After the last two days at the middle school, today's assignment was in engineering and drafting at the high school. I walked down the hall to the office only to find out the classroom was the very first one where I entered the building—across the hall from the choir room where I started the day for a full week. This is the class where one of the seniors went everyday while I was subbing in choir.
I arrived in the workshop full of tables with computers and a lot of other equipment for building and experimenting, and the regular teacher was sitting at his desk. He informed me I was actually needed for only half a day because he had an appointment in the morning, but the request was put in for a full day sub and I would be paid for a full day.
This was an uneventful day. There were a few students who were in the shop for several periods, and everyone was working on something and/or chatting. One very cool feature of this classroom were the two 3D printers. This was my first time seeing 3D printers in person, and I got to watch a couple of objects being printed. Otherwise I was just there as an adult to monitor things. During two periods, the students also cranked up some music. The regular teacher came back before lunch period. I thought he had mentioned having somewhere else to go later, but he said I was free to go. I went to the office to see if I was needed somewhere else, but the secretary said she had just sent someone to cover the Distance Learning lab and she had no other need. That works for me!
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
Today I got to work in my local junior high school, subbing for Mrs. Mast in Science. It's my first time here, and I welcomed being able to walk the half mile to school and back home. Her plans were well done, most of the students were well behanved—better than many schools—and I had no issues at all in the classroom. The students had worksheets and used Chromebooks.
There was, however, a special assembly for the seventh graders, so I dind't have students for a couple of periods. I attended some of hte assembly, but could not tolerate the speaker and decided to try to enjoy my free time, although I spent most of it fuming that a public school would allow such a talk to take place. The speaker was from a Christian organization and was talking about Islam. For the most part, what he said was tolerable, but there were a few things he was saying which were either flat-out lies or misinformation or had that undertone of anti-Muslim bias. There was no Muslim present to provide an alternative view, either. I think that if they had a Muslim speaker along side this man, who I think claimed to be formerly Muslim (but obviously speaking with an agenda), it would have been better. That did not happen, though. I was livid, but kept my thoughts to myself until I got home to belabor my wife with my opinions.
Outside of that, though, it was a decent day.
There was, however, a special assembly for the seventh graders, so I dind't have students for a couple of periods. I attended some of hte assembly, but could not tolerate the speaker and decided to try to enjoy my free time, although I spent most of it fuming that a public school would allow such a talk to take place. The speaker was from a Christian organization and was talking about Islam. For the most part, what he said was tolerable, but there were a few things he was saying which were either flat-out lies or misinformation or had that undertone of anti-Muslim bias. There was no Muslim present to provide an alternative view, either. I think that if they had a Muslim speaker along side this man, who I think claimed to be formerly Muslim (but obviously speaking with an agenda), it would have been better. That did not happen, though. I was livid, but kept my thoughts to myself until I got home to belabor my wife with my opinions.
Outside of that, though, it was a decent day.
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Subbing #19: Capone and computers
Today I got to substitute again at Tusky Valley Middle School, this time in English 7, a bit closer to my own training. The day went about as well as a substitute would want it to go, with classes fairly quiet and mostly on task.
At TVMS, they start with a homeroom that, for today at least, segued into first period. All English classes had a paper on Al Capone to finish typing, which had to be done by the end of the day. Their teacher noted that students could come get a computer during their study halls to finish work. Lunch and planning periods were back-to-back, which I like, but they were in the morning, with "lunch" being around 10am. I did not like that so much, but I made it through the day.
I somehow have already forgotten, but if I recall correctly, there were five English classes working on their Capone papers - periods 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8. Periods 3 and 4 were planning and "lunch," and fifth I got to spend on duty in the cafeteria with a technology teacher. I cannot remember what 9A was, but I had students, then 9B was a study hall that actually went to the cafeteria with the vocal music teacher, who said I could go. Actually, she told me a little bit about what next week will look like since I will cover her classes all week while she and a band director take high school students to Walt Disney World to perform. After that, I grabbed my things and got to leave early once again.
For the most part, all classes were well behaved, although after lunch, as usual, took a little more work. Sixth period took longer to settle in, seventh was the chattiest and most distracted, and students in eighth period would just call out questions (mostly about spelling) without asking permission. Again, as long as things were mostly quiet and mostly on-task, I did not mind.
For my part, I got to read a bit in Donald Miller's Scary Close again — definitely something I will discuss further. I also spent quite a bit of time typing out the discussion questions from Don Field's Refuel that I may try to answer in several blog posts here.
At TVMS, they start with a homeroom that, for today at least, segued into first period. All English classes had a paper on Al Capone to finish typing, which had to be done by the end of the day. Their teacher noted that students could come get a computer during their study halls to finish work. Lunch and planning periods were back-to-back, which I like, but they were in the morning, with "lunch" being around 10am. I did not like that so much, but I made it through the day.
I somehow have already forgotten, but if I recall correctly, there were five English classes working on their Capone papers - periods 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8. Periods 3 and 4 were planning and "lunch," and fifth I got to spend on duty in the cafeteria with a technology teacher. I cannot remember what 9A was, but I had students, then 9B was a study hall that actually went to the cafeteria with the vocal music teacher, who said I could go. Actually, she told me a little bit about what next week will look like since I will cover her classes all week while she and a band director take high school students to Walt Disney World to perform. After that, I grabbed my things and got to leave early once again.
For the most part, all classes were well behaved, although after lunch, as usual, took a little more work. Sixth period took longer to settle in, seventh was the chattiest and most distracted, and students in eighth period would just call out questions (mostly about spelling) without asking permission. Again, as long as things were mostly quiet and mostly on-task, I did not mind.
For my part, I got to read a bit in Donald Miller's Scary Close again — definitely something I will discuss further. I also spent quite a bit of time typing out the discussion questions from Don Field's Refuel that I may try to answer in several blog posts here.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Subbing #4: And the band did somehow play on
Back at Tusky Valley once again, but this time I at least started at the high school. I accepted an assignment for band... having no formal knowledge of directing a band at all, but interested to find out if it would be an issue. Since I loved music anyway, I wanted to see what I could do or observe.
I actually went to the junior high first because that's what the assignment said. The secretary told me that it actually starts at the high school, so I scooted over there. The first period was supposed to be a music theory class, I think. There were two students in the classroom I was pointed to. We didn't do anything. Then I went to the larger classroom where all the chairs were setup for choir and band rehearsal. And had a study hall.
This was followed by a 30-minute window to travel to the junior high and assist the band director there for the rest of the day until he went back to the high school for ninth period. He had me monitor the students from the main band room (and try to make sure people were actually rehearsing) while he bounced from practice space to practice space to work with each section.
I did have to deal with one class by myself because the other teacher had to go to the high school. This class I just had to monitor and have them try to rehearse just like the other classes were doing.
Practice in the band room is very loud and nearly deafening. But I got through it, and so did the students. All in all, things went decently.
I actually went to the junior high first because that's what the assignment said. The secretary told me that it actually starts at the high school, so I scooted over there. The first period was supposed to be a music theory class, I think. There were two students in the classroom I was pointed to. We didn't do anything. Then I went to the larger classroom where all the chairs were setup for choir and band rehearsal. And had a study hall.
This was followed by a 30-minute window to travel to the junior high and assist the band director there for the rest of the day until he went back to the high school for ninth period. He had me monitor the students from the main band room (and try to make sure people were actually rehearsing) while he bounced from practice space to practice space to work with each section.
I did have to deal with one class by myself because the other teacher had to go to the high school. This class I just had to monitor and have them try to rehearse just like the other classes were doing.
Practice in the band room is very loud and nearly deafening. But I got through it, and so did the students. All in all, things went decently.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Subbing #3: An interesting day thanks to PARCC
Tusky Valley Middle School seems to be the place for me to substitute. Today I was supposed to be science, but instead covered tech classes while the tech teacher helped administer PARCC testing.
In this technology class, she has two classrooms, one being a computer lab. For most periods, students were working on building a car-like piece, aiming for low friction to see whose would roll the furthest. Two of the classes were to work int he computer lab on designs in a CAD like assignment, which was very cool to me.
I again had lunch duty and again the students in the tech classes would lose focus and were quite chatty, but there were no major incidents in this classroom. After the PARCC test was finished, though, I was moved to the science classroom that I was originally assigned.
Unfortunately, I got to spend the rest of the day (about two hours!) with the sixth graders who had just gotten out of the PARCC test. They were quite stir crazy and very unfocused. They were basically supposed to work on a project where they use various objects to try to create a visual of a healthy meal, but mostly bounced all over the classroom, rolled the one cart around, talked loudly, teased each other, begged to turn Pandora on, and played hangman.
This end of the day really tested my patience and resolve and I did not manage the classroom well at all, but I felt that they had just spent some six hours taking a standardized test and they should be allowed to let off some steam. I basically tried to manage the chaos and keep them from destroying anything. I think it worked. Mostly.
In this technology class, she has two classrooms, one being a computer lab. For most periods, students were working on building a car-like piece, aiming for low friction to see whose would roll the furthest. Two of the classes were to work int he computer lab on designs in a CAD like assignment, which was very cool to me.
I again had lunch duty and again the students in the tech classes would lose focus and were quite chatty, but there were no major incidents in this classroom. After the PARCC test was finished, though, I was moved to the science classroom that I was originally assigned.
Unfortunately, I got to spend the rest of the day (about two hours!) with the sixth graders who had just gotten out of the PARCC test. They were quite stir crazy and very unfocused. They were basically supposed to work on a project where they use various objects to try to create a visual of a healthy meal, but mostly bounced all over the classroom, rolled the one cart around, talked loudly, teased each other, begged to turn Pandora on, and played hangman.
This end of the day really tested my patience and resolve and I did not manage the classroom well at all, but I felt that they had just spent some six hours taking a standardized test and they should be allowed to let off some steam. I basically tried to manage the chaos and keep them from destroying anything. I think it worked. Mostly.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Subbing #2: TVMS again
Today I got a 5:30 AM call to substitute in Art at Tusky Valley Middle School.
Today was slightly different than my previous experience two weeks ago. I was a bit surprised when the art teacher actually came in at one point during the day. She was in the building, but had other duties and meetings to attend to. I was used to teachers actually being sick or somewhere else, not nearby.
There were also no bells due to standardized testing. Once again, I got to have recess duty. Other than dealing with no bells, especially during the lunch, and my inability to chat with the other teachers, there were, again, few issues beyond chatty students.
Today was slightly different than my previous experience two weeks ago. I was a bit surprised when the art teacher actually came in at one point during the day. She was in the building, but had other duties and meetings to attend to. I was used to teachers actually being sick or somewhere else, not nearby.
There were also no bells due to standardized testing. Once again, I got to have recess duty. Other than dealing with no bells, especially during the lunch, and my inability to chat with the other teachers, there were, again, few issues beyond chatty students.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Chapter three in my work history
During my first stint in college (1991 - 1994), part of my financial aid was called "work study." I honestly still have no idea how that was or is supposed to work, and I did not take a job during my freshman year.
My sophomore year, feeling guilty and broke and desperate for money to spend, I found a job working as a file clerk in the Alumni Relations office. I basically had the pleasure of putting any clippings or correspondence or miscellaneous other papers into associated files created for each and every alumnus of the College, whether graduated or not.
The filing task was quite boring and was my entire job (that I recall). I did, though, enjoy reading some of the clippings and other things that I found in the files, digging through these files:
My sophomore year, feeling guilty and broke and desperate for money to spend, I found a job working as a file clerk in the Alumni Relations office. I basically had the pleasure of putting any clippings or correspondence or miscellaneous other papers into associated files created for each and every alumnus of the College, whether graduated or not.
The filing task was quite boring and was my entire job (that I recall). I did, though, enjoy reading some of the clippings and other things that I found in the files, digging through these files:
- I got to see some of the famous people who went to Wooster
- A copy of an essay or article explaining how religion and science don't have to be at odds over everything.
- Information related to the Scopes Monkey trial.
- A file for the ex-wife of a business owner from my home area.
- Rather large files for some people of the more proliferate people and business leaders.
I enjoyed digging through this information and learning some history. Unfortunately, after one all-nighter to get a paper of some sort done, I fell asleep at work and was woken by my boss. That was excused, but I later decided to end my employment on my own.
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