The following conversation happened in math class today.
Student 1: Hey, what's the square-root of 64?
Mr. C: Uh... *looking around for a calculator* I have no idea.
Student 2: Eight. *said very casually, without looking away from something else she was doing*
Mr. C: Go with eight. She seems very confident in her answer.
Showing posts with label Math. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Math. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
A 7th Grade Math Teacher
A few days ago I subbed for a seventh grade math teacher.
There was a student teacher, so I expected the day to be pretty easy. It was still early in her semester, so she was a little green, but over all pretty good. In fact, the only real issue I had was that she never explained who I was.
Now, just to be clear, I am not trying to "steal her spotlight," nor am I looking for extra attention. With her Master Teacher gone, it was her time to shine and be a Real Teacher in the eyes of her students. I've been there. I get it. However, the concern I had was that I'd only been in the building once before, and the kids didn't know me. They kept watching me. I heard many whispers of, "who's that guy?"
A quick, "Mr. Stevenson is gone today, and this is Mr. C subbing for him, but I'll be teaching today" would have been more than enough to keep my presence from being a distraction.
The main teacher showed up during lunch. He kept saying, "I can't stay," but he was there the rest of the day. I proctored some tests for him. He didn't introduce me either. He just told the kids, "go with that guy."
Also...
7th Grade Girl: Do you like Justin Bieber?
Mr. C.: Never met him.
There was a student teacher, so I expected the day to be pretty easy. It was still early in her semester, so she was a little green, but over all pretty good. In fact, the only real issue I had was that she never explained who I was.
Now, just to be clear, I am not trying to "steal her spotlight," nor am I looking for extra attention. With her Master Teacher gone, it was her time to shine and be a Real Teacher in the eyes of her students. I've been there. I get it. However, the concern I had was that I'd only been in the building once before, and the kids didn't know me. They kept watching me. I heard many whispers of, "who's that guy?"
A quick, "Mr. Stevenson is gone today, and this is Mr. C subbing for him, but I'll be teaching today" would have been more than enough to keep my presence from being a distraction.
The main teacher showed up during lunch. He kept saying, "I can't stay," but he was there the rest of the day. I proctored some tests for him. He didn't introduce me either. He just told the kids, "go with that guy."
Also...
7th Grade Girl: Do you like Justin Bieber?
Mr. C.: Never met him.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
A High School Math Teacher
I had several random students walk into class today and start distracting kids while they were working. This actually happens all the time in this district; often enough that I assume it must be "normal." Each time I would just boot them out.
So, when someone quietly walked in (the kids all have their backs to the door) dressed in a Halloween horror mask, and long cape, I didn't care that he was putting his finger to his lips, motioning for quiet. I just said, "alright, take the mask off and get out of here."
It turned out that it was a teacher, hoping to get a scare from the class. He muttered something along the lines of, "at least I got the other class" as he hurried back out the door.
I felt like a total jerk, but given the day I had had, I don't think my reaction was unjustified.
The following happened in an Honors Geometry class.
While moving around the room helping kids classify angles, I noticed two of the geekier students in the back throwing papers balls at each other.
I moved back to their desks and said, in my sternest "teacher's voice," "Hey. What do you think you're doing?"
A girl looked up at me, obviously embarrassed, and possibly slightly intimidated and replied, "we were LARPing... I just cast Magic Missile on him."
After that, all I could do was turn and walk away.
I have to admit, in almost 5 years of subbing, I have NEVER heard that one before.
So, when someone quietly walked in (the kids all have their backs to the door) dressed in a Halloween horror mask, and long cape, I didn't care that he was putting his finger to his lips, motioning for quiet. I just said, "alright, take the mask off and get out of here."
It turned out that it was a teacher, hoping to get a scare from the class. He muttered something along the lines of, "at least I got the other class" as he hurried back out the door.
I felt like a total jerk, but given the day I had had, I don't think my reaction was unjustified.
The following happened in an Honors Geometry class.
While moving around the room helping kids classify angles, I noticed two of the geekier students in the back throwing papers balls at each other.
I moved back to their desks and said, in my sternest "teacher's voice," "Hey. What do you think you're doing?"
A girl looked up at me, obviously embarrassed, and possibly slightly intimidated and replied, "we were LARPing... I just cast Magic Missile on him."
After that, all I could do was turn and walk away.
I have to admit, in almost 5 years of subbing, I have NEVER heard that one before.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
A 7th/8th Grade Math Teacher
School started last week, but I just had my first subbing gig of the year.
I subbed for middle school math teacher.
This particular school starts middle school in the 7th grade, so in some of these classes, these kids were about a week out of elementary.
The 7th grade class had some basic book work for an assignment. The teacher had it written on the board as something like:
Page 6 & 7
Qs 1-3, 4-24 even, 26-29, 30-38 even, and 41
That seemed pretty straight forward to me, and after some intro stuff, I pointed the assignment out to them and said, "get to work, let me know if you need any help."
After about 2 minutes I realized these kids had no idea how to even approach the work. They understood the concepts just fine, but when it came to deciphering the problem numbers, and then putting that onto a page, they were lost.
I drew out a piece of paper on the board, and then showed them how to organize it. After that, they blazed through the assignment.
I'm really glad that I caught why they were struggling.
The following unrelated conversation also took place,
7th Grade Boy: Guess what I might be getting!!
Mr. C.: Umm... a pony?
7th Grade Boy: No, but close!
Mr. C.: Oh... a donkey?
7th Grade Boy: No! A laser that will shoot all the way across my house!
Mr. C.: Oh... cool. I see how that is close to a pony.
I subbed for middle school math teacher.
This particular school starts middle school in the 7th grade, so in some of these classes, these kids were about a week out of elementary.
The 7th grade class had some basic book work for an assignment. The teacher had it written on the board as something like:
Page 6 & 7
Qs 1-3, 4-24 even, 26-29, 30-38 even, and 41
That seemed pretty straight forward to me, and after some intro stuff, I pointed the assignment out to them and said, "get to work, let me know if you need any help."
After about 2 minutes I realized these kids had no idea how to even approach the work. They understood the concepts just fine, but when it came to deciphering the problem numbers, and then putting that onto a page, they were lost.
I drew out a piece of paper on the board, and then showed them how to organize it. After that, they blazed through the assignment.
I'm really glad that I caught why they were struggling.
The following unrelated conversation also took place,
7th Grade Boy: Guess what I might be getting!!
Mr. C.: Umm... a pony?
7th Grade Boy: No, but close!
Mr. C.: Oh... a donkey?
7th Grade Boy: No! A laser that will shoot all the way across my house!
Mr. C.: Oh... cool. I see how that is close to a pony.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
A Math Teacher
I had two seventh grade classes, and one senior pre-calc. class.
I spent both seventh grade classes moving around helping with math. When it came to pre-calc, I told the kids flat-out that they were on their own.
Today should have been a full day, except the teacher came back early. I did still get paid for a full day though.
Nothing like full pay for three hours.
I spent both seventh grade classes moving around helping with math. When it came to pre-calc, I told the kids flat-out that they were on their own.
Today should have been a full day, except the teacher came back early. I did still get paid for a full day though.
Nothing like full pay for three hours.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
A High School Math Teacher
Kids can be so weird. I looked up from helping a girl with her assignment, only to see two other girls exhaling at each other's faces. They were trying to smell each other's breath. I guess they were chewing cotton candy flavored gum
Later on...
Mr. C.: Hey, you two aren't cheating off each other, are you?
Student 1: No, I'm helping him, we're partners.
Student 2: Well, not really partners, we just happen to be sitting next to each other... and talking... and working...
Student 1: Wow, thanks for making it weird.
Mr. C.: ...
Later on...
Mr. C.: Hey, you two aren't cheating off each other, are you?
Student 1: No, I'm helping him, we're partners.
Student 2: Well, not really partners, we just happen to be sitting next to each other... and talking... and working...
Student 1: Wow, thanks for making it weird.
Mr. C.: ...
Thursday, December 1, 2011
A 7th Grade Math Teacher
I subbed today for a seventh day math teacher.
I'm not sure if the kids were really good today, or if they were so bad that I got numb to it really quickly. Each class period had at least one kid that I really had to keep pressure on, in order to keep everything under control.
Why is it that a kid will go out of his way to provoke the other kid who has known severe anger issues?
So, my final class period of the day was also my prep period. In every school I've ever worked at, this means that I get to go home early, unless they need me to cover somewhere else. So, after I finished up in the classroom (finishing a note, straightening up, etc) I headed down to the office to turn in my key and ask if they needed anything else from me. She seemed rather indignant that I would even ASK about heading home early. She even said, "you're contracted until 3, right? I'm pretty sure that means you need to stay." While that may read innocent, there was some attitude behind in. As I've mentioned in past posts, I've worked in a lot of schools over the past few years, and this is the first time I've ever encountered this.
Also, don't misunderstand my intentions here. I'm not complaining that I had to stick around a few extra minutes. I mean, I just closed the classroom door and played Angry Birds on my phone. I just don't get why they have to be rude about it.
I'm not sure if the kids were really good today, or if they were so bad that I got numb to it really quickly. Each class period had at least one kid that I really had to keep pressure on, in order to keep everything under control.
Why is it that a kid will go out of his way to provoke the other kid who has known severe anger issues?
So, my final class period of the day was also my prep period. In every school I've ever worked at, this means that I get to go home early, unless they need me to cover somewhere else. So, after I finished up in the classroom (finishing a note, straightening up, etc) I headed down to the office to turn in my key and ask if they needed anything else from me. She seemed rather indignant that I would even ASK about heading home early. She even said, "you're contracted until 3, right? I'm pretty sure that means you need to stay." While that may read innocent, there was some attitude behind in. As I've mentioned in past posts, I've worked in a lot of schools over the past few years, and this is the first time I've ever encountered this.
Also, don't misunderstand my intentions here. I'm not complaining that I had to stick around a few extra minutes. I mean, I just closed the classroom door and played Angry Birds on my phone. I just don't get why they have to be rude about it.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
A Geometry/Science Teacher
I subbed today for the same teacher as yesterday.
A group of students began telling me some horror stories about other subs they've had. These stories ranged from examples of unabashed racism to sexual harassment.
Knowing teenagers, I'm sure there was at least some exaggeration to their stories, though if they were only half true they were still pretty outrageous.
While I know that I have never done anything even remotely similar to what these kids described, it did still make me worry about how a tasteless joke or misheard word could quickly escalate into a career destroying rumor.
A group of students began telling me some horror stories about other subs they've had. These stories ranged from examples of unabashed racism to sexual harassment.
Knowing teenagers, I'm sure there was at least some exaggeration to their stories, though if they were only half true they were still pretty outrageous.
While I know that I have never done anything even remotely similar to what these kids described, it did still make me worry about how a tasteless joke or misheard word could quickly escalate into a career destroying rumor.
Monday, November 28, 2011
A High School Science/Geometry Teacher
I subbed today for a high school science/geometry teacher.
I got another lesson plan saying, "students are working on a project. They know what to do." What made this one different is that it ended with, "if they finish early, they can just do homework or whatever." Today was the first day back from Thanksgiving break, and it was second period. They didn't have any homework.
Geometry student: "So, do you actually know how to do this stuff or are you just kinda here?"
Mr. C: "....[insert explanation on how to find the interior angles of a triangle]. Get it?"
Geometry student: "oh, yeah, thanks."
During the last class period we were watching an episode of a documentary series on the universe. Somewhere during the middle of it a kid comes up to me and hands me his phone with some puzzle game on the screen.
Kid: "Can you beat this level for me?"
Mr. C: "What? Are you serious?"
Kid: "...yes?"
Mr. C: "No, and I'm going to just hang on to this until the end of class."
I got another lesson plan saying, "students are working on a project. They know what to do." What made this one different is that it ended with, "if they finish early, they can just do homework or whatever." Today was the first day back from Thanksgiving break, and it was second period. They didn't have any homework.
Geometry student: "So, do you actually know how to do this stuff or are you just kinda here?"
Mr. C: "....[insert explanation on how to find the interior angles of a triangle]. Get it?"
Geometry student: "oh, yeah, thanks."
During the last class period we were watching an episode of a documentary series on the universe. Somewhere during the middle of it a kid comes up to me and hands me his phone with some puzzle game on the screen.
Kid: "Can you beat this level for me?"
Mr. C: "What? Are you serious?"
Kid: "...yes?"
Mr. C: "No, and I'm going to just hang on to this until the end of class."
Monday, October 10, 2011
A Middle School Math Teacher
I subbed today for a notoriously difficult group of 7th graders. I managed to keep them silent and on-task for a solid 40 minutes. How? I played some Boston, Journey, and The Beatles.
I guess music does soothe the savage beast.
Also,
Student: Mr. C, do you know Spanish?
Mr. C: Nah, just a couple useful phrases, like "no hablo espanol" and "donde esta el baño."
I guess music does soothe the savage beast.
Also,
Student: Mr. C, do you know Spanish?
Mr. C: Nah, just a couple useful phrases, like "no hablo espanol" and "donde esta el baño."
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
A Middle School Math Teacher
I subbed for a middle school math teacher.
He had a great poster on the wall, listing the "Top 10 Ways to Improve Self-Esteem." Below I have provided you with two of my favorites.
He had a great poster on the wall, listing the "Top 10 Ways to Improve Self-Esteem." Below I have provided you with two of my favorites.
 |
| This kid is brave. If my reflection reached through the mirror towards me, I'd be terrified. |
 |
| Can you get in trouble for graffiti, if all you're doing is correcting the spelling errors made by the original artist? |
Monday, March 28, 2011
A High School Math Teacher
I subbed for a high school math teacher today. It was my first day in a new district.
For two of the class periods there was a student teacher in the room. While sitting in the back, watching her go about her lesson, I couldn't help but think about two things.
1) It must really suck to have a sub in the room when you're, finally, not under the watchful eye of your Master Teacher.
2) Was I that awkward when I was student teaching?
I also over-heard some great one-liners today.
Girl: Did you guys know that cat-scratch fever is real? Look at my arms! My kitty did this to me this morning! They really itch.
Pregnant 9th grade girl, after being asked how she was doing quitting smoking: My doctor said I can still smoke, as long as I do it slowly. Otherwise it'll stress the baby.
Same pregnant girl to friend: My back is, like, covered in pimples! Wanna see?
For two of the class periods there was a student teacher in the room. While sitting in the back, watching her go about her lesson, I couldn't help but think about two things.
1) It must really suck to have a sub in the room when you're, finally, not under the watchful eye of your Master Teacher.
2) Was I that awkward when I was student teaching?
I also over-heard some great one-liners today.
Girl: Did you guys know that cat-scratch fever is real? Look at my arms! My kitty did this to me this morning! They really itch.
Pregnant 9th grade girl, after being asked how she was doing quitting smoking: My doctor said I can still smoke, as long as I do it slowly. Otherwise it'll stress the baby.
Same pregnant girl to friend: My back is, like, covered in pimples! Wanna see?
Friday, March 18, 2011
A High School Math Teacher
Subbed for high school math. I had three blocks of Algebra 1 and one block of study hall.
The plus side is that I relearned the difference between the substitution and elimination methods of solving a system of equations. I think it is fitting that I like the substitution method better.
The down side is that my notes for study hall said, "They should be working on homework or reading a book - they should be silent the entire hour." Guess how many students actually walked in with anything in their hands. .
The plus side is that I relearned the difference between the substitution and elimination methods of solving a system of equations. I think it is fitting that I like the substitution method better.
The down side is that my notes for study hall said, "They should be working on homework or reading a book - they should be silent the entire hour." Guess how many students actually walked in with anything in their hands. .
Saturday, March 12, 2011
An 8th Grade Math Teacher
*NOTE* All names have been changed. I would prefer to withhold names all together, but for this one having a name makes the story flow better.
Earlier this week I was subbing for an 8th grade math teacher. She was in meetings in the building, so I got a chance to talk with her a bit before school started. One of the points she stressed to me was that I should make sure to be very accurate with marking students tardy if they come in after class starts. Another was that students should be in their assigned seats at all times.
During one of the class periods, I was in the front of the room taking attendance as class started. About a full minute after the bell, a student walks through the door. Looking up from my clipboard I say, "hello, can I get your name please?" He pauses, looks me up and down, gets a big grin on his face and says, "it's Jose, dude!" He then throws his shoulders back and struts to the back of the room to his seat. As he does this I find the only Jose on the list and mark him tardy while saying, "alright, thank you Jose Dude."
At this point I continued to go through the seating chart, calling off names as I did so. When I got to the tardy student I said, "I already know that Jose Dude is here," and was about to read off the name infront of him when the student stands up and yells, "you better not call me that again or you're gonna regret it!"
I stopped, looked up at him and said, "did you just theaten me?" Now he tried to back peddle and tell me he was joking and that he didn't really mean it. I told him that wasn't something I was going to put up with, so I sent him to the RTC (Responsible Thinking Classroom, or some variation on the same theme).
At the end of the day, the teacher came back in and told me that she'd heard I had trouble with Jose. I told her what happend, and she told me he was suspended for three days. I feld bad about this, until she went on to say that the same student had recently come back from an even longer suspension, which he got for punching a teacher and giving her a black eye.
Earlier this week I was subbing for an 8th grade math teacher. She was in meetings in the building, so I got a chance to talk with her a bit before school started. One of the points she stressed to me was that I should make sure to be very accurate with marking students tardy if they come in after class starts. Another was that students should be in their assigned seats at all times.
During one of the class periods, I was in the front of the room taking attendance as class started. About a full minute after the bell, a student walks through the door. Looking up from my clipboard I say, "hello, can I get your name please?" He pauses, looks me up and down, gets a big grin on his face and says, "it's Jose, dude!" He then throws his shoulders back and struts to the back of the room to his seat. As he does this I find the only Jose on the list and mark him tardy while saying, "alright, thank you Jose Dude."
At this point I continued to go through the seating chart, calling off names as I did so. When I got to the tardy student I said, "I already know that Jose Dude is here," and was about to read off the name infront of him when the student stands up and yells, "you better not call me that again or you're gonna regret it!"
I stopped, looked up at him and said, "did you just theaten me?" Now he tried to back peddle and tell me he was joking and that he didn't really mean it. I told him that wasn't something I was going to put up with, so I sent him to the RTC (Responsible Thinking Classroom, or some variation on the same theme).
At the end of the day, the teacher came back in and told me that she'd heard I had trouble with Jose. I told her what happend, and she told me he was suspended for three days. I feld bad about this, until she went on to say that the same student had recently come back from an even longer suspension, which he got for punching a teacher and giving her a black eye.
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