Cheshire

Middle schoolers are weird. I saw a kid 4 times today. Once in 4th period, once after lunch, once before 6th period, and in 7th period.

Every time I saw him he had drawn more cat features on his face. First whiskers, then a nose, then darker whiskers, then eyes.

Why......?


I don't have anything else to say. Kids are weird. And maybe kinda awesome.

Was that inappropriate?

This kid in my tech class was goofing off. He has a tendency to do so. On this particular occasion, he had grabbed a stack of about ten rulers and stacked them up. He then placed the rulers on his crotch and was walking around "showing off" to everyone. The following was our conversation. Names have been changed to protect the moronic.

Me: John, what are you doing
John: Nothin'
Me: Put those down for two reasons. One, it's disgusting.
John: Ok.
Me: Two, it's completely unrealistic.

Was that too far? I hope that I judge my students well enough to know who can take a joke and who can't, but as soon as I said it, I got scared that I was going to get a phone call from a parent. Luckily, I didn't.

I'm glad some kids can take a joke!

Sometimes teaching is hard...

Above and Beyond

My Theatre 1 class just finished up their pantomime performances. For the most part this whole process has been about what I expected. Kids not wanting to rehearse and thinking they're ready to perform when they don't have anything practiced nearly enough.

One of my students, though, did something I find amazing! He went home the other night and spent his time making a model of their "setting" out of Legos so that he and his castmates had a better understanding of "where they were" in the pantomime. That is so cool! Not just cause I'm jealous that he got to play with Legos, either!

It's just really awesome to see a student take initiative like that and have a real interest in what they are working on. It was a very happy moment for me!

Are You Listening?

I don't know if it's me not teaching the material well or if my 4th period kids are just choosing not to listen. Yesterday I handed out a packet. On the front page were the procedures. I went over every single step, had the kids read some out loud, and repeated pretty much every step twice.....

NINE times. NINE TIMES students asked me what they were supposed to be doing! NINE! NINE DIFFERENT STUDENTS!

We were doing a project where they had to design a table or a chair. Part of the instructions were, "You and a partner will choose to design a table OR a chair. So choose a table OR a chair, whichever you and your partner like, and each partner will design three. You will then decide which design is best."

"Mr. Feldman!?! We have to design a chair AND a table????"
"Mr. Feldman?!?! I draw a table and my partner draws a chair???"
"What are we doing"

I then stopped the class. I said to everyone, "Guys, pick a table OR a chair. If you pick a chair, you and your partner each design three chairs. But remember, we aren't going to start sketching until we've finished our design briefs, done our brainstorming, and then researched." This was not a new concept. They have been learning this process for 3 days now.

I walk around the room and see at least ten kids sketching. I stop the room again. "Class, once again,.....

Oh. Also. The kids have all the instructions on the front page of their packets. Every single step. In order. Under "Procedures." Ya know, the ones we went over together.

Am I wrong in assuming that a student should listen to the instructions the first time I give them? Am I wrong in assuming that they should be able to find the instructions if I hand them a list? This is the only class I have this problem in. I feel like I'm doing the same thing in there that I am in all my other classes. I really don't get it. Maybe I should give them an m&m every time they listen to instructions the first time. Ya know, like 3 year olds. I hope not to have to resort to that.

Antomime

I have a new strategy for 7th period. I had been writing the word "Theatre" on the board and erasing a letter every time they broke a rule. If they lost all their letters, they had to do book work.

It....kinda worked. They were a little better, but it was still a problem. They had the books out on the second day.

Today, I changed the plan. We are doing a unit on pantomime right now. I wrote the word "Pantomime" on the board, and instead of having one day to keep all their letters they have to keep it for a WEEK. If they lose all their letters, they will be learning about pantomime from the book. I think it might actually work.

I also told them that if they follow all the rules for a good chunk of time (I have to make that more concrete now that I think about it), they could earn a lost letter back.

One day and only one letter gone. So we've gone from losing seven in one day to only losing one.

Hopefully we can keep our "antomime" on the board!

Labor Day Pains

Today is....Tuesday. That is a fact. However, my head kept telling me today was Monday. I am supposed to wear my "spirit wear" on Tuesdays. I, again, thought it was Monday. I was the only teacher at school today who was not wearing a school shirt. That is embarrassing. I am suppose to have a study hall 3rd period on Tuesday. I am also supposed to know it's not Monday. I taught a lesson instead of study hall. Every other sixth grader had time to do their work. I gave them more to do.

I was completely off all day. Pretty darn ridiculous if you ask me.

That One Awesome Class

My first period is amazing. I have 17 kids in that class. Good start already! Every single one of them comes in to class with a great attitude, they all try hard, and they all contribute. Yes, they goof occasionally, but I could not ask for a better class. Especially for a Theatre 1 class.

This job is hard. Not because it's difficult to teach the material or manage the class, but because I feel like every second counts. It is so nice to have a class that lets me relax and have fun while still accomplishing what I want to accomplish.

I have other good classes, but they are great! I'm really lucky!