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.
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.
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