Quarterback Dreams

Sixth period computer science. It's considered a career and technical education course (CTE). 

During the first week of this long-term assignment, Mr. J informed me of a job fair the school was hosting specifically for the CTE students. So, instead of attempting to teach them computer science (which I know next to nothing about), I got to spend some time teaching them job hunting skills--writing a resume and interview skills. 

I got them set up with an online course with video slideshows and questions about interviewing. (It's a program that the school's CTE department uses.) 

Several students informed me that they had already completed this course in another class. So, I took down their names so that they wouldn't lose points for not redoing things they had already done.

It took me a couple weeks to connect with another teacher who could verify that those kiddos had, in fact, completed the course. While I believed most of them had...

Melvin sits in the front of the room. He's frequently late, and he often leaves class early. (He has track practice, which is likely true.) 

The first assignment they completed with me (they started it before I got there) was a career exploration slideshow. They were to answer the usual questions: what the job entails, growth potential, salary, education required, and such. 

Melvin's job? Professional football.

(I am rolling my eyes here.) 

Does Melvin have the potential of becoming a successful professional football player? Of course. But...

When I took down the names of students who said they completed the interview skills online course, Melvin said he had. 

When I talked to the teacher who could verify who had done this, he could not find Melvin's records. 

The next class period, I let most of the students know that I had verified that they had completed the course. (They had, in fact, completed the course with the teacher who I checked with.) Then I told Melvin we couldn't find his records, so if he could just go and see that teacher...

I told him to go and see that teacher right then. Melvin declined. (Reid, who sits next to Melvin, snickered at him. He mumbled something about getting caught in a lie.) 

I get the feeling Melvin has decided he's going to be a famous football player, and right now he's biding his time until he can get there. I also think it's not going to go the way Melvin thinks it's going to go. 

I could be wrong. I don't think I'm wrong.

(The schools in the district have produced some famous athletes. I know of one that you've likely heard of--he actually has been in the World Series. But they didn't rest on their laurels in high school. That's why I'm so dubious about Melvin.)

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Performance Review, Part 2

I have a terrible memory for students sometimes. But that's a good thing as if I don't remember being irked by them, then the next time I see them they have a brand new chance with me.

I've been covering Mr. J's classes for just over a month now. It was just this last week, on Thursday, that I realized that I had met Nadine in period five before.

And, the only reason it came up was because of a different student in a completely different period.

Ava's not been showing up to class, when she does she's late, and she hasn't been doing the work. Unsurprisingly, she's got an F in math. I went to look at her grades in her other classes, and I was not shocked to find that math is not the only class she's failing. 

That's when I noticed that Ava has Mr. M for history period six. 

And I vividly recall getting a dressing down the day that I covered Mr. M's sixth period class. 

Some more backtracking, and I found Nadine's name. And yup, Nadine's in Mr. J's fifth period. 

Until that moment, I hadn't connected Nadine to the incident. I mean, I remember the incident. I just didn't recall the student who had told me I was a terrible sub who didn't do her job and that she'd get her mother to complain if I wished to take things further.

Will I remember Nadine after this? Likely. 

But Nadine's been keeping a low profile in math class. (It helps that fifth period is co-taught. Having another teacher who's been around since the beginning of the year keeps most of the students honest.) 

Curious, I checked Nadine's grades. Yup, she has an F in math and in history, too.

Figures.

A part of me is curious as to whether Nadine thinks I'm doing my job now. But I'm not going to ask. I don't really want to know.

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Oblivious Student and the Test

Second period integrated math 2. (Sophomore math. It used to be geometry before they changed the sequencing.) This is the one period that isn't co-taught, so it's just me and the 22 students. (It's a small group.)

Malakhi sits right up front. He's frequently late if he shows up at all. He asks to use the restroom and then is gone for twenty minutes. (The restroom is just around the corner, about two rooms away.) While I'm teaching, he is usually on his phone. Or asleep. And when they have time to practice the problems, he is again on his phone or asleep.

On Thursday the class had a test. On Tuesday I went over a study guide with basically all the same problems that were going to be on the test. 

On Tuesday, I emphasized the point: "Now's the time for any questions. If there's anything you don't understand..."

Malakhi spoke up. So, I re-explained the question I had just done. I solicited more questions. No one asked.

Thursday. They had had the test for maybe ten minutes when Malakhi asked to use the restroom. He was gone his usual twenty minutes. 

He returned. And then he slept. 

The students finished the test and turned it in. We were in the last five minutes. Malakhi still had his test. It was time to collect it, as he was the only one still with a test. 

Malakhi: "I don't know how to do this." 

His test was blank.

Deep sigh.

If I had not been available for questions, that would be one thing. (I discovered the secret of getting questions from the students--find the ones who are struggling and offer my help. It's kept me busy.) And the rest of the class has gotten better about actually asking for help. (Me: "Don't sit there stuck. Ask. This is literally my job.")

But Malakhi? Even when I hover, he doesn't ask. That's mostly because he isn't attempting the problems.

It's no wonder he doesn't know what to do.

But I can't do it for him.

(He expressed the same sentiment after the last test. I had not been in class to teach those lessons, though.)

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Newbie Sabotage

What if? It's the basis of many stories. We ask. We ponder. We wonder. 

On Tuesdays I throw one out there. What if? It may be speculative. It may stem from something I see. It may be something I pull from the news. 

Make of it what you will. If a for instance is not specified, interpret that instance as you wish. And if the idea turns into a story, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements 😉

What if the new employee in your workplace was sent there by someone with the intention of undermining it (people, environment, etc.)? 

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Mobius Cowl Pictures

On this lovely M Monday, I have pictures of my mobius cowl:

...that I posted about back in June when I finished it (with a bonus post of me modeling it). 

I made this on camera with the intention of posting it to my YouTube channel. My brother was kind enough to edit the footage into a video that's approximately 30 minutes long. 

(What is a Mobius strip? Just in case you don't know.) 

And I just need to sit down and watch it to make sure it's ready before I actually post it. (I have watched it twice already. The first time it needed many edits. The second time it needed just a couple more. It should be ready now, but it's just a matter of me finding the time to watch it again.) 

It seems to be taking me forever to do anything anymore. 

(This post was supposed to distract you from last week's post, where I hadn't frogged that dragon swatch yet. I actually managed to frog it on Saturday... and I got no further. I won't bore you with pictures of what it is now--a ball of unknitted yarn.)

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Locked In, Part 2

Because I don't usually blog on Saturdays, my A to Z plan is to just post a picture and be done with it. And we saw how that worked out last week...

Let me start with the picture:

But the picture needs context, so... 

Back in February, I wrote about the day I tried to get out of my car at work, and the lock snapped on me. Have I gotten this fixed since then? Of course not.

I tried to find an auto body shop... Okay, so I meant to find an auto body shop, but I haven't quite gotten to it. I can lock my car door from the outside, so I've been doing that. And promising myself I'd figure out how to get the lock fixed eventually.

But guess what? The school I'm doing my long-term assignment at has an auto shop.

There's a long story of me ending up in a room with the auto shop teacher (there was a meeting about a software program that our students are using), and the conversation turning to the students needing projects, and I mentioned my little issue.

Mr. A, the auto shop teacher, had me leave my car with the auto shop (which is just a couple buildings over from where the classroom I'm in is). They took a look at it, and the above is the part needed to fix the issue. (I also allowed them to "inspect" my car. Why not? It's for their education.) 

I went to order the part. It would arrive during spring break. I got the call it was in. I went in to pick it up. On my way to my car with this in my hot little hands...

Splat!

The asphalt of the parking lot is very cracked and uneven. I was wearing sandals. I was walking too fast, probably. I'm not sure. I lost my balance, and I landed on my chin. Well, mostly my right knee. And my left knee. And I have a bruise on my left palm. My right wrist is very sore.

(I'm writing this on Friday the 5th. It happened yesterday. By the time you read this, I should be considerably less sore.)

I had about five bystanders immediately around to help. Sigh. I never seem to do this sort of thing without an audience of some sort. (I have done this sort of thing too many times.)

As you can see, the part is undamaged. Now it's just a matter of getting on the auto shop's schedule to get the part installed. (They were supposed to do it this week, but wires got crossed and it didn't happen. Hopefully soon.)

When I got home from my little spill, I discovered my face full of asphalt. (I got a nice purple bruise on my chin a couple days after, not pictured.) So, bonus picture:

I couldn't resist the selfie. I washed the black muck off my face right after I took the pic.

Wishing you all an accident-free Saturday. Now, tell me your fall stories.

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Keymaker

Wednesday. Seventh period. It was my prep period, and I was doing what I've been doing during all of the prep periods during this long-term assignment--preparing for class. 

That means I did a little bit of grading, a little bit of lesson planning, that sort of thing. I keep hoping to get done with my stuff before the end of the period, because if I do, I can sneak out early and go home. 

I got through everything I absolutely needed for the next day. I was even current on the grading. I looked at the clock. I had less than ten minutes before the final bell. 

Deep sigh.

Right at the bell for the end of the day, the traffic getting off campus is crazy. If I get out right before the bell, it's okay. If I can't, it's better to wait about ten minutes for the traffic to clear away. 

At the moment I could have left, that would have put me at my car just at the bell. I'd be in the worst of it.

I scanned my pile of stuff to do to find something to do for five minutes. 

The co-teacher and I had determined that the math classes would have their next test the week after spring break. The day we returned, we'd give them a study guide and some time to review what they'd need for the test. 

The co-teacher had modified the test that Mr. J. had left. (We were doing the section in two parts, so there were topics on the test we hadn't covered yet.) I then volunteered to modify the test study guide to reflect the changes. I had even made the copies so they'd be ready for us after the break.

But I hadn't written out a key for the study guide.

I had five minutes...

And really, it only took me about five minutes to get it done. At about the time the bell rang. 

I got to my car a bit after that final bell. Where I encountered the expected traffic. Ah well. If I had left earlier, the traffic would have been worse. 

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