The phone rang Friday morning and even as I was saying "yes" I was thinking I should have said "no." It was a Friday, the last day before their April vacation break and it was for 6th grade. Kind of like reading a bad book but being unable to put it down until you've finished it, I went into school hoping for the best but expecting the worst. And unfortunately, I wasn't disappointed. I should have known better.
I thought that perhaps we'd be watching movies all day, or playing games...Instead, we were doing transitions in math, working on decimal place values and calculating perimeters. In science we would be reading a Weekly Reader flier and doing worksheets - I was excited about the work in science as it sounded like a nice change from the textbook. There were articles on the Tsunami, an article on The Big Bang Theory (current sci-fi TV show), Wonder Dogs who help out, vitamins and the brain, measuring one of the world's deepest caves - interesting science facts to change it up. Unfortunately, the kids wanted none of it.
After my first period class I was ready to imitate Elvis, as in "...has left the building." The kids weren't interested in discussing science, they didn't want to work. When I spoke to a student who had thrown his chair across the room and picked up his desk and dropped it on the floor, he called me a racist and said I was harassing him just because he was black. I must say, this by far was the most hateful thing anyone had ever said to me. I didn't know how to respond, I tried to keep my composure, and so I did what I thought was best - I once again addressed his behavior and did not address his comment to me. He was not the only student I had to speak to in class, but he was by far the most physical and disruptive. I addressed his behavior and then moved on to try to share the topic on the table for discussion. It was not a productive academic period.
Math class was a bit better and I felt a bit encouraged by the work the kids were doing. There were three worksheets to be done and everyone seemed to know the drill. I let them work in pairs as I understood that it was probably review work and busy work for the day before vacation work with a substitute, so if the students were willing to actively work in math, I would certainly let them work together. For those who finished all three sheets, I let them log onto the computers and play math games until the end of the period. It was a bit easier to be a flexible with this class once I could see that they were capable of doing the work and that they were cooperative. As they headed off to recess and lunch, I took this time to run back to the house and walk the dogs. A half-hour in the sunshine, hearing the birds and feeling the sun on my face as I took in some exercise and enjoyed the company of the two dogs, was a good break in my day. I'm ready to go back and face the music - literally it seems!
I found we were to end our day with an afternoon assembly. But before that happened, I had one more science class and two more math classes. I had taken advantage of my walk in the sun and used the time to brainstorm another way to approach the science magazines. Inside the front cover was a "jeopardy-like" table which asked science questions in five different categories, and the point values ranged from 10 - 50 points for each question. I set the class up in two teams and had them team off against each other. I don't always like competition between students, but by setting up two teams everyone has an opportunity to share their voice and participate. It took a good portion of the block of time and the kids had fun.
One of the girls who I remember as giving me a hard time when I first subbed months ago said to me "Did I tell you that you're my favorite sub?" Once again, I was held speechless by someone in this class, this time for a TOTALLY different reason. Really??? "Yes," she said - "you're not mean like the others. You're tough but you're not mean." Wow.. The sunshine seems to be reaching through the windows and warming their souls!
We headed down to the auditorium at the end of the day. I had heard that there were going to be student musicians so I hoped the kids would be interested. I'd say the best performance came from the African drums, these kids were awesome! There were some silly skits and funny dances, all of them promoting the math MCAS the kids would be taking once they returned from vacation. The older students had prepared some quick math fact problems and took answers from the audience where the correct answer givers were handed pencils. Even though the performances were sprinkled with groans and moans from the sutdents as math was discussed, it was a pretty good way to end the day.
As we headed back up to their lockers to pick up their things to take home, I passed another teacher leading his class back to the same floor. "God Bless you," he said. "You are one brave soul to come in on the Friday before vacation with this crew. Thank you so much for taking this on." As the kids ran off down the hall, I picked up my lunch bag and headed out to my car, ready to go home and take of my shoes and relax to an evening of pizza and peace and quiet. Thank goodness for our teachers and thank goodness for a week of vacation!
ask him for his race card. You can't play the race card in every confrontation that comes up. you get one shot, use it wisely. Doesn't it just stink that he chose to use it so inappropriately.
ReplyDeleteMy first time subbing (ever) was a half day, afternoon, middle school, the day they broke for Christmas vacation. Yes, I've walked in your shoes. And that other teacher was correct, you were a brave soul for doing that. So where was he all day? He (or somebody else) could have checked in, at least once, instead of keeping to his own class. If you want good subs you need to remember to appreciate them, and help them out on a really crappy day like the day before vacation. He was a fool.