The "E" Word?

Student: "Teacher!  Teacher! Stan just said the "E" word."
Me:  "D"?
Student:  "NO! E!"  Writes an e on a piece of paper and looks at me like I am a total idiot.

- - - - - - - - -

Any ideas what the "E" word might be?  l called the student over and he admitted he said something he shouldn't have and he knows that the "E" word is real bad.  He promised not to say it again, so I guess that's good!

Oh 3rd grade!

Thrown to the Wolves!

Do you ever feel like a school is throwing you to the wolves?  A while back, I went into a room with NO warning..  These kids were crazy.  At some point almost half of the kids were sent to the office.  A couple were dragged out of the room by aides.  This is not a behavior classroom. 

At lunch I went to the Principal and told him I wanted to leave.  I have never done that before!  I haven't even considered it!  He talked me into staying and told me that he would "Read them the riot act!" after lunch. 

He came in and asked them to sit in a circle so they could have a class conference.  This took 25 minutes.  Not the conference, the CIRCLE!  When they finally got settled he began quietly asking them about how they thought their day was going.  They complained that I was giving them too much work.  (Following the lesson plan here, and leaving out several things already.) They complained that I promised them an extra recess and then took it away. (The teacher left time in for a special recess if they earned it.  They didn't!)  There was lots of talking and miscellaneous complaints about other students.  He listened quietly and then said, if you can believe it, "It sounds like Ms. Day isn't being fair to you.  If you can agree to have better behavior this afternoon, you can have that extra recess right now."  Then he got up and left, while kids were running out of the door of the classroom and down the hall, passing him, toward the playground. 

If I weren't currently attempting to find a job in this district I would have had a string of words for him that I would not print here. 

I followed them out to the playground, let them have 10 minutes and then blew the whistle.  Do you think they came in?  Are you kidding?  They just ignored me and another teacher came out, blew her whistle, started screaming about them being too loud by her classroom and calling all of their parents.  They finally relented and came back in. 

The teacher had 45 minutes of silent reading time planned for the rest of the day.  I figured that was going to be another disaster, but the kids actually got out their books and read pretty quietly until I told them it was time to clean up and go home.  It was about 10 minutes before the bell rang, but they immediately tried to start leaving.  I had to physically block the door until the bell rang.

I don't plan to EVER return to this school.  Or anywhere that this principal is working.

Sign In - Sign Out

I've made my own sign in and out sheet.  I know that kids, older ones especially, want to try to take advantage of a sub teacher.  I look nice, and that can definetly be to  my personal disadvantage in subbing.  I made a sign in and out sheet that I use in every classroom and only allow one student to be gone at a time.  I also leave it for the teacher.  It's a good indicator of how long students are goine, etc.

It looks something like this.....

Ms D's Sign-Out Sheet

Name              Time Out      Time In        Reason For Leaving

______________      _____         _____          ___________________


It sits at the desk in front of me, so that they have to come up and ask before just walking out of the room.

Kids really want you to be one of those "nice" subs that just let them screw around and go anywhere and do anything.  There are plenty of those around.  But I may want a job in this district and I know that those subs get a reputation that is less than favorable.  Their behavior also makes it MUCH more difficult for subs who are actually trying to maintain a little continuity and do the job that we have been asked to do.



I'm Watching!