Friday, January 13, 2012

Friday Class

Today - Class: NOON - 2:50 / Server (Close)

So, I just wrapped up my once-a-week class, which meets Fridays from NOON - 2:50, but I'm still getting used to the timing, so they were dismissed pretty early. It happens.

This class is soooo different from my Monday/Wednesday (MW). MW students are engaged, they are talkative, they are ready to discuss and share their opinions; whereas these Friday (F) students are a bit different. I do have three girls who sit up front who are engaged and ready to learn; there are also two boys who sit close to the front who are also trying to actively stay on task.

Like most first days, some students came to class without the textbook. Only three people actually had their books. Two of the "up-front" girls asked if they could go purchase their books before we got started, which I had no issue with.

Once the girls returned, I pulled up the Power Point and started diving into the chapter; there was a gentleman in the back of the room who was standing behind his chair. I asked him if he was okay, to which he replied that he was, but he still didn't sit. A few minutes later I mentioned how his standing was making me nervous. He informed me that he stands in all of his classes. "Good to know..." I replied. Who does this cat think he is?

I went over the Course Guidelines, which included the use of cellphones being prohibited, and a few minutes later, he was on his phone. I said, "Are you looking stuff up back there?" He quickly put his phone away (well, he hid it behind his pack).

He was sitting/standing next to a girl he clearly knew previously, and I instructed them to share a book, since Standing Man didn't have one. At one point, the class was asked to read a selection about Charles Darwin. When I noticed he wasn't reading, he said, "I don't have a book." I said, "Well, your friend does." He then took her book, picked it up, and put it directly under his nose, clearly showing that he could not read a selection while sharing. So, I promptly took my last semester's edition out of my bag and handed it to him.

I'm not messing around! This kid must think I'm someone to be played!

What a way to start the weekend! Ugh!

Tomorrow - Double: Server / Server

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Faux Pas and Mind Tricks

Today - Class 5:00 - 6:50

After a 3-week hiatus, the spring semester has begun. It was nice to have time off, but now I'm finding myself having difficulty adjusting to a new schedule.
So far, classes are great--they always start out with a glimpse of promise, then towards the middle of the semester, students start getting lazy, start trying to take the easy way out, and start trying to take advantage. I'm just hoping this honeymoon phase lasts a few more weeks.
I've met with two classes this week, and I meet with my third class tomorrow. I actually have a pretty nice schedule for now:

Monday - Class: 11:30 - 12:50
Tuesday - Class: 5:00 - 6:50
Wednesday - Class: 11:30 - 12:50 / Server PM
Thursday - Class: 5:00 - 6:50
Friday - Class: NOON - 2:50 / Server PM
Saturday - Server / Server
Sunday - off

I could probably serve more for right now, so I've been picking up Sundays, but once the assignments start rolling in, I'm going to need the extra time.

I've made adjustments to the vocabulary assignment, so I feel good about that so far. Except students really think I'm out to make their life miserable. The new assignment involves me providing them with a list of vocabulary words that correspond with the current chapter (or chapters, if we're covering more than one at one time). At the close of the chapter, the lists are due in the form of a log that I have provided for them. My Writing class's first vocabulary log is due on Tuesday, but they are starting Chapter 2 as part of their homework over the weekend, so I provided them with the Chapter 2 vocabulary list. One student today says, "So, we have to do the log for Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 by Tuesday?" I should've said "yes," but that would just be mean. Another student completed his Chapter 1 log already because he thought it was due today, even though it was not listed as part of the homework for this week (because it's not due until next week). It's like they want to make it harder on themselves. Whatever.

So two days in a row I've made faux-pas in class. Yesterday, I may or may not have offended my students' religious beliefs; although I think I'm over it. Today's faux-pa, however, I just can't shake. I'm sure the student won't look it up, but I hate when I give a fact off the top of my head, then I realize later that that fact is incorrect. I'm supposed to be their teacher for crying out loud! Then, I have to remember that I am human, and to exhibit humility illustrates that fact. I am allowed to be wrong. It's okay. If he does look it up, I will probably just play some Jedi mind-trick on him to make him think that I knew I was wrong all along; I just wanted to see if he would be curious enough to test me on it.

Ahh, the joys of teaching.

Tomorrow - Class: NOON - 2:50 / Server (closing)