Get your damn hands off my Vanilla Coke!

Just got back from a nice school orchestra concert. One my students plays the violin. It makes me feel like a good teacher to go to these types of things. So few teachers support their students in that way, but it can really make a difference for the students. Sometimes I'm the only one there for them. This time, her mom was there also. I got the "there's no way this person is old enough to be your teacher" look when I met her. Ha.

I really should be grading essays, but figured I'd make a quick update. Other than yesterday, I'm having a good term at school.

Yesterday was just awful. I arrived later than desired in the rain, and without a lunch because we simply didn't have anything in the kitchen to take for lunch. (Except for a Vanilla Coke. Remember the Vanilla Coke, it becomes important later.) This is a problem for a vegetarian. Public school food isn't exactly veggie-friendly. Plus I have to walk through the student cafeteria to buy lunch rather than just popping into the teacher planning area right next to my room to microwave something.

Oh well, anyway, I have my usual duty handing out tardies from 7:30 to 8. Partly because of the rain (it stayed dark much later than usual and the streets were wet) and partly because it was a Monday, the tardy room was CRAZY. Friday was also senior skip day, so all those kids were coming in to get their "admits," which they have to give to each teacher to admit them back into class after an absence. Anyway, it was the busiest day in the tardy room I have EVER seen in two years working there. We gave out at least 150 tardies and had to stay a few minutes late. It sucked.

Then my planning period was pretty much shot. Except that I had to call a parent because her son included the phrase "he ate her pussy" in a formal essay. "Shit", "get laid" and "she gave him head" were also featured in the essay, which was supposed to be about why American Pie defines his generation. And the essay didn't even follow the damn format! Bad news for him is that his mom is a teacher and was mortified. Good kid, too. Once a semester or so this kind of thing happens with a kid I don't expect it to. Oh well.

So then my planning time was gone and I had to feel all rushed and pissy during my classes. And the weather made kids act like animals - fussing, whining, yelling and generally being - uh, animals. Anyway, it was a pain in the ass day and then I had to make like 15 transparencies during my 30-minute lunch. After that, I went to the cafeteria and bought veggie pizza. By the time I got back to my table to eat lunch with my buddies, I had like 15 minutes. I went to the fridge to grab my Vanilla Coke (which you'll remember from earlier) - which I was really looking forward to all day! - and it was GONE! Now, I don't normally get real pissed about this kind of stuff, but I was livid! I started yelling and bitching. There was my damn can in the trash. AAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! After throwing a total hissy fit, one of my lunch buddies gave me a room-temperature water so at least I'd have something to drink. I guess one of the three subs there stole my damn drink, but I was and still am pissed about it. I could have walked all the way back out into the student area and bought a coke for $1, but I was too damn pissed.

Okay, moving on. I got to the room where I have 4th period to discover that a student had some sort of seizure during 3rd period and the ambulance, etc. was there. The class in the adjoining room had a terrible sub. I am trying to get my students ready for the state standardized test the next day. These are students who have already failed the thing TWICE and who are pretty worried about taking the test. I'm trying to have a "cram session" with them so they feel more confident (after spending the last 8 weeks having them LEARN rather than do test-prep). The sub's class was horrible! He had The Wizard of Oz blaring full-blast on the TV and I could still hear the students talking over it! I went over twice to ask them to quiet down because my students were taking a practice test. After the second time, the sub came over and told me he had to go to the bathroom. I had to watch his class for like 10 minutes while he went!! It was ridiculous! He was gone forever and while he was gone I confiscated a radio and woke up a student who was practically comatose. How she could sleep with all that noise I don't think I want to know.

Today was a lot better. In fact - and I hestate to jinx myself by saying this - overall, I really like my classes this year. I'm pleased with their overall tone and work ethic. Sure, they don't do everything I ask and they certainly get off-task their fair share, but as a whole they are respectful and go along with my lessons. I feel very blessed to have my students and I can't help but wonder if it's something I did or I just got lucky. I have to hope I did the right things at the beginning of the year to set the tone. If so, I can look forward to continued success.