The week in teaching

Well, the holidays are all over, the weather isn't interrupting school, so I had my first full week of teaching in quite some time this week. I was exhausted by the end of it, but I also at least feel like I'm accomplishing something. So, here's the rundown:

• Monday: Junior high Spanish/ELL. Nothing too tough here, and (as usual) everyone was surprised that I knew enough Spanish to help out.
  
• Tuesday and Wednesday: Junior high computers and art. This was interesting, as they needed me because the regular teacher was helping to set up the new lab. The students even slipped out and helped here and there. But this also meant that the teacher was able to come in and get class started, and all I had to do was supervise from there. I also spent one of my prep periods helping to unpack computers as well.
  
• Thursday: Junior high health and senior high PE. Again, nothing too tough, but it was intersting to see a whole bunch of weightlifting students disappear, a few of them brought back by both the principal and vice-principal. and the large number of students who are going to find themselves with unexcused absences for the class for cutting. Yes, I was smart enough to take roll again before dismissing the class.
  
• Friday: Something I haven't done for a long while now: Older elementary students. I saw a good job in a 5/6 split class and decided to take it. They were a nice bunch who knew what they were doing, so I didn't have a lot of trouble. Furthermore, they had both art and library that day, so there were some unexpectedly long stretches when I didn't have to worry about them. They were terrific, and I hope I get the chance to teach at that level some more this year.
  

I already have two jobs lined up for the coming week as well, both returns to previous posts (and one I was even requested for!). And let's not forget the big holiday coming up this week:



I have got to wonder why more schools don't recognize this as a holiday. It would be so much more successful if students could take some time off from their studies and proudly go around town in their gorilla suits. Think of the pride and joy on their parents' faces. Think of the sense of well-being the students would have. Oh, well, perhaps someday soon.

Things are getting back to normal

We finally had something like a normal week this past week, even with the holiday on Monday. To be sure, Tuesday and Wednesday school started late because of the snow and the cold. But we've warned up nicely now. Most of the snow is gone, in fact. So, Tuesday, I had a very pleasant day in a junior high science room I'd been to earlier this year. Since it was the first day back in nearly a week, they had a worksheet or two to do to ease them back into things. Wednesday, I had an elementary PE job. Since school started late, I didn't even have a student until 10:45, so I did a little reading (and, I'll admit, napping). Thursday, junior high Spanish. I got the call late, and then got caught in a traffic jam, so I was worried about getting there on time, which I didn't — but it turned out to not be a problem, as she had first period planning. (By the way, a note to all of my fellow substitutes out there: Don't put the day's plans back into the substitute folder before turning it back to the office. The folder may not be checked or cleaned out, and then the next guy who comes along may not realize that those are not the plans!) Friday, a very neat bunch of junior high math classes who are all getting ready for finals next week. What already? Ah, well. I already have one job lined up for tomorrow, and a handful of jobs even for the following week, so I guess I'm staying busy.

More snow woes

The snow started up again late Monday night/Tuesday morning, and closed a lot of local districts again. Fortunately, it warmed up again yesterday, and things are starting to return to normal again. Locally, school was delayed yesterday, and will be again today. Today I have an elementary job, so I won't see a student until at least 10:30! Time to catch up on some e-mail and read the paper this morning, I think.

This short week of teaching

So here's how it went:

Monday: Science at the local high school. They did some experiments, they watched a video. Pretty normal.

Tuesday: No school, so that I could pick up my car from the body shop. Yup, it took nearly three weeks after the storm last month to get the damage fixed. Oh, well. While I was in town, I was also able to get the oil changed and some other quick fixes like that.

Wednesday: Junior high science, where I got to show a video (again...). This, however, was in the other district, not the one I usually teach in, and I forgot that they have early dismissal on Wednesdays. So I was done early and got to come home for a bit, before heading to tutoring — where, thanks to the snow, I ended up without any students to tutor and I headed out early.

Thursday and Friday: Snow, ice on the roads, and school cancelled. So I've been catching up with some other stuff. At the rate I'm going, I'll catch up so much I'll eventually be ahead! How will I ever cope with that?

I'm especially bummed about Thursday and Friday as I had a two day junior high math assignment those days which I was really looking forward to. I'd already contacted the teacher and figured out what I was doing, and there was no video! Wow, maybe some actual teaching!

Now, as if to add insult to injury, the governor is now telling districts that they can have some of their days they need to make up waived. Oh, I hope not, I need the money! Still, this is a very unusual winter, as most years there's only a day or two at the most to make up. Already my main district has to make up six days (and it's snowing again, so next week might be affected), and one nearby district now has nine or ten! I gather they're not getting a mid-winter break now...

Another snow day

It snowed again last night, and the temperatures got so low that the roads are basically sheets of ice. So another day off, to be made up in June. Last night, the snow hit right before we were to start tutoring, and it was coming down hard. We only had two students show up, and one of them got picked up again after only ten minutes. We also had a couple of teachers cancel, including the one who took eight hours to get home back in November. Needless to say, the handwriting was on the wall and the rest of the night was cancelled. This time, it took me only forty-five minutes to get home.

UPDATE: Tutoring has also been cancelled tonight. The sky is clear and bright blue, the roads (at least around here) are clear, but the State Patrol is still asking everyone to stay off the road, as they're still cleaning up the accidents from last night. More importantly, it's going to get really, really cold again tonight, and any moisture on the road will become ice. So that's that! We shall see what happens about school tomorrow, but I suspect the decision will be made pretty early tonight.

This week in teaching

An unusual week for me, but isn't it always right after break? Tuesday, the first day back, I filled in for a science teacher at the local high school, and thank goodness, it was video day! (You won't hear me say that very often, but I think we all needed that just to ease back into school.) The physics classes got string theory, while the biology class got one on DNA. Well I thought they were interesting, at least. Wednesday was a non work day, which is not a surprise. Thursday and Friday were junior high science, for the same teacher. The first day I took the classes to the library to research water bottle rockets, and the second I started them off on Apollo 13. It seems they're going to watch that movie every Friday for a while as part of their rocketry unit. Very cool!

Upcomig this week? It could get interesting. So far all I have is junior high math on Thursday and Friday, and I may need to take tomorrow or Tuesday off to pick up my car from the body shop. (I did tell you about the trunk getting whacked during the wiindstorm, didn't I?) No, the most interesting part is the weather forecast! Another system is moving in, which may bring snow Tueday night or Wednesday, then it might get as cold as the 'teens on Thursday or Friday. This is not a recipe for happy driving in this area! So we'll see if the upcoming three day weekend gets extended a bit. Oh, well, we already have four days to make up in June, what's one or two more? (I just hope nobody gets the bright idea to make up some of the time by taking away days from spring break! But I could live with a shorter mid-winter break...)