And so, I ended the school year not far from where it began. Literally. I started the school year in room 906 and ended it in room 915. (Both classrooms are within sight of one another.)
Thursday. Seventh grade math. Fourth period.
It was the last day of school. Each period was about 28 minutes long. The lesson plan was basically "do what you want". As I have been in this situation before, I knew I didn't have to have them do anything.
What I did have to do was take roll and make sure I knew where the kiddos were.
At the beginning of the period several students descended upon me to request permission to go elsewhere. I growled at them that they'd have to wait until I had taken attendance.
(A science teacher three doors down must have been having a bacchanal as that's where everyone wanted to go. But there were a couple other teachers' classes they wanted as well as the art teacher--the one they hired for that vacant class--needed help cleaning her room.)
I went around the room, checked in with each kiddo asking their name, and I marked each student present. Then I got the names of those who left, and I wrote them down so I knew where they were.
Roll taken, I had a group of girls request to go outside so they could film a TikTok dance. Others had grouped up and were playing video games. I didn't much care so long as they didn't trash the room.
Then the phone rang. Was Jamir there?
I checked my roll. He was marked absent. No, he was not.
"His mom is going to be pissed..."
Just to be sure, I called out, "Jamir..." Nope. Not there.
Groups of students were coming in and out of the room. (Teachers called to ask if they could send kiddos. I had given permission.) There was one boy in a Lakers jersey who I thought belonged in class, but he did not check in with me, and then he left again.
Towards the end of the period (so, about fifteen minutes later), I went to check on the TikTok girls. Who should have been back in the room already. Security drove up and stopped the boy in the Lakers jersey. "Jamir, your mother is looking for you," and she gave him a paper.
Security gave me a hard stare. "You're marked absent," she told him. I protested that he was not around when I took roll and he had not checked in with me when he arrived.
I mean, seriously? I'm a sub. Most kiddos know to check in with me if they arrive after the bell. But last day crazy...
I did fix the attendance. Growled at Jamir. He asked to go to his PE class. Well, now that I knew where he'd be...
And just like that, the school year is over.
Next week I'll share my year stats, and then the summer schedule shall begin.
Maybe he was avoiding his mother's note by keeping a low profile!
ReplyDeleteIt looked like it was something he had to get signed and turned in. He needed it.
DeleteKids ….
ReplyDeletePsh, security should know better.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteGlad he wasn’t actually missing!
ReplyDeleteThe thing that strikes me the most about your post is that you have security on campus. I can't imagine what it must be like to go to school like that. Public schools in Australia have no need for security (there are no metal detectors, no security guards - nothing).
ReplyDeleteAnd I am still having huge problems leaving comments. Hopefully this one will stick but signing in with name and URL is the only way I have a chance of leaving a comment. Most times I just don't try because it is an exercise in frustration. Only if I really want to say something (like today), but I am reading even if I don't appear in the comments :(
Did you see my cookies reply to your last comment? Are cookies turned off? That might be the problem. Maybe?
DeleteSecurity aren't really guards. We have no metal detectors. Controlled entry during the school day (fences). Security is more enforcing school rules. They watch the restrooms (because the kiddos like to vape). They retrieve students from PE when the office calls for them. They "patrol" the campus for students roaming out of class during school time.
Well, I know I have said it before, takes a certain type of person to teach. Now my questions are~ do you feel a total relief moment wash over you when you realize, another yr over? Do you take on a summer job when you are off? and most importantly, do you think that you taught any of those kids anything this yr? I mean, you are dealing with a whole new bunch of individuals each passing yr., with new challenges, even some that you have never had to face before and our world changes daily and might only be in that one class for one day? I for one, would prob be arrested for bitch slapping some of those brats. I am sorry, that was prob not the way to phrase that but, I face overwhelming stuff in my daily life that I never did before Fibro changed me. But with that said, when Amber was about 2 I watched a few kids in my home. I decided I had to go back to work, it could not handle it.!!!
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't really feel anything when that final bell rings. It was more a, "Did I forget anything? Is the room in roughly the same shape as it was when I got here?", and then the co-teacher needed me to bring her a poster she had forgotten in the room, and I needed the restroom.
DeleteGood thing he wasn't actually missing.
ReplyDeleteIf he came to campus, he had to be on campus somewhere.
DeleteWell at least ya'll found out where he actually was.
ReplyDeleteIt was his responsibility to let me know where he was. Maybe that'll teach him that lesson.
DeleteI live (and taught) in a country where the system ensured that no kid would be anywhere else other than where they were meant to be. That made things simple for teachers. You have quite a tought time, it seems.
ReplyDeleteYes, Americans have a tendency to be like, "Make me," when told to do something. It'd be nice if we lived in a culture where kiddos did what they were told, but no. That's not who we are.
DeleteDo what you want?
ReplyDeleteTake a nap.
I would want to take a nap.
That day sounds like you were trying to herd cats.
ReplyDeletehttps://misadventuresofwidowhood.blogspot.com/
That is the job description.
DeleteI have several cousins who are either retired teachers (or paraprofessionals) or who are still teaching. A couple were college administrators, including a 96 year old first cousin who passed a couple of months ago. I never was called to teach, at least in a classroom. I respect those who do or did, especially after hearing the stories of those who did. And, also, your stories.
ReplyDeleteYes, my horror stories have dissuaded many from ever wanting to teach, I am sure ;)
DeleteLOL
Delete