Today was my first day as a Sub. Man did I miss my Mozambican students!
This blog is inspired by Frank McCourt's
Teacher Man. Except I'm more of a Teacher Dude. This blog is nothing more than a place for me to vent and motivation to write and reflect more.
I am at a college prep charter school that claims to prepare students to go to college right after high school. Students have 90 minutes of math five days a week. Ouch! By the way I taught 8th graders. Although taught is probably the wrong word, because I don't think I taught them anything.
As I was, this high school girl came in at the end of lunch to get help. I think she learned the most even though she was only in the class for about two minutes, haha. I wrote her a note saying she was helping me because she was going to be late. She needed help with scientific notations; and she was so happy afterwards. That must have been a high states test?
Back to the the 8th graders, I don't see how people can sub for middle schoolers. I need to learn some tips about these kids because this one class was miserable! Seriously, I was getting frustrated. They were all doing their own thing, talking when I was trying to give instructions, getting up and playing around. Raising my voice was useless against them. Whenever I went to one side of the class to help a student the other side of the class went crazy.
I lost them from the beginning, and never had the chance to get them back. Their teacher warned me about them too. The other classes were fine. After the chaotic class, the next two periods were really nice. I just sat down on the stool, and I told them I needed to chill for a little bit. We talked about college, the military, and school. I learned the ques their teacher uses to get them to behave and listen. Those things were magical. I finally taught an example problem from the book to the last two classes. It was a hard problem, even for me. On second thought, some of them might have learned something.
But the substitute teacher has it rough. I gave them book work and a study guide. Nothing new which is pretty much an invitation to screw off. Overall a majority of the students didn't get much from my work today. I need to get a bag of tricks as a sub so I can at least teach something.
That one class got to me. I don't know why, I really don't. Anyways that was good actually because I needed it. I cannot take it personal when they don't listen. I probably wouldn't have listened either. Plus they are just 8th graders.
The worse part was seeing how many of the students didn't have a clue how to do any of the problems. I was trying to help the students but so many of them needed help; and with students goofing off, forgetaboutit. I couldn't help too many students. A lot of those students should be in lower math classes. I don't see why we have to try to push all the students so hard and far? What's wrong with only learning algebra, but actually understanding it. The curriculum is great for the focused kids while not so great for many of the other students.
It is so disappointing learning the research behind learning and education. I could really go on a rant here. The system is broken. Policies are nonsense. Policy makers aren't education professionals. It is as if someone is intentionally keeping schools down. But that is one reason why I want to be a teacher: to make a change. I need some rest!
Peace, love, and do good things
Mr. Gomes
