One of those days...

I know they're just 6th graders, but do they have to be such... 6th graders?!?!?

I was looking forward today too -- the boys' school, Science and English periods, figurative language  (onomatopoeia! alliteration!) -- but it's so hard to teach while repeatedly saying "Shhhh!"

Building A Better Teacher

I watched and posted these videos last night, and in class today (subbing 5th grade) I mentioned them to the students -- in transition between subjects I talked about the kindergarten students clearing their desks in 3 seconds, and later while beginning a discussion on democracy I brought up how the 3rd grade students were able to debate the "6 is also an odd number"  issue without any interruptions or disruptions or general carrying on. Now I realize there may be some students, potential problem type students, sitting in the library while the filming is going on, but for the most part I'd say this teacher has got it going in the right direction.  I wonder if it would be beneficial for students, such as students in a class that appears to have cultivated a culture of constant interruption and talking over each other,  to watch some of these videos to see that yes, it is actually humanly* possible to sit still and not talk when someone else is talking?

It seems there is a discernible difference in classrooms I work in: some are designed, set up, run, developed, fostered, created, etc., with a primary, overriding culture of learning, while others are concerned only with "getting through" -- the material, the day, the school year...

Guess in which type of classroom it is easier/smoother/productive and more rewarding to be a Guest Teacher?


*assuming that is we acknowledge 8-12 year old children as "human" -- There is considerable debate.

I'm A Slacker.

I've meant to chronicle my life as a substitute teacher, but for some reason or other I haven't made the time and effort to get anything posted.

But I do have around the office scattered post-it notes with barely-begun, half-finished thoughts covering days as a substitute/guest teacher; I know it can be beneficial and cathartic to get ideas down on "paper" even though no one, probably not even myself, will read them.  Isn't there a famous quote along the lines of "writing is food for the soul" -- at least that's what I think is scribbled down on this note, along with the words "comfort food/beer."  That must have been after my first day in Middle School.

The past few months have been much more rewarding than challenging, certainly even the toughest day doesn't make me question the decision to become an educator (although if you would've told me about the economy/budget/job disaster waiting for me...).

I have done Kindergarten (dang those little ones are quick!), Jr. High (damn, some of those boys are big), and Special Ed (fall in love and break your heart) and lots of 1st -3rd grade.  I've had a student turn into Wolverine for the afternoon, a student run off and disappear, and a student push me back up against a table.  Well, I kind of let him since he was all of 3 feet tall and I'm sure the rules prohibit me from lifting him by the seat of his pants and tossing him toward the Principal's office...