the check was cashed, about 2 weeks after it was cashed, I was still receiving messages on my account saying that they were still waiting to receive payment.
*They gave me 3 different delivery dates (each one came and went).
*I was told that there was a “glitch” in their computer system, and with a five dollar gift certificate, I should please be patient.
*After waiting about another week, I just canceled the order; it was then that they told me the item was out of stock.
*In total, it was almost about a 2 month run around.
For me, it was highly annoying day by day coming home wondering when and if the item would be there. I find that as I get older the abundance of patience that I once had slowly dissipating.
With the above episode over, I searched the internet, and I found another rowing machine. Why did I choose a rowing machine? I wanted a machine that would let a homebody (someone who does not like going out) like me to exercise in front of the TV.
For about the last three years (off and on), I’ve been leading a fairly sedentary life-style. That year – I was in Japan. I was paid to sit in the teacher’s room from 8:30 to 5pm (Monday thru Friday), even though kids were on summer vacation. Since the school paid for an English teacher, I guess they were determined to have an English teacher. Basically, I was the only one in the school (not including the old lady who gave me coffee each morning, and the principal, and the few teachers who would occasionally come in to read newspapers, chat or work?!?!).
Sorry, I am getting sidetracked. Basically, from then on, my life (professionally and personally) has been on a slow decline. For the most part, it has been my fault. Starting with the exercising, my New Year’s resolution is to get back on track. With this blog, I am hoping that by putting my plans (and actions) in writing, it will motivate me to do something to turn my life around.
Well, I was planning to write about my rowing machine, but I am going to stop here, so that I don’t turn this entry into a 2 hour ranting. Ja mata…
P.S. – The last couple of times, I’ve tried to post more than one photo, but I have not been successful, so I have to limit myself to having only one attachment. The photo is the completed rowing machine. It took me about a couple of hours to put it together. I would have finished sooner if I was not watching TV at the time (also if I had the correct tools).
END ========================================================
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Happy holiday! Well, I am almost sure your Christmas was better than mine. I wasn’t really in a festive mood. I stayed in my room until about 2pm. No breakfast and only two bathroom visits. Each time I was planning to come out there was either an argument or a conflict, so I just stayed in my room. I really did not want to deal with conflict this morning. As for the weather, it rained all day.
A couple of hours ago, my foster father’s lady friend’s son stopped by. He had his daughter and his girlfriend’s son with him. Why am I writing about the kids? I thought both of them were incredibly rude, but I could have just been overly sensitive.
While my foster father's lady friend's son was in my room (dropped off a few DVDs for me to watch – which was very nice), first his girl friend’s son basically walked in without an excuse me or a may I come in. Then later, the daughter came in, after her father left. She was eye-balling my things like she was casing the joint (english expression meaning to make a plan to steal by studying the surroundings). She asked me if she could use my computer to down load music onto her new MD3 player.
* I was struck speechless by the fact she knew I had a computer (laptop) under a pile of paper and junk on my table.
* I was surprised (dumbstruck) at her gall. Although I’d seen her once or twice (when she was a baby); I was basically talking to her for the first time.
A part of me wanted to go into an old geezer tirade about lack of respect from kids today, but instead, I just told her that I did not think it was a good idea. So, what did she say next (waving and jiggling her MD player)? She brags that she is so spoiled. I’m thinking to myself, “really”. She told me that she asked for the MD player yesterday, and got it today. What next?
A few minutes later, the girl friend’s son walked in again (followed closely by the daughter). The kid (son) was 9 years old.
He asked, “What do you have on your computer”.
Me: Excuse me?
Son: What games do you have I can play with on your computer?
-------------------------------------------------------
Sorry. My e-mail was supposed to be a reply to your e-mail, but it has turned into a blog entry. I was not planning to write anymore blog entries for a while, but since I have one, I guess I will post it. Unfortunately, it is late now, so I won’t be able to reply to your e-mail tonight. Happy Holiday!!!
December 27, 2005
Hello again. There was a little bit of a delay with sending the above apart of my reply. When I logged onto a "free" internet company I discovered that they changed my free 20 hour internet access (per month) to 10 hours without any notice. Each month I would keep a record in my notebook each day I was on the internet, including start time and end time, plus the total time spent on the internet each time. I would usually round up to be sure that I would have enough time to last. All of that record keeping, and they just change the time without notification. Now for the next 5 days, I will have to go to the internet café. Oh well.
A couple of hours ago, my foster father’s lady friend’s son stopped by. He had his daughter and his girlfriend’s son with him. Why am I writing about the kids? I thought both of them were incredibly rude, but I could have just been overly sensitive.
While my foster father's lady friend's son was in my room (dropped off a few DVDs for me to watch – which was very nice), first his girl friend’s son basically walked in without an excuse me or a may I come in. Then later, the daughter came in, after her father left. She was eye-balling my things like she was casing the joint (english expression meaning to make a plan to steal by studying the surroundings). She asked me if she could use my computer to down load music onto her new MD3 player.
* I was struck speechless by the fact she knew I had a computer (laptop) under a pile of paper and junk on my table.
* I was surprised (dumbstruck) at her gall. Although I’d seen her once or twice (when she was a baby); I was basically talking to her for the first time.
A part of me wanted to go into an old geezer tirade about lack of respect from kids today, but instead, I just told her that I did not think it was a good idea. So, what did she say next (waving and jiggling her MD player)? She brags that she is so spoiled. I’m thinking to myself, “really”. She told me that she asked for the MD player yesterday, and got it today. What next?
A few minutes later, the girl friend’s son walked in again (followed closely by the daughter). The kid (son) was 9 years old.
He asked, “What do you have on your computer”.
Me: Excuse me?
Son: What games do you have I can play with on your computer?
-------------------------------------------------------
Sorry. My e-mail was supposed to be a reply to your e-mail, but it has turned into a blog entry. I was not planning to write anymore blog entries for a while, but since I have one, I guess I will post it. Unfortunately, it is late now, so I won’t be able to reply to your e-mail tonight. Happy Holiday!!!
December 27, 2005
Hello again. There was a little bit of a delay with sending the above apart of my reply. When I logged onto a "free" internet company I discovered that they changed my free 20 hour internet access (per month) to 10 hours without any notice. Each month I would keep a record in my notebook each day I was on the internet, including start time and end time, plus the total time spent on the internet each time. I would usually round up to be sure that I would have enough time to last. All of that record keeping, and they just change the time without notification. Now for the next 5 days, I will have to go to the internet café. Oh well.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
This will be my final entry for a while. Why?
...just a quick one I wanted to tell you before I forget. You know something, after reading your blogs in Japan, and then in America, I personally thinkyour English is getting worse in your writing.
I received an e-mail from one of my pen pals (he currently lives in Japan). We were a couple of American English teachers working for the same company. There was nothing necessarily bad about the e-mail, just bad timing. I have a bad habit of answering the few e-mails I get when I am in a bad mood, in this case, listening to a minor incredibly petty (and incredibly loud) shouting match between my foster father and his lady friend. Not to mention the other "family" things I've avoided writing about. If you look at some of my blog posting times, you will be able to see that sleep has not been a high priority with me.
About my blog. I see my choices as being very limited:
1. I could just ignore the above comment(continue making embrassing mistakes [for a teacher] ).
2. Spend an extra hour (on top of the 1 or 2 hours I already spend per entry) to try proof-reading my entries.
3. Take a break from writing about the stress at work and at home (until there is less stress in my life).
I choose 3. In a couple of weeks, I should be feeling better. If I delete my blog by then, then it means I was feeling worst than I thought .
Take care.
Best regards.
...just a quick one I wanted to tell you before I forget. You know something, after reading your blogs in Japan, and then in America, I personally thinkyour English is getting worse in your writing.
I received an e-mail from one of my pen pals (he currently lives in Japan). We were a couple of American English teachers working for the same company. There was nothing necessarily bad about the e-mail, just bad timing. I have a bad habit of answering the few e-mails I get when I am in a bad mood, in this case, listening to a minor incredibly petty (and incredibly loud) shouting match between my foster father and his lady friend. Not to mention the other "family" things I've avoided writing about. If you look at some of my blog posting times, you will be able to see that sleep has not been a high priority with me.
About my blog. I see my choices as being very limited:
1. I could just ignore the above comment(continue making embrassing mistakes [for a teacher] ).
2. Spend an extra hour (on top of the 1 or 2 hours I already spend per entry) to try proof-reading my entries.
3. Take a break from writing about the stress at work and at home (until there is less stress in my life).
I choose 3. In a couple of weeks, I should be feeling better. If I delete my blog by then, then it means I was feeling worst than I thought .
Take care.
Best regards.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Quick entry. Tomorrow evening (actually today [I just looked at the clock on the wall]) I have a workshop to go to after school at BOE HQ in Brooklyn (4 to 6pm). The workshop is about process for getting the New York State Teaching license that I lost (and the new requirements in place) since my return to New York. That reminds me, in a future blog, I really should comment on the many changes to the teaching styles that have occurred while I’ve been overseas. The reading, math, science, social studies, and assessments have all changed. I suppose it was good that I returned from an educational point of view. Sorry, I’m getting sidetracked.
The first entry I want to make was about yesterday. Since I’ve been working, I’ve never been late to school. Yesterday, I arrived at 7:48; school starts at 8:30. I did not receive my schedule until 8:29. Never mind that I’ve been carrying about a 15 pound shopping bag filled with worksheets. Yes, filled with worksheets! I also have a backpack loaded with other teaching materials. I usually don’t know what grade I’ll be teaching, so I try to have enough material to at least pretend that I am professional and prepared.
Anyway, after receiving my schedule – and to no surprise, I have a class first period! The assistant principal also asked me to make a copy of the handwritten schedule for her. I had to wait about 3 or 4 minutes for a regular teacher to finish making her copies (in the copy room), she said that she could not let me skip her to make my one copy because she had a lesson first period (and had just put in OHP transparencies into the copy machine).
Today, I would be doing prep periods (for other teachers) in their classrooms. What I like about this school (relatively speaking) is that there is usually enough space to give me a classroom to do a prep period schedule in a classroom, but not today.
Since I had no classroom, I carried my jacket, backpack and shopping bag (filled with worksheets) up to the 3rd floor. I arrived about 15 minutes late. Upon arriving, the classroom teacher scolds me for coming late telling me, “don’t come late to my classroom” in front of her students. I wanted to explode, but instead I did a bumbling, fumbling attempt to explain why I was late. Never mind that she had already met me (a couple of days ago). She met me in the main office around 5pm; she was impressed to have met a substitute teacher who stayed after 3pm. Anyway, back to the present.
It just so happened that I had a lesson plan (and materials) to teach (entertain!?!?), however, the classroom teacher said that was not necessary, and that I could save my lesson for another class. She said that her class would be no problem while she was out of the room, and that I would love having her class.
To be honest, as much as a hate to admit it, she was correct, (relatively speaking), her class was very, very, extremely well behaved. I could see the students had the potential to fall apart (and go wild) if she took the day off, but they were very well behaved. They managed to stay on task for the whole period. So, what happened when the classroom teacher returned?
Nothing!
She came in and started talking to her students as if I didn’t exist. I waited about a minute (or two) to see if she would say anything to me…but, nothing. I put on my jacket, my backpack, and picked up my shopping bag…still nothing. No thank you. No, “how was my class? Nothing. I walked to the door, thanking the class for having me…nothing. She continued with her directions to her students ignoring me.
Later in the hallway, she walks past me and says “hello, how was your day?” I wanted to tell her off, but I ended up saying “fine”.
Next period, I was supposed to go to help the reading teacher, so I carried my things to the reading teacher’s room, only to be told that my schedule had been changed, and that I should take my things and go to the main office.
What was the new change?
I would be doing one on one instruction for one of the problem students. For 2 periods! I actually enjoyed it.
There was more to the day, but for the sake of time, I am going to jump to today.
Today, I arrived to school at 7:50. I received my schedule at 8:30. Again, for the sake of time, I’m skipping the details.
My Schedule?
I would be working in the S.A.V.E. (Schools Against Violence Education) program. I was told that every school had the program. I would be giving instruction to a group of 3 students -- who were each suspended from school for on reason or another. Basically, I would have the group for the whole day minus my lunch and my prep period. Again for the sake of time…
I really enjoyed myself. For the first time, I made it through the day stress free. Notice that I did not use “relatively speaking”. Yes, one boy was difficult (try spoiled rotten – or he has issues I am unaware of), but for the most part, I enjoyed myself. I was a little annoyed that those boys could still be a little disruptive with only three in a classroom, but, relatively speaking I would enjoy doing it again. Problem, “lighting rarely strikes twice”.
Ja mata…
END ========================================================
The first entry I want to make was about yesterday. Since I’ve been working, I’ve never been late to school. Yesterday, I arrived at 7:48; school starts at 8:30. I did not receive my schedule until 8:29. Never mind that I’ve been carrying about a 15 pound shopping bag filled with worksheets. Yes, filled with worksheets! I also have a backpack loaded with other teaching materials. I usually don’t know what grade I’ll be teaching, so I try to have enough material to at least pretend that I am professional and prepared.
Anyway, after receiving my schedule – and to no surprise, I have a class first period! The assistant principal also asked me to make a copy of the handwritten schedule for her. I had to wait about 3 or 4 minutes for a regular teacher to finish making her copies (in the copy room), she said that she could not let me skip her to make my one copy because she had a lesson first period (and had just put in OHP transparencies into the copy machine).
Today, I would be doing prep periods (for other teachers) in their classrooms. What I like about this school (relatively speaking) is that there is usually enough space to give me a classroom to do a prep period schedule in a classroom, but not today.
Since I had no classroom, I carried my jacket, backpack and shopping bag (filled with worksheets) up to the 3rd floor. I arrived about 15 minutes late. Upon arriving, the classroom teacher scolds me for coming late telling me, “don’t come late to my classroom” in front of her students. I wanted to explode, but instead I did a bumbling, fumbling attempt to explain why I was late. Never mind that she had already met me (a couple of days ago). She met me in the main office around 5pm; she was impressed to have met a substitute teacher who stayed after 3pm. Anyway, back to the present.
It just so happened that I had a lesson plan (and materials) to teach (entertain!?!?), however, the classroom teacher said that was not necessary, and that I could save my lesson for another class. She said that her class would be no problem while she was out of the room, and that I would love having her class.
To be honest, as much as a hate to admit it, she was correct, (relatively speaking), her class was very, very, extremely well behaved. I could see the students had the potential to fall apart (and go wild) if she took the day off, but they were very well behaved. They managed to stay on task for the whole period. So, what happened when the classroom teacher returned?
Nothing!
She came in and started talking to her students as if I didn’t exist. I waited about a minute (or two) to see if she would say anything to me…but, nothing. I put on my jacket, my backpack, and picked up my shopping bag…still nothing. No thank you. No, “how was my class? Nothing. I walked to the door, thanking the class for having me…nothing. She continued with her directions to her students ignoring me.
Later in the hallway, she walks past me and says “hello, how was your day?” I wanted to tell her off, but I ended up saying “fine”.
Next period, I was supposed to go to help the reading teacher, so I carried my things to the reading teacher’s room, only to be told that my schedule had been changed, and that I should take my things and go to the main office.
What was the new change?
I would be doing one on one instruction for one of the problem students. For 2 periods! I actually enjoyed it.
There was more to the day, but for the sake of time, I am going to jump to today.
Today, I arrived to school at 7:50. I received my schedule at 8:30. Again, for the sake of time, I’m skipping the details.
My Schedule?
I would be working in the S.A.V.E. (Schools Against Violence Education) program. I was told that every school had the program. I would be giving instruction to a group of 3 students -- who were each suspended from school for on reason or another. Basically, I would have the group for the whole day minus my lunch and my prep period. Again for the sake of time…
I really enjoyed myself. For the first time, I made it through the day stress free. Notice that I did not use “relatively speaking”. Yes, one boy was difficult (try spoiled rotten – or he has issues I am unaware of), but for the most part, I enjoyed myself. I was a little annoyed that those boys could still be a little disruptive with only three in a classroom, but, relatively speaking I would enjoy doing it again. Problem, “lighting rarely strikes twice”.
Ja mata…
END ========================================================
Monday, December 05, 2005
Quick blog entry. Today I was a substitute teacher for the same 3rd grade class I had on Friday. Relatively speaking the experience was less stressful than some of the other classes (and school) that I’ve been to. They were wild, loud, disrespectful, and at times very vulgar. I was told by the science teacher that the regular homeroom teacher of this class yelled so much (at this class) that she lost her voice, and that was why the regular homeroom teacher did not come to school on Friday.
To try to manage this class, I remember that I had a digital camera. So I told the students that I would take photos of them doing the things that parents tend to not believe (i.e. crawling on the floor, playing and drawing on the desk, etc…) Their behavior improved only slightly. Unfortunately, I could not record some the things that the students have been saying in class. For example:
Remember that this is a 3rd grade classroom.
Get away from me bitch!
Fuck you!
Shouting out “I peed on myself” (then laughing out loud[then others imitating])
Don’t touch him he has AIDS.
Just a few of the comments that I remember at this moment. Also, it is unfortunate that I am too slow to catch the things that have been thrown across the room (pencils, scissors, markers, balls of paper, rubber bands counting blocks, dominoes, books etc…). I have attached a photos of just some of the items that I collected today.
Anyway, to make a long story short. Threatening the students with the photos has only been moderately successful.
How is this for a response? One of the wilder students, who has been caught on camera; playing with a toy, crawling on the floor (looking for the disks that his toy shoots), sticking paper on his forehead, not reading (during reading time), etc…He has done all of that, but he continued to be disruptive, even over the repeated reminders of the photos. He only shrugged his shoulders with the reminders in an “I don’t care” attitude. However, he lost one of his gloves, and he cried like a baby, worried that he would get in trouble for losing his glove.
December the 4th was supposed to have been payday, but since it was a Sunday, I will probably receive my paycheck in the mail tomorrow, or the next day.
Finally, there is snow storm expected tonight. The weather report predicts that we (here in New York) might receive either a light dusting of snow, or 4 to 6 inches drop. I am looking forward to getting my second paycheck since returning to NY. My first one was small, this next paycheck will be a little bigger. Is it irony that (at the moment) I am earning less money than I did teaching English in Japan, but I have much, much, much more stress to deal with.
Well, until next time…
Sunday, December 04, 2005
New school, same old nonsense. Today I substituted at another school. This school was smaller than the other schools. There were only 3rd, 4th , and 5th grades. I was the substitute science teacher. However, since I did not have any science materials, I did my usually math worksheet lesson. I try to have the students do some kind of academic exercise for the first half of the class, then the second half, I have the students work on a word search puzzle. The first class was a 5th grade class, and relatively speaking, they were okay. Since it was first period, the students came directly to the classroom. The second 5th grade class is when the problems (and the usually aggravation came). The teacher brought her class to the room with no pencil… Nothing! These kids were basically the same as the other students mentioned in previous e-mails. Since they had no pencil, they used that as an excuse to go wild. I was angry and annoyed being put in that situation. The class was so wild and out of control that I had to call security to come. However, the principal came instead. At first, I was happy to have the principal come to the classroom. Unfortunately, the students reacted as if she was nothing more than another teacher. The principal said that she would return with pencils for the students.
The next class was a 3rd grade class. And yes, they also arrived without pencils. However, the class was much smaller, and therefore much easier to manage.
END ========================================================
December 5, 2005
It has been a while sorry. Again, I was planning to do a day by day report, unfortunately, I let the days pile up. I also let the e-mails pile up.
Highlights from the past week:
11-28-05Monday I was substituting for a science teacher. The morning experience was given above. After lunch, I was given a 4th grade class for two periods, to say that that 4th grade class was wild would be an understatement. The assistant principal warned me that this class was “a bit difficult”. It took about 20 minutes (with the help of the reading teacher to get them calm and focused. After the reading teacher left the classroom, I was able to keep the class under control for about the next 45 minutes. I’d used the threat of asking the homeroom teacher to allow me to dismiss the class, meaning that I would be dismissing that class late. Then, about 20 minutes before the end of the double period was to end, the 4th grade class’ homeroom teacher arrived. I made a big show of letting the class know that I meant business. I walked over to the homeroom teacher and loudly asked her if she minded if I dismissed her class. She said no. The one thing I had to control the class, I had lost, right then and there. Then, the homeroom teacher announced that the class had to stop my lesson, because they had to pack up to leave. I was annoyed that I had lost the one ounce of power that I’d had. However, I was relived that she was taking her wild class… or so I thought.
It turned out, she was taking her class a few students at a time to get their things and then return to me until the end of the final period. Do I need to tell you what happens when a wild class is told that it is time to go home.
They go wild!!!
What little control I’d had was lost. And the situation was magnified by a homeroom teacher dismissing what I was doing as not important. I had wild kids following the homeroom teacher, wild kids in the hall, and wild kids in the classroom. I was suspose to be controlling them…I think. The homeroom teacher was no help at all. I understand what she’d wanted to do, but it was (in my opinion) a total disregard for me as a teacher, a colleague, or as a person. I felt as if I was just something to keep her kids occupied. With a class that wild, I understood that she wanted to minimize the wild behavior, by taking a small group at a time; however, she should have let me know the plan, so that we could have work together.
Calling out “table one” (and groups of kids not knowing if table one was her group of table ones, the table one group in the class at that moment, or just kids wanting any excuse to go wild), was (in my opinion) an opportunity to watch chaos rein, I felt like a dope with my back against the wall. I had had enough, I told the whole class to stand and follow the homeroom teacher. I then proceeded to clean the classroom.
11-29-05 Period 6, I had a 5th grade class. They were wild and out of control. Behavior usually reserved for the 6th grade. However, since this school had no 6th grade, this class was more than willing to pick up the mantel of chaos. Nothing I did or said had any impact. At the end, the homeroom teacher gave me the home phone numbers of the most disruptive students. Calling the homes of those students was a total waste of time.
One mother seemed annoyed that I was calling her.
Another mother seemed confused as to which son I was referring to.
A father seemed to not have cared less.
11-30-05 I had a return visit from the 4th grade class mentioned above. This time, I had the class right before lunch. I let them know that if they took my time, then I would take theirs. The behavior was much, much (relatively speaking), much better. I was so happy! I used the wildest student as an example. I made him eat is lunch last. I stayed in the lunch room to make sure that he ate his lunch last. He was defiant right to the end. But in the end, I won. The battle, not the war.
12-1-05 Another return visit from the same 4th grade class mention in the two previous entries. Again, I had them right before their lunch period. This time I was so cocky; I thought that I’d had the means of control. I went to the homeroom teacher to remind her to have the students bring pencils. And I offered to take her class to lunch. She needed no convincing to the benefits of having someone else take some of the control for her wild class. She also asked for a favor. At that moment, I knew the answer should have been no, but I wanted to be nice.
Instead of doing my lesson, the homeroom teacher wanted me to let her students bring their writing folders to continue with a writing project. I agreed. I asked for details about the project (and what I needed to do), she said the students all knew what they had to do.
In the substitute classroom, I quickly reminded the students about my rule – take from me and I take from you. Take my time, and I’ll take your lunch time.
In the beginning everything seemed to be working. But as the period went on the class became louder and louder. The writing project seemed to be everything but writing. They needed scissors; they needed glue; they needed tape. They did this. They did that. They talked, and they played. They seemed to be doing everything, but write.
By the time I’d realized that I was not in control, it was too late. Like sharks in the water, they smelled blood.
No matter what I did, or said. Nothing worked. They continued to get wild and out of control. To save time (I am typing this way past my bedtime), I’ll just jump ahead. I could not control the class, so I would not let anyone leave. I knew eventually someone would come. Eventually the principal came. I was shocked that her presence had little more effect than another teacher stepping into the room. I quickly pointed out the 4 good kids who did not deserve to be punished. The principal told me to take them down to lunch, while she stayed with the wild ones. No sooner was I in the lunch room, and turn around to return to the classroom, the principal had started sending down the other students because “they were quiet”. The punishment for the 3 or 4 wildest of the bunch, they had (or got to) eat lunch in the principal’s office.
Sorry, I have to end this. It is now very, very late. In a few hours I have to get up and return to this school to work. I did not want to procrastinate with my blog entries another day.
Finally, here in New York, we had our first snow fall of this year. There is supposed to be another heavy snow fall on Tuesday. I also wanted to write about a problem I’d had with a big internet mail order company, but it is late. I’ll write more at another time. Ja mata…
END ========================================================
The next class was a 3rd grade class. And yes, they also arrived without pencils. However, the class was much smaller, and therefore much easier to manage.
END ========================================================
December 5, 2005
It has been a while sorry. Again, I was planning to do a day by day report, unfortunately, I let the days pile up. I also let the e-mails pile up.
Highlights from the past week:
11-28-05Monday I was substituting for a science teacher. The morning experience was given above. After lunch, I was given a 4th grade class for two periods, to say that that 4th grade class was wild would be an understatement. The assistant principal warned me that this class was “a bit difficult”. It took about 20 minutes (with the help of the reading teacher to get them calm and focused. After the reading teacher left the classroom, I was able to keep the class under control for about the next 45 minutes. I’d used the threat of asking the homeroom teacher to allow me to dismiss the class, meaning that I would be dismissing that class late. Then, about 20 minutes before the end of the double period was to end, the 4th grade class’ homeroom teacher arrived. I made a big show of letting the class know that I meant business. I walked over to the homeroom teacher and loudly asked her if she minded if I dismissed her class. She said no. The one thing I had to control the class, I had lost, right then and there. Then, the homeroom teacher announced that the class had to stop my lesson, because they had to pack up to leave. I was annoyed that I had lost the one ounce of power that I’d had. However, I was relived that she was taking her wild class… or so I thought.
It turned out, she was taking her class a few students at a time to get their things and then return to me until the end of the final period. Do I need to tell you what happens when a wild class is told that it is time to go home.
They go wild!!!
What little control I’d had was lost. And the situation was magnified by a homeroom teacher dismissing what I was doing as not important. I had wild kids following the homeroom teacher, wild kids in the hall, and wild kids in the classroom. I was suspose to be controlling them…I think. The homeroom teacher was no help at all. I understand what she’d wanted to do, but it was (in my opinion) a total disregard for me as a teacher, a colleague, or as a person. I felt as if I was just something to keep her kids occupied. With a class that wild, I understood that she wanted to minimize the wild behavior, by taking a small group at a time; however, she should have let me know the plan, so that we could have work together.
Calling out “table one” (and groups of kids not knowing if table one was her group of table ones, the table one group in the class at that moment, or just kids wanting any excuse to go wild), was (in my opinion) an opportunity to watch chaos rein, I felt like a dope with my back against the wall. I had had enough, I told the whole class to stand and follow the homeroom teacher. I then proceeded to clean the classroom.
11-29-05 Period 6, I had a 5th grade class. They were wild and out of control. Behavior usually reserved for the 6th grade. However, since this school had no 6th grade, this class was more than willing to pick up the mantel of chaos. Nothing I did or said had any impact. At the end, the homeroom teacher gave me the home phone numbers of the most disruptive students. Calling the homes of those students was a total waste of time.
One mother seemed annoyed that I was calling her.
Another mother seemed confused as to which son I was referring to.
A father seemed to not have cared less.
11-30-05 I had a return visit from the 4th grade class mentioned above. This time, I had the class right before lunch. I let them know that if they took my time, then I would take theirs. The behavior was much, much (relatively speaking), much better. I was so happy! I used the wildest student as an example. I made him eat is lunch last. I stayed in the lunch room to make sure that he ate his lunch last. He was defiant right to the end. But in the end, I won. The battle, not the war.
12-1-05 Another return visit from the same 4th grade class mention in the two previous entries. Again, I had them right before their lunch period. This time I was so cocky; I thought that I’d had the means of control. I went to the homeroom teacher to remind her to have the students bring pencils. And I offered to take her class to lunch. She needed no convincing to the benefits of having someone else take some of the control for her wild class. She also asked for a favor. At that moment, I knew the answer should have been no, but I wanted to be nice.
Instead of doing my lesson, the homeroom teacher wanted me to let her students bring their writing folders to continue with a writing project. I agreed. I asked for details about the project (and what I needed to do), she said the students all knew what they had to do.
In the substitute classroom, I quickly reminded the students about my rule – take from me and I take from you. Take my time, and I’ll take your lunch time.
In the beginning everything seemed to be working. But as the period went on the class became louder and louder. The writing project seemed to be everything but writing. They needed scissors; they needed glue; they needed tape. They did this. They did that. They talked, and they played. They seemed to be doing everything, but write.
By the time I’d realized that I was not in control, it was too late. Like sharks in the water, they smelled blood.
No matter what I did, or said. Nothing worked. They continued to get wild and out of control. To save time (I am typing this way past my bedtime), I’ll just jump ahead. I could not control the class, so I would not let anyone leave. I knew eventually someone would come. Eventually the principal came. I was shocked that her presence had little more effect than another teacher stepping into the room. I quickly pointed out the 4 good kids who did not deserve to be punished. The principal told me to take them down to lunch, while she stayed with the wild ones. No sooner was I in the lunch room, and turn around to return to the classroom, the principal had started sending down the other students because “they were quiet”. The punishment for the 3 or 4 wildest of the bunch, they had (or got to) eat lunch in the principal’s office.
Sorry, I have to end this. It is now very, very late. In a few hours I have to get up and return to this school to work. I did not want to procrastinate with my blog entries another day.
Finally, here in New York, we had our first snow fall of this year. There is supposed to be another heavy snow fall on Tuesday. I also wanted to write about a problem I’d had with a big internet mail order company, but it is late. I’ll write more at another time. Ja mata…
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