It finally happened.
I've accepted a full-time teaching position. It is in a small, rural district. I've subbed there a LOT, and many of the postings in this blog have come from there. I completed a couple long-term subbing assignments there, including the art position that I blogged about.
I feel as if I know the school's culture well, along with much of the staff. I'm much more excited about working in this district than I would be elsewhere.
I believe I will be teaching three blocks of 7th grade social studies, one "to-be-determined" social studies elective, and two blocks of alternative ed. I go in on Thursday to fill out paperwork. I'm hoping that I'll know more then.
I'll still be teaching the last session of summer school starting August 5th, until August 22nd.
I'm not sure what direction my blog will take after that. I might take this one in a new direction, or I might start something new. I guess we'll see.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
a "Real" Teacher (Summer 2013 - Part 2)
Session 1 of summer school, 2013 has ended.
This is my third summer teaching in this program, and this has been, by far, the most challenging session yet. I had never encountered such a large percentage of students who absolutely refused to participate in the class in any way (meaningful or otherwise).
Luckily for them (and me?) most of them decided to get their head in the game the last couple days, once they realized that if they didn't, they would fail my class, and have to either retake American History during the regular year, or take it in summer 2014.
A couple days before the end of the session, I put together lists of missing assignments for all of my students. This prompted the following exchange with one student, who had an exceptionally long list.
When session 2 starts up again in August I'll be teaching the second half of American History to a much smaller group. There are several familiar names on the roster, but not many. We'll see how it goes.
On a completely unrelated note, if you're interested in teaching related blogs, check out one that a friend of mine recently started. I quoted him once before, when he was living and subbing in Alaska. Today he is teaching in South Korea.
I suggest starting with his introductory entry, A Long Time Coming.
This is my third summer teaching in this program, and this has been, by far, the most challenging session yet. I had never encountered such a large percentage of students who absolutely refused to participate in the class in any way (meaningful or otherwise).
Luckily for them (and me?) most of them decided to get their head in the game the last couple days, once they realized that if they didn't, they would fail my class, and have to either retake American History during the regular year, or take it in summer 2014.
A couple days before the end of the session, I put together lists of missing assignments for all of my students. This prompted the following exchange with one student, who had an exceptionally long list.
Student: What is this? You expect me to do all this in two days?On Friday, when I finally got all my grades in, I found that most of the students I was most worried about had managed to squeak by in the low 60% range. Only two failed, both in the 20% range.
Mr. C: No. I had expected you to do all this over the past two and a half weeks.
When session 2 starts up again in August I'll be teaching the second half of American History to a much smaller group. There are several familiar names on the roster, but not many. We'll see how it goes.
On a completely unrelated note, if you're interested in teaching related blogs, check out one that a friend of mine recently started. I quoted him once before, when he was living and subbing in Alaska. Today he is teaching in South Korea.
I suggest starting with his introductory entry, A Long Time Coming.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
A "Real" Teacher (Summer 2013 - Part 1)
I'm teaching summer school again this year. It is my third year teaching in a credit-recovery program. These kids are with me because they failed their class the first time around.
My class is MUCH larger than in the past. I've got 24 American history students, and 1 world history student. In the past I've had not more than 12 kids at a time, though at least right now I've only got two classes happening, instead of four.
With a group this size, all taking the same subject, I feel like I should be able to treat this as a "normal" class. However, I discovered very quickly that such a tactic does not work. Those 24 kids are with me because they failed American history for first time around. I have to keep reminding myself that I've got EXCLUSIVELY the kids that "don't want to be there." This session started Thursday of last week, and every day I've had to remind students about what's at stake.
I love teaching American history. It's fun, interesting, and (frankly) really easy to make relevant. However, with this group, I find myself just telling them, "if you fail with me, you'll have to do it again, for an entire semester."
Enough seriousness.
Today I had a student eat three grease-bomb breakfast sandwiches during our first morning break. He bragged loudly about it at first, but it didn't take long for him to turn white and sit quietly holding his stomach. When I asked what was up, he said he felt really sick. I didn't have any pity.
Later, while in the hallway during a break...
Random Girl: "Oh God, I'm gonna have to pee like a banshee after all that coffee."
My class is MUCH larger than in the past. I've got 24 American history students, and 1 world history student. In the past I've had not more than 12 kids at a time, though at least right now I've only got two classes happening, instead of four.
With a group this size, all taking the same subject, I feel like I should be able to treat this as a "normal" class. However, I discovered very quickly that such a tactic does not work. Those 24 kids are with me because they failed American history for first time around. I have to keep reminding myself that I've got EXCLUSIVELY the kids that "don't want to be there." This session started Thursday of last week, and every day I've had to remind students about what's at stake.
I love teaching American history. It's fun, interesting, and (frankly) really easy to make relevant. However, with this group, I find myself just telling them, "if you fail with me, you'll have to do it again, for an entire semester."
Enough seriousness.
Today I had a student eat three grease-bomb breakfast sandwiches during our first morning break. He bragged loudly about it at first, but it didn't take long for him to turn white and sit quietly holding his stomach. When I asked what was up, he said he felt really sick. I didn't have any pity.
Later, while in the hallway during a break...
Random Girl: "Oh God, I'm gonna have to pee like a banshee after all that coffee."
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
A Math Teacher
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
A Biology Teacher
I "taught" high school biology today.
This mostly consisted of showing movies.
I found these adorable little guys sitting on a table in the back of the room.
This mostly consisted of showing movies.
I found these adorable little guys sitting on a table in the back of the room.
Monday, May 20, 2013
In Demand
Friday was the last day for the Seniors at [City Withheld] High School.
This is a school that I have subbed at many, many times, including a couple long-term jobs. This year's Seniors were Freshmen when I first started working there. This is the first time I've ever really been able to see a class through their entire high school career (even if I wasn't there every day).
Knowing that Friday would be their last day, I decided weeks ago that I would not accept any other jobs for that day. A early last week I started to notice a LOT of job openings. One school had 10 posted positions for Friday. I began hearing teachers complaints at other schools about how their posted jobs were not being taken. I felt reasonably confident that if I did not get into my school of choice, I would easily be able to land a job elsewhere. There were so many jobs that the staffing agency I work for sent out a mass email telling all their employees to "please make yourselves available" to work on Friday. That's something I'd never seen before.
Thursday morning I accepted a job at [City Withheld] High School.
When I arrived, I discovered a couple major things. First, the teacher I was subbing for was actually around and in her classroom all morning, and only needed a sub for the afternoon. It was unclear why the job had been posted for a full day. Second, a posted job for a different teacher had gone unfilled. This kept me very busy all day.
Why was Friday such a popular day for teachers to skip?
Also, one of the Seniors gave me a Senior-photo. I felt special.
This is a school that I have subbed at many, many times, including a couple long-term jobs. This year's Seniors were Freshmen when I first started working there. This is the first time I've ever really been able to see a class through their entire high school career (even if I wasn't there every day).
Knowing that Friday would be their last day, I decided weeks ago that I would not accept any other jobs for that day. A early last week I started to notice a LOT of job openings. One school had 10 posted positions for Friday. I began hearing teachers complaints at other schools about how their posted jobs were not being taken. I felt reasonably confident that if I did not get into my school of choice, I would easily be able to land a job elsewhere. There were so many jobs that the staffing agency I work for sent out a mass email telling all their employees to "please make yourselves available" to work on Friday. That's something I'd never seen before.
Thursday morning I accepted a job at [City Withheld] High School.
When I arrived, I discovered a couple major things. First, the teacher I was subbing for was actually around and in her classroom all morning, and only needed a sub for the afternoon. It was unclear why the job had been posted for a full day. Second, a posted job for a different teacher had gone unfilled. This kept me very busy all day.
Why was Friday such a popular day for teachers to skip?
Also, one of the Seniors gave me a Senior-photo. I felt special.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
A History/P.E. Teacher
I subbed today for a Social Studies/Gym teacher.
Most of my gym classes today played soccer. I guess this was injury day. One girl pulled a muscle in her leg. One girl twisted her ankle. Two boys tried to catch the ball with their face. Luckily there was no blood or broken limbs.
The seventh grade history class had an awesome assignment. They were given a fictional report on a 4000 year old archaeological dig site. They had to draw pictures of all the items described in the report, and suggest how the items may have been used. Once they finished, I gave them a picture of the dig site. It turned out that the scene they read about was a modern motel bathroom, where someone had died in the bathtub.
I thought the assignment was fun.
Most of my gym classes today played soccer. I guess this was injury day. One girl pulled a muscle in her leg. One girl twisted her ankle. Two boys tried to catch the ball with their face. Luckily there was no blood or broken limbs.
The seventh grade history class had an awesome assignment. They were given a fictional report on a 4000 year old archaeological dig site. They had to draw pictures of all the items described in the report, and suggest how the items may have been used. Once they finished, I gave them a picture of the dig site. It turned out that the scene they read about was a modern motel bathroom, where someone had died in the bathtub.
I thought the assignment was fun.
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| The final image. |
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