Stressful day almost from beginning to end. My plan was to do a little bit of catch up with a laundry list of assignments that need to be done. Unfortunately, I don't know when the deadline is. Portfolios is one.

Oh, I almost forgot. Last night, I managed to type up my homework sheet. I was very pleased with myself.

Anyway, this morning started with with me trying to get the "original" copies together for the office to make the class sets. In this school, things have a habit of being "misplaced". Of course, things are not going to be easy. Here at my school, the administration decides what we teach and when we teach it. First period in the morning is the skills period. Since the standardized test have past, the first period is divided into two 30 minutes sessions. We are suppose to be doing a lesson from textbook chosen by the administration. And then we are suppose to do a grammar lesson. Admin will make rounds to make sure we are doing what we are supposed to be. I could go on with the gaps in the schedule, but I won't.

Anyway, I manage to get my students quiet and one task. When the "math coach" arrives telling me that the other 3rd grade teacher is absent, so her class (the wild one) was being broken up for today. He gave me 4 of her students. It has been my observation that inner-city kids tend not to react well to changes to their routines. On top of that, the "Spanish" teacher who is supposed to be assist me during the "skills" periods.(but who rarely shows up) came today. Out of classroom teachers are assigned to assist classroom teachers during the first period. Nice guy, but I would be better off without him. After I get the students on task, circulating around the room. Weaving a web of focus, concentration, threats, and rewards. The students...all 27 of them are quiet and working...or if not, at least pretending they are. The Spanish teacher arrives. Admin made an announcement that they would be "making rounds"...so he showed up to "assist". Two seconds in the door, my web is rendered asunder. He is socializing with girl A, patting another student on the head (commenting on her pretty hair), laughing with a couple of boys (by now they are hovering around him). The "Spanish" teacher goes from table to table laughing, socializing, "helping" with answers etc... When everyone is now wide awake, in a playful, talkative mood, he leaves.

Oh, I almost forgot. Yesterday, during small group instruction time(last period). Yes, I was paired with the "Spanish" teacher. According to another teacher who has him as a prep teacher, all of his lessons consists of having the students color. Oh, and show movies. Yesterday, during small group instruction, the "Spanish" teacher took his group to the school library to watch "Spiderman 3".

Sorry, I got sidetracked again...

I continued with my copying so that I can be ready to track down an admin for approval, then leave the order with the office person in charge of the copy machine. Now, in all fairness, there is a copy machine for the teachers to use (if we provide our own paper). However, I feel that if I take the time to (in a moment of rare organization) put everything together, I should not have to waste more of my own money. In total, I've already spent about $2,000 this school year on classroom related expenses...most of that is related to the copy machine in my classroom. Later, I track down an Admin for a signature. I give the copy request to the office person. He tells me that the machine needs to be something or other, and that he will get to it as soon as possible. He'll call me down when it was ready, then puts the request into (what he thought was) my mailbox..for safe keeping until he could get to it. Actually, he put it in the wrong mailbox. And those of you who have read previous blog entries, you know, that request will in all likelihood be forgotten. I did not bother moving the request to my mailbox.

Back to my day. I had to deal with Whinner complaining about "being bothered", but refusing to move away from the person. At another table, I had Hyper 1 harassing his table. Hyper 2 being loud and playful. Leftback talking up a storm. Pantywaist -- when she does not wear the school uniform, her clothes are almost always too tight, or too lose. There is not a day, I don't know the color of her panties. She is also very loud...according to her mother, she can be "ghetto loud". True, too true. Today, She just got on my nerves (with all the other things going on), I just started yelling "duck tape" each time she opened her mouth. Sorry.

Anyway, about 10 or 15 minutes after the "Spanish" teacher left, a fight broke out between Chipmunk and Screaming Hitter (he screams and hits when he does not get his way). Chipmunk is just spoiled plan and simple. His mom is very, very nice, and he just takes advantage of that. Chipmunk is also a screamer, he also likes to argue about anything and everything. He also does very little work in class, luckily (for him) his mother takes the time to sit down with him and work with him on an almost daily basis...I can tell from the homework he submits. He has told me (several times) that he does not have to pay attention because his mother went to college, and she will help him.

I was annoyed about making copies, I was annoyed about " the rounds", I was annoyed about the "full house", I was annoyed the the stupid schedule change that gives me a preparation period at 9:15 every morning. The same prep period...science! I lost gym. Gym was something I could bargain with. "Behave or I'll take away Science", doesn't have the same ring". Anyway, I like my preparation period in the afternoon. Morning preps mean that if I give up my lunch period (see below) for one reason or another, I have screaming in my ears almost all day long. I think I may have mentioned that along with teacher, I am also a servant, referee, bodyguard, babysitter, jailer, prisoner escort (from time to time) I have to physically hold the hand of Hyper 1 to keep him from running (he likes to hit and run), surrogate parent, role model, etc...

Anyway, the fight broke out. Normally, I have a thing about hearing both sides. Today, I just was not in the mood. Since the fight happened at Screaming Hitter's desk, Chipmunk was wrong. And of course he has to argue about how the other guy was wrong, but I did say anything to him. I was already annoyed...oh, I already told you that part. I was also annoyed that I was just at Chipmunk's table getting him to write his name. That took about 30 seconds to a minute. First he has to have a staring contest with me. Then, "what, what, I ain't do nothing". Oh, my god.. you always..." You can just fill in the blank. Apparently, I always...whatever I'm complaining about. Then it is waiting game for him to write his name. If I don't stand over him, he just won't write his name. This kid is a Class A chronic talker.

Anyway, fight breaks out...Although, I was lucky. Usually, a fight will create chants of "fight, fight, fight". It is a spectator's sport. If you are not careful, it is not unusual to have 2 or even 3 fights going on at the same time. My first year in teaching full time.

Chipmunk argues with me. Apparently, his highness can be out of his seat, in the wrong place, do no work, but it is my fault for not speaking to the other kid.

I am too much of a softee, and the kids tend to take advantage of that. When I turn mean, I get there attention. The problem, I can't sustain the "meanness" for more than a few minutes.

For that moment, I was more annoyed than angry, but I was able to project the "I'm about the snap" and go off. That got me silence...for a few minutes. With Chipmunk, he was determined to not go down without a fight. My threats had no affect...That started to get me angry. I kept the threats going until I found one that stuck.

1. You will lose your computer time...nothing
2. You will lose your recess time...nothing.
3. I'll keep you after school...not much.

Finally, I hit the nail on the head...

"I will lock up you backpack, keep you after school with me, I don't care if your aunt screams her head off. I will call your mother to tell her I would be keeping you." That worked. Background...

The mother sent me an e-mail explaining the problem she has with her son's aunt. The mother needs the aunt to pick Chipmunk up from school because she works late. However, the aunt does not respect the rules that the mother has in regards to punishment. I see a bit of that. Chipmunk decides if he wants to go to after school or not. According to the mother, Chipmunk can go to his aunt's house and play video games with his cousin...and won't do his homework until his mother comes.

Sorry, I got carried away. Let me skip to lunch...

After the computer period. I spent most of the period standing in the hallway being being prison warden for the ones that did not finish their morning skills assignment. Didn't care, or did not believe I meant business this time. After the computer period, the students are lined up in the hallway. One of the Assistant Principals wants to speak to the class and me. She knows it is our lunchtime, but she wants to introduce us to someone..."it will only take a few minutes.

She takes us to another class to introduce us to another program that will be starting today. An eight week art in education program. We met the art teacher in the hallway. The Admin. then says, "oh, you have to have a meeting. I know this is your lunchtime, but it won't take long. Should she meet you in your classroom. Well, there are some kids that should not be going outside...Oh, don't worry about them, this is important. It won't take long. I ended having a 30 minute meeting with the art teacher, who would be coming to me class right after lunch to start the first lesson.

The art teacher wants the students to do group projects (making African Shields). Even though (according to her) African shields are traditionally for boys only. And even though (again according to her) the students might be a bit wild doing group activities as opposed to individual projects. Being Mr. Agreeable, I agreed to everything she wanted.

I am going to stop here, it is getting late. Long story short. I was able to keep the students in line. I have the strange ability to keep them unusually calm when there is someone around, but not when I'm alone with them. The art teacher seemed very impressed how I was able to get the students grouped and quiet while she got the material ready. The art teacher was tense in the beginning, but she began to loosen up. By the end, she was smiling and saying how impressed she was with how I kept them in order.

Time for me to go...

Post Date - Thursday, May 31, 2007 9:52pm