Search This Blog

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Random Classroom Observations …

I carry a clipboard with all the necessary paperwork I’ll need throughout the day. This normally includes a copy of the daily lesson plan, a blank substitute teacher report form to fill in during the day and a separate blank piece of paper to jot down “items of interest” that I think might or might not be blog worthy.

This previous weeks’ collection of “interesting items” from various 4th and 5th grade classrooms includes:

Q: What quirky unlabeled Apple notebook computer icon is used to boot up the “SmartBoard™ program” in the morning as instructed in the lesson plan?
A: It’s the blue circle thingy called “Notebook”, of course!

Q: How do you fix the SmartBoard™ when it freezes up during the lesson?
A: After furiously trying different electronic pens, the electronic eraser, and tapping every control icon you can see with a finger (not the finger I’d REALLY like to use), you give up and revert to real whiteboard markers and the tiny bit of actual whiteboard space not covered the idiot SmartBoard™.

Q: Are books written in Hebrew or Spanish allowed during “Silent Reading” time?
A: Unless specifically limited to “English only” on the lesson plan, I say yes! At least they are reading or at least pretending to. Just don’t expect me to help pronounce or know the meaning of any specific word. Especially the Hebrew!

Q: What would possess a kid check out a book from the school library, return it to the city public library and believe the school librarian shouldn’t get all worked up over it?
A: I don’t know. That’s what kids do.

Q: What would possess a kid (different kid) to draw pictures of spacemen and cowboys in a school library book and expect the school librarian to be “ok with that”?
A: I don’t know. That’s what kids do.

Q: Should the class “wannabe gangsta” with a real bad attitude toward other kids and adults be allowed to leave the classroom to do his job as “a conflict manager”?
A: I was sure this had to be a scam, but the office verified it was true!

Q: Should a kid get detention (I had recess monitor duty in the detention room) for drawing the wrong Indian god for homework?
A: I thought “government” and “religion” weren’t compatible in public schools. I guess it’s only with “some” religions the government has a problem.

1 comment:

Darren said...

There's probably a special place in Heaven reserved for substitute teachers.