learnteach (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
learnteach) wrote2006-04-13 09:54 pm
learnteach) wrote2006-04-13 09:54 pm
Worst day working...
Gotta learn how to deal better with the yout (yes, that's the spelling I want, pronounced "Uncouth young idiots with poor manners") of the nation.
First day working for Kelly, and went to a JHS on the east side of San Jose. It was just set up to be wrong, from the moment I showed up--later than company policy--to the first class, which started insolent and tried for mutiny. How many times do you need to repeat "The work sheet will be turned in. There will be a closed book test. Sit down!"
Didn't help that this is the last day of school before the week long spring break. Didn't help that the weather there was PERFECT. Didn't help that the level of hormones in 8th grade is as extreme as I've ever seen. Didn't help that this school doesn't have teacher's aides who have the clue. Didn't help that I didn't know where the bathroom was, and after months of quiet, I got 6 phone calls while teaching. Ah, the timing. ESPECIALLY did not help that each class was about 2 hours long (long time to be locked together) and the middle class was a college prep class, so I saw students multiple sessions. The students from the first class were in the second class, where they then coached the students for the third class on how to piss me off...
Of course, it's all about me, right? Well, maintaining classroom discipline was. With High School, you can turn your back for a moment. Not with this younger class, if I wasn't on top of them they were trying to staple each others to the table, using the rulers as swords, writing "so and so is GAY" on the noteboards, perpetuation feuds, hitting each other, saying "I hope I get more boobs as I grow up" while cupping said body parts, towards the teacher (in is line of sight as he comes towards you), trying to make drug references that they know nothing about, asking to go get a drink of water that takes 10 minutes "because I don't like the fountain next to the classroom", to stealing each other's papers back and forth.
By the third class, I'd had it. I apologized for my bad mood, and laid it out: first time you act out, I'll let you know. Second time, I'll take action--move you, write you up, whatever. Third time, I call the office and send you to the principal.
Then, I was very clear and polite, never sat down, never stopped moving, stayed on my toes the whole two hours. Had to warn 5 students, move one to the far end of the classroom (he sulked ALL DAY and muttered obscenities). Opened the door to get some air, and boobie girl then spent 5 minutes getting boys on the playground 20 yards away to wave at her--nice being popular, I suppose--so I closed the doors, referencing to the fact that I had hoped for some adult behaviour (she was, btw, one of the members of the class who whined the most and turned in the most complete test). One student was whispering to others during the test, I told him if he spoke again, he would get a zero on his test--ah, the look of outrage! The universe, so unfair! He opened his mouth to complain, I raised my eyebrows. Smart kid, he got it, shut up.
At the end, I was laughing, but it really underscored the fact that I would rather teach people with some adult charactistics, rather than babysit children. Of course, it was the hardest possible start...
They've asked me to go back, and substitute in for PE...I don't really think so.
Still more fun than my best day as an SE; a number of students liked me (they always do). And this was my worst day of subbing, so far.
But I can clearly see why several teachers who I respect told me that subbing was the hardest part--it's not so bad when you can appeal to reason, but what 13-14 year old has any reason?
First day working for Kelly, and went to a JHS on the east side of San Jose. It was just set up to be wrong, from the moment I showed up--later than company policy--to the first class, which started insolent and tried for mutiny. How many times do you need to repeat "The work sheet will be turned in. There will be a closed book test. Sit down!"
Didn't help that this is the last day of school before the week long spring break. Didn't help that the weather there was PERFECT. Didn't help that the level of hormones in 8th grade is as extreme as I've ever seen. Didn't help that this school doesn't have teacher's aides who have the clue. Didn't help that I didn't know where the bathroom was, and after months of quiet, I got 6 phone calls while teaching. Ah, the timing. ESPECIALLY did not help that each class was about 2 hours long (long time to be locked together) and the middle class was a college prep class, so I saw students multiple sessions. The students from the first class were in the second class, where they then coached the students for the third class on how to piss me off...
Of course, it's all about me, right? Well, maintaining classroom discipline was. With High School, you can turn your back for a moment. Not with this younger class, if I wasn't on top of them they were trying to staple each others to the table, using the rulers as swords, writing "so and so is GAY" on the noteboards, perpetuation feuds, hitting each other, saying "I hope I get more boobs as I grow up" while cupping said body parts, towards the teacher (in is line of sight as he comes towards you), trying to make drug references that they know nothing about, asking to go get a drink of water that takes 10 minutes "because I don't like the fountain next to the classroom", to stealing each other's papers back and forth.
By the third class, I'd had it. I apologized for my bad mood, and laid it out: first time you act out, I'll let you know. Second time, I'll take action--move you, write you up, whatever. Third time, I call the office and send you to the principal.
Then, I was very clear and polite, never sat down, never stopped moving, stayed on my toes the whole two hours. Had to warn 5 students, move one to the far end of the classroom (he sulked ALL DAY and muttered obscenities). Opened the door to get some air, and boobie girl then spent 5 minutes getting boys on the playground 20 yards away to wave at her--nice being popular, I suppose--so I closed the doors, referencing to the fact that I had hoped for some adult behaviour (she was, btw, one of the members of the class who whined the most and turned in the most complete test). One student was whispering to others during the test, I told him if he spoke again, he would get a zero on his test--ah, the look of outrage! The universe, so unfair! He opened his mouth to complain, I raised my eyebrows. Smart kid, he got it, shut up.
At the end, I was laughing, but it really underscored the fact that I would rather teach people with some adult charactistics, rather than babysit children. Of course, it was the hardest possible start...
They've asked me to go back, and substitute in for PE...I don't really think so.
Still more fun than my best day as an SE; a number of students liked me (they always do). And this was my worst day of subbing, so far.
But I can clearly see why several teachers who I respect told me that subbing was the hardest part--it's not so bad when you can appeal to reason, but what 13-14 year old has any reason?
Shhhh!
It wasn't all bad, and I'm glad to hear that that's a rough school. Still, wanted to grab a sword and show them how it's really done...
Re: Shhhh!