therealljidol Season 10-Week 20: Open Topic
This is my entry for week 20 of therealljidol. This was the week when we had an open topic and could write anything we wanted. I hope you enjoy my musings!
Sometimes I feel that my life could be an episode of America’s Funniest Videos. Reality is definitely funnier than most fiction.
Do you think I’m kidding? Let me give you a few examples.
I worked for 7 years as a tutor and substitute teacher in the public school system. Some of the most embarrassing but hysterical things happened during that time in my career.
I was a regular substitute in a third grade classroom. The kids knew me well and knew the way we would have to function due to my visual impairment. For the most part they adjusted much better than the adults did. We got work done and had fun doing it.
One day the regular classroom teacher left a lesson plan that involved watching a video. This was fine as I knew the material being covered and knew the content of the film.
The TV and VCR were in the classroom next door so I had to get it and wheel it over to mine. I did that while students were at their specialist. I was organized. I got the equipment set up, plugged in, and was ready for the students when the Art teacher brought them back. I did the introduction to the lesson and described what we would be watching. The students were very attentive. I was getting ready to set the film up when a girl raised her hand and said “Mrs. T.”
I asked her if she could hold her comments until after we watched the movie.
“Um. Mrs. T.”
I tried to be firm and emphasized that we would hold all conversation until after we were done.
But Mrs. T. We can’t watch the movie if the TV is facing the wrong way.”
You guessed it. I had the TV facing the wall instead of the class.
I used this as a teaching moment and talked about being observant. Meanwhile my face must have been as red as a beet!
***
I was working with students in the 6th grade on writing prompts for their journals. One of the boys needed help due to some behavioral issues. So I was assigned to work with him individually.
The prompt involved writing about what they thought about girls/boys. This young boy chewed on his pencil for a minute and squirmed in his seat.
“We need to focus. What do you want to write about?” I asked.
“You know, Mrs. T? Sometimes I don’t like girls.”
“That’s normal.”
“But you know, sometimes I go home after not liking a girl. Then I fall asleep and I dream about her and then I wake up and REALLY like her!” He said with a mischievous grin.
“That’s part of being twelve!” I didn’t want any more detail than that!
***
Finally I was working as a tutor in a classroom of 7th graders. I was specifically working with one particular student but when needed I’d float and see if I could be of assistance to others.
One young woman was pretending to read her textbook but thinking she wouldn’t be caught had a fashion magazine on top of the book. Of course she thought the blind teacher wouldn’t see it.
I had enough vision to see that it wasn’t her textbook and asked her to put the magazine away or I’d take it from her.
“Mrs. T! How did you know?”
I smiled and said, “Cash (my guide dog at the time) told me.”
She looked at me and said in all sincerity, “Really? He can do that?
I lost it!
I miss those days!
Sometimes I feel that my life could be an episode of America’s Funniest Videos. Reality is definitely funnier than most fiction.
Do you think I’m kidding? Let me give you a few examples.
I worked for 7 years as a tutor and substitute teacher in the public school system. Some of the most embarrassing but hysterical things happened during that time in my career.
I was a regular substitute in a third grade classroom. The kids knew me well and knew the way we would have to function due to my visual impairment. For the most part they adjusted much better than the adults did. We got work done and had fun doing it.
One day the regular classroom teacher left a lesson plan that involved watching a video. This was fine as I knew the material being covered and knew the content of the film.
The TV and VCR were in the classroom next door so I had to get it and wheel it over to mine. I did that while students were at their specialist. I was organized. I got the equipment set up, plugged in, and was ready for the students when the Art teacher brought them back. I did the introduction to the lesson and described what we would be watching. The students were very attentive. I was getting ready to set the film up when a girl raised her hand and said “Mrs. T.”
I asked her if she could hold her comments until after we watched the movie.
“Um. Mrs. T.”
I tried to be firm and emphasized that we would hold all conversation until after we were done.
But Mrs. T. We can’t watch the movie if the TV is facing the wrong way.”
You guessed it. I had the TV facing the wall instead of the class.
I used this as a teaching moment and talked about being observant. Meanwhile my face must have been as red as a beet!
***
I was working with students in the 6th grade on writing prompts for their journals. One of the boys needed help due to some behavioral issues. So I was assigned to work with him individually.
The prompt involved writing about what they thought about girls/boys. This young boy chewed on his pencil for a minute and squirmed in his seat.
“We need to focus. What do you want to write about?” I asked.
“You know, Mrs. T? Sometimes I don’t like girls.”
“That’s normal.”
“But you know, sometimes I go home after not liking a girl. Then I fall asleep and I dream about her and then I wake up and REALLY like her!” He said with a mischievous grin.
“That’s part of being twelve!” I didn’t want any more detail than that!
***
Finally I was working as a tutor in a classroom of 7th graders. I was specifically working with one particular student but when needed I’d float and see if I could be of assistance to others.
One young woman was pretending to read her textbook but thinking she wouldn’t be caught had a fashion magazine on top of the book. Of course she thought the blind teacher wouldn’t see it.
I had enough vision to see that it wasn’t her textbook and asked her to put the magazine away or I’d take it from her.
“Mrs. T! How did you know?”
I smiled and said, “Cash (my guide dog at the time) told me.”
She looked at me and said in all sincerity, “Really? He can do that?
I lost it!
I miss those days!