Signs of Life
Well, despite the idiot hosting company's repeated refusal to cough up the database, the Water Cooler is showing signs of life. It's not officially back on its feet yet, but at least the forums are there now.
No one can get us down, no one can quash the spirit of a community built on heart and by people with much to spare. I applaud Jenna and the crew for their nonstop work. I think I'll drop by Dawno's cafepress shop and pick up something nice to show my support.
See ya round the Cooler, guys.
Work. Yikes. Today, (and I was warned they would be a challenge) I subbed for a 6th grade science teacher. Now, I've been spoiled all week with the greatest bunch of 7th graders ever. So I had braced myself for this bunch.
Much to my surprise, the first period was angelic. They worked, without a sound, for 40 minutes. Third period, the same.
The problem started in 6th. Which wasn't even that bad, but it started the downhill spiral that the day would become. The 7th period class couldn't stop talking, but none of them pushed me too hard. Just chatty.
8th period (cue music from "High Noon")... now, I don't want to lump all 29 kids together... there were aboutr 3/4 that really just sat and worked all period. The other 1/4 more than made up for it. From what I heard, they were the usual bunch of troublemakers. One or two did nothing but whine about the assignment. If they had used the energy they put into complaining into the work, it would have been finished in no time flat. I really felt for one kid who told me he couldn't do it, because he 'wasn't smart'. Where do kids get these ideas? They must hear it from somewhere or someone to have it so ingrained that they defeat themselves before they've begun. What a shame.
One in particular was racing for my 'that's it' line. Then he jumped over it. At the very end of class, I had had enough. And for the first time ever, I sent a student to the office and signed a disciplinary slip. I hated to do it, but apparently I wasn't the only class that he misbehaved in that day. At least two other teachers also had problems, and they were regular teacher. The kids' mom is getting some phone calls.
I have a whole other rant about what some parents expect of the public education system, but I'll save that for another day.
Tomorrow, signing at the library. Come on out!
No one can get us down, no one can quash the spirit of a community built on heart and by people with much to spare. I applaud Jenna and the crew for their nonstop work. I think I'll drop by Dawno's cafepress shop and pick up something nice to show my support.
See ya round the Cooler, guys.
Work. Yikes. Today, (and I was warned they would be a challenge) I subbed for a 6th grade science teacher. Now, I've been spoiled all week with the greatest bunch of 7th graders ever. So I had braced myself for this bunch.
Much to my surprise, the first period was angelic. They worked, without a sound, for 40 minutes. Third period, the same.
The problem started in 6th. Which wasn't even that bad, but it started the downhill spiral that the day would become. The 7th period class couldn't stop talking, but none of them pushed me too hard. Just chatty.
8th period (cue music from "High Noon")... now, I don't want to lump all 29 kids together... there were aboutr 3/4 that really just sat and worked all period. The other 1/4 more than made up for it. From what I heard, they were the usual bunch of troublemakers. One or two did nothing but whine about the assignment. If they had used the energy they put into complaining into the work, it would have been finished in no time flat. I really felt for one kid who told me he couldn't do it, because he 'wasn't smart'. Where do kids get these ideas? They must hear it from somewhere or someone to have it so ingrained that they defeat themselves before they've begun. What a shame.
One in particular was racing for my 'that's it' line. Then he jumped over it. At the very end of class, I had had enough. And for the first time ever, I sent a student to the office and signed a disciplinary slip. I hated to do it, but apparently I wasn't the only class that he misbehaved in that day. At least two other teachers also had problems, and they were regular teacher. The kids' mom is getting some phone calls.
I have a whole other rant about what some parents expect of the public education system, but I'll save that for another day.
Tomorrow, signing at the library. Come on out!