Laziness

Yes, LAZY seems to be the theme as of late. My students don't want to do ANYTHING. Thank goodness tomorrow is the last regular day of classes. We'll just be going over their final review packet in every class.

It's gotten really hot in my un-airconditioned building these last few days, but the lazy kicked in about a week ago. Last Thursday I gave my freshmen a test, and after grading the larger of the two classes, the majority failed. They knew it was difficult, but instead of giving it 110%, my students decided that they just didn't care anymore.

There are a few A's floating in the sea of F's.

Oh well. There's not really any time left to do any remediation or corrections, so I'm going to be nice and curve it, but for some, they still won't pass this test. And those few A tests... they're going to be getting LOTS of bonus points. :)

It's frustrating.

Just 15 tests to finish grading, and then I can go to bed!

Pet Peeves

Got my papers out to grade a few minutes ago, and started through the first page of a test. It was fill-in-the-blank and matching (just the first page). I told them EXACTLY what would be on this section. So I made each blank worth 2 points, so this whole easy part of the test ends up being 30 points, or 30% of the test. I feel like that's generous, since I told them exactly what was going to be on it. I'm being completely honest here. I told them.

And yet even though I still have 5 that I haven't even looked at, already there was more than one person that did not get a perfect score on this part. And it's not like I told them about it the day before. I told them in advance. 

But this isn't even the thing that prompted this post. Oh no, it's something much worse. And as a disclaimer, this test is not the first time this has happened. It's not just a particular student, or even a particular class. There's always going to be kids that do this...

What is it you ask? Is the anticipation killing you yet??

Well...

Okay fine. I'll tell you.

My Biggest Pet Peeve:

When students write, "I don't know how to do any of this" on a test, quiz, or anything really.

WAS I TALKING TO THE BRICK WALL IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM FOR THE LAST 2-3 WEEKS?!

That's just so unacceptable. Do students really think I'm going to feel bad? If you don't get something, then you're aware of it. And you're aware of it before test day. So ask questions. Come in and get help before or after school. Ask your friend who is really good at math, and a huge sweetheart to boot, to help you! OH MY.

Teenagers.

And no, I don't think this makes me a bad teacher. I offer help before and after school. I stay until five freaking o'clock two days a week for night school and I'm available to help them during that time. I'll come early if someone asks me to. I have a study hall and a prep period, which I've been known to give up to offer some assistance. I've introduced students to awesome websites Khan Academy that are great for extra help if the times that I'm available are not convenient for their schedules. And there's often time to ask questions either during a lesson or at the end (I give them time to start their homework for this very reason!)

I'm done. I still have these tests to grade. I could have sworn they went smoothly last year, but maybe I was wrong...

14 Hour School Day

You just have to love a 14 hour workday! (Yes, I did say FOURTEEN!!)

Especially when it involves...
-being responsible for the mathematical education of about 90 kids
-advanced students who refuse to actually try reading their textbook
-keeping track of 20+ study hall students who always want to spend that 50 minutes somewhere other than your classroom, where they're supposed to be
-having to confiscate a cell phone from one of these students
(I totally snuck up on him by taking off my heels and tiptoeing up to him... hilarious!)
-having all 25 students in your class working at the boards at the same time and shouting your name from 3 different sides of the room wanting help/attention
-students who don't understand when it's appropriate to (not) talk
-make-up tests
-phone tag
-unloading about $400 worth of pop from the back of a pickup truck
-tutoring at night school
-broken power strip/safety issues
-selling pop at a wrestling match
-trying to find the motivation to grade papers (I found a little...)
-running over to the middle school in the middle of things to watch my little brother's basketball game
-running back to the high school to sell MORE pop
-printing and running off at test at 7:30 pm because you forgot to do it earlier
-restocking the pop coolers
and then...
-walking home in the dark
-counting fundraiser money $$$
-staying up way too late because you've just finally gotten the chance to relax at 9:30 pm
-showering in the basement due to a drain backup in your nice bathroom

Okay, but all sarcasm aside, there were some really fantastic things about my day:
-The two kids who sit right in front of my desk first thing in the morning are both really sweet, nice kids who always make me laugh about something. (This is part of the reason I haven't changed their seats that period... oops, guess I'm being selfish! Also, it's much easier to check off their homework this way.)
-The morning announcements on the TV did not make that awful squealing noise that they've been making for the last few weeks.
-The aforementioned cell phone confiscation... SO funny!
-Walking tacos for lunch and mom joining us!
-Getting the power strip/safety issue taken care of promptly!
-One of the night school teachers playing Mumford & Sons!
-The pop delivery was something of a class advising miracle... long story there too...
-Having enough water/pop/gatorade and quarters to get through the wrestling match!
-Talking to really great students who work concessions.
-Seeing my parents and grandparents at the basketball game.
-Seeing my little brother win his basketball game.
-My student who sparked my memory and made me realize that I forgot to copy the test.
-Making her and the others working happy by giving them their favorite flavor of Dum-Dums.
-Good conversations with the roommate. (You should read her blog.)
-My roommate made cookies!
-Realizing that throwing my towel and robe into the dryer before I shower is obviously the best idea I've ever had.

Oh, and I also discovered the most hilarious blog ever while trolling Facebook tonight! (Did I really just say "trolling"? Oh no, the teenagers are getting to me. Next thing you know, I'll be calling people "salty"... apparently this is what you say when someone is in a bad mood/has a bad attitude... or something like that. That was my take anyway, urbandictionary.com says it's being angry or upset.)

Anyway, it's VERY sarcastic, so if you're easily offended by sarcasm, just don't bother, but everyone else, seriously go read it now, you'll die of laughter! (Well, almost... I really don't want anyone to die due to my blog post!)

This started as a Facebook status (the original list), but it just kept getting longer and longer and longer,  so I decided that I should update my poor little blog. I should stop neglecting it! (Seriously. I just read my blog post to make sure it sounded okay before clicking "Publish" and I realized that I could have talked about so many things these last few days!)

*Sigh*

It's been a tough couple of days. One of my coworkers had her baby this weekend (exciting!) but that means I am now teaching her calculus class. (We can't let just anyone teach calculus!) So, needless to say, the last few days have been crazy. I know how to do calculus... I'm good at it and I even think it's fun (I know, you think I'm nuts)! But it's not easy to give up my class once a day to someone else. So far he (the sub/my ex) hasn't had a chance to teach them anything new, since we had a test today and all this craziness just started yesterday, but it's still weird. I don't like leaving them. I like the calculus class a lot, but I don't know them yet, so we'll see how things go.

I do have a funny anecdote about the first day though! (Yep, that's anecdotes are kind of my thing.)
As I checked the homework the first day, I walked around and looked at the students, and as I got to each one I said, "name?" and then marked their 5/5 on the correct spot. Well, one of the calculus students is the son of another one of our math teachers. So when I got to him, I said "Oh, so you're [insert his name here]..." The kid next to him blurts out, "It's never good when the teachers say it like that!" (You have to imagine the tone of voice.)

Anyway, I gave a test in Algebra I yesterday, a test in Geometry today, and an Algebra II quiz today. And yesterday I didn't finish grading because I was buried under the weight of the calculus and everything else going on. I had started one class yesterday, so I finished those during night school tonight, then brought home the whole pile of the rest of my papers (it's huge!)... I finished the other class of Algebra I but I think the rest are going to have to wait.

I am, however, caught up and even a little ahead with the calculus! I'm really enjoying it, even though its' a lot of work. I like the challenge.

Oh, and I was observed both of the periods I taught Algebra I today, if there wasn't enough going on already! One period by my vice principal and the other by my mentor.

Rough Week

Bad tests this week in Algebra, then some remediation and MUCH better grades, but it took two days away from time to do new things. Then my car died. And talking to parents is always stressful. We had conferences at the beginning of the week, which started the week off with a really long day. And kids that were late to help with the fundraiser at the volleyball game.

None of the stuff was too horrible, it was just a long week and a lot at once, and it just seems rough sometimes, you know?

I Told You It Was Bad...

See! My desk is a horrible mess!

Wednesday:  In the bottom left corner of the picture (the upper left corner of the desk) you'll see a pile of extra papers. These are additional copies of tests/quizzes that have already been finished or class handouts that I ran a few extras of... I probably don't need any of them! Then there's a stack of binders. And then another one. I see 4 total. There's also a blue file folder (Algebra II) and a red one (Algebra I). I see my travel mug, regular mug, and a can of Cherry Coke. The yellow folders standing up are my attempt to stay on top of make-up work for kids. (The black planning book has been a huge help with that.) The little slips of paper in front of those are reminders for kids who signed up to sell pop at the volleyball games.

There's also 2 remotes, a plethora of sticky notes, a form that I need to finish filling out tomorrow and turn in, and a pile of papers (make that two piles) that really should be sorted through to throw away, actually deal with, or file.

And of course, 2 math books and a name tag my cousin felt the need to make me last year.