A Week in the Life of a Teacher (Day 3)- International Women's Day + "A Day Without Women" + Benchmarks + PLT's + Maybe it's not a good day to exercise my constitutional rights.
6:30 am- The alarm clocks rings over and over again, and I'm determined to hit the snooze button several times. With sheer will, I greet the day with buoyancy by rising up. I wake up the kiddos and quickly jump into the shower. I decide to wear red in solidarity for women everywhere.
7:30- 7:45- As I'm finishing up my hair, my son Adrian reminds me of the impending PLT meeting from the special beep off my phone. Feeling like Flash Gordon, I quickly gather my things and head out the door with Adrian in tow to drop him off at the bus stop. It's literally 7:50 and I'm supposed to be there in 10 minutes. Although I'm pressed for time, I stop at Starbucks surprised that there is absolutely no line in the drive thru. I order my usual grande decaf mocha hot with a warmed up classic coffee cake, when I think about why our department still has a scheduled PLT on benchmark day. We have to get testing materials for the benchmarks and mentally prepare ourselves for anxious students.
8:08 am- I am 8 minutes late and F (who is always on time) is just sitting at the table in W's office (my curriculum coordinator) waiting for the rest of us to show up. As she is a veteran teacher and her students always do well on their tests, I ask her some questions about the units and book selections. She shares what she is doing in her classes. In reality, I'm trying to decipher the secret to her success. Feeling dissatisfied that I didn't achieve that goal, I remain silent as we continue to wait for our department chair. He shows up 10 minutes later and is emphatically apologizing for being late.
8:20- 8:40- We quickly review a few items....EOC district warm-ups, School Net for benchmark results, test taking procedures, and data day. I offer to take the minutes and type away, thinking to myself that I"m glad I made copies that I needed yesterday since 1st period is not testing today. Feels like a weight is lifted off my shoulders. We decide to have data day next Thursday, lunch provided, and are told to request a sub.I wonder if other departments are given this glorious opportunity, and realize that it's not happening. While I"m grateful for this time, I feel like we should all have this option.
8::50 am- 10:30 am- I quickly finish typing up the minutes, send it to everyone on our English II team, and rush to my classroom to open the door for the students. My co teacher offers to stand outside during hallway duty and I love that she notices how flustered I am. I put all the desks into rows to prepare 2nd and 4th period for benchmarks. I write my agenda, homework, EQ's ,etc on the board and hand out EOC warmups to the students. After I review the warm-up, I set the timer, and quickly take attendance. I remind the students of the annual tornado drill, review the warm-ups and quickly put the students into their groups. They need to finish their STEAL graphic organizers. I tell them whatever they don't finish in class is homework. The students are working diligently. A few were off task, talking and on their phone. I confiscated a phone from a student who was ready to argue with me about it. Before, we knew it, the announcement came on telling us "it's a tornado watch, to continue to work and stay indoors." 15 minutes later, another announcement about the tornado warning but I'm not paying attention and leave too early with my students. We are ushered into the tunnel, following what seemed to be a maze, filled with dust. Suddenly, I'm feeling more congested than I did earlier and know the allergies are kicking in. We didn't return to class until 10:10. The students kept on working like little troopers with Ms. VZ and I both guiding them in their groups, right up to the very end.
10:30- 12: 00 p.m.- A student of mine that I had a conference for yesterday, waits for me at my desk as the rest of the students file into class. They are not too happy about the seating changes but I remind them it's only for the benchmarks. The student apologizes for the phone incident and for his disrespect but it doesn't seem genuine and sincere. I admit that to him and explained he would have to show me through his actions to convince me that he truly means what he says. I quickly take attendance and advise those with testing accommodations to proceed to their respective testing labs. Mrs. C, our librarian/ tech support is there to help make sure the students log in to their online benchmarks without any problems. The students begin their benchmarks, I monitor them throughout the testing session to make sure they are on task and not falling asleep or navigating other websites. I am proud of them for working so hard and tell them so at the end of the class. They continue to test until the last student finished, exactly one minute before the bell. We all breathe a sigh of relief. I have the students return the computers to the cart, they grab their belongings, and head out to their next period class or lunch.
12:00-12:50 p.m.- I'm conscientious of the time, realizing it's my day to do cafeteria duty. I quickly eat my lunch and work on next week's lesson plans.
12:50- 1:15 pm- I head outside and sit with my other colleague and we talk about the students ,especially J. She's committed to her students and I can tell she has a great deal of love for them and wants them to be successful. She hugs a student and chats with her a bit, as she excitedly talks about waiting to hear back from colleges, including App State. I don't know the student but her joy is infectious and I cannot help but smile for her.
1:15- 2:00- I head back to the workroom and attempt to finish working on lesson plans and check emails in between. Before long, it's time for 4th period class.
2:00-3:40 p.m.- I'm in panic mode because I realize that a teacher that was supposed to lend me a computer cart is out and I can't find her cart in the classroom. I quickly talk to my department chair and he asks Mrs. K. Without hesitation, she lets me borrow hers and I am overcome with gratitude and feel more at ease. As I'm taking attendance and speaking to a student that is supposed to be in ISS, a student brings in the computer cart. The students with testing accommodations leave Those who stay are separated and I pass out computers and read the online script. Three students have trouble getting into the benchmark test because they have forgotten their passwords and I'm forced to call the help desk for assistance. The help desk really does help and before long, everyone is testing. For the remainder of the class, those who finished early had to work on Achieve 3000 (a reading program). As they do so, I finish up and email my lesson plans for next week. Feeling exhausted, I pack up my things, make copies for tomorrow's lesson,and head out the door. The last thought on my mind......was "A Day Without Women" a success?
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