I was challenged by Heather to document a week in the life of a teacher as part of an ongoing project to demonstrate the challenges and successes one experiences while working in education.
Day 1 or Daylight Savings Got Me Like...
6:45 - 8:30: Before School
I always get to school earlier than most other teachers, because I feel like morning is my most productive time to work. I have planning during 4th block, so I’m usually too tired after teaching from 8:30 - 2 to really get much done. I usually use this before school time to plan, grade, make copies, and give make-up tests and other assignments. I was a little stressed this morning, because I only had a loose plan of what I was going to be doing for the week. I knew I was starting a unit on World War I poetry today, but that was about it. The first thing I did when I got to work was to create my Weekly Calendar for this week. I give my classes a Weekly Calendar at the start of each week so that everyone knows exactly what to expect. I also like to put memes and things on there for my benefit. The kids say they like it too.
I always get to school earlier than most other teachers, because I feel like morning is my most productive time to work. I have planning during 4th block, so I’m usually too tired after teaching from 8:30 - 2 to really get much done. I usually use this before school time to plan, grade, make copies, and give make-up tests and other assignments. I was a little stressed this morning, because I only had a loose plan of what I was going to be doing for the week. I knew I was starting a unit on World War I poetry today, but that was about it. The first thing I did when I got to work was to create my Weekly Calendar for this week. I give my classes a Weekly Calendar at the start of each week so that everyone knows exactly what to expect. I also like to put memes and things on there for my benefit. The kids say they like it too.
After I make all of my copies for the day, I have to give a math test to one of my students because I get to school earlier than her math teacher, and I have two make up tests to administer for my class. My social studies partner texts me that he’s going to be late and could I house the students who are making up tests for him until he gets there. I also have to walk back downstairs to the front of the building at 7:15 to let the students inside who are making up things for my class and my social studies partner’s class. This year my school instituted a policy that no students are allowed in the building before 7:30 unless they are accompanied by and escorted into the building by a teacher. This has been kind of a headache for those of us who get to work early or who hold study sessions, tutoring hours, or make up tests because it generally means that we have to stand downstairs and wait for the students we are trying to help rather than getting ready for class.
This morning I also have to find three different administrators to discuss three separate issues: clearance to leave for a doctor’s appointment on Wednesday, an issue with a student trying to get out of turning in an assignment late without penalty that was assigned on January 18th, and a behavioral issue with another student. Most administrators are not really visible for me to talk to until around 8 am, and my first class starts at 8:30. I feel a little crazy trying to run around to three different parts of the building and still get back to my classroom before the majority of my students arrive. I make it work, and I’m there to greet my students about 5 minutes before class starts.
8:30 - 9:16: 1st Period Essentials of English
When the bell rings to start class, only 8 students are present. 5 have not made it to class yet. This class is small because it’s designed to be a remediation course for 9th grade students that affords lots of differentiation and individualized attention. This class is normally really lively and fun, but they are not here for it today. With half of them gone, no one is saying anything. Over the course of the 46 min class, four students trickle in late without valid reasons for being late. None of them seems particularly interested in being on task, and they are uncooperative when it’s time for whole class instruction. One student rolls her eyes and loudly sighs when I pass out the day’s assignment. We’re meant to be reading, analyzing, and listening to “The Ballad of Love and Hate” by The Avett Brothers as a pre-reading activity for “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl. I try to give the students a pep talk, and say that I need them to get on board, but they are still moody and despondent, and no one will tell me what the problem is or agree to turn things around. As a result, they are told that they will have to complete the assignment on their own.
When the bell rings to start class, only 8 students are present. 5 have not made it to class yet. This class is small because it’s designed to be a remediation course for 9th grade students that affords lots of differentiation and individualized attention. This class is normally really lively and fun, but they are not here for it today. With half of them gone, no one is saying anything. Over the course of the 46 min class, four students trickle in late without valid reasons for being late. None of them seems particularly interested in being on task, and they are uncooperative when it’s time for whole class instruction. One student rolls her eyes and loudly sighs when I pass out the day’s assignment. We’re meant to be reading, analyzing, and listening to “The Ballad of Love and Hate” by The Avett Brothers as a pre-reading activity for “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl. I try to give the students a pep talk, and say that I need them to get on board, but they are still moody and despondent, and no one will tell me what the problem is or agree to turn things around. As a result, they are told that they will have to complete the assignment on their own.
9:21 - 10:07: 2nd Period Essentials of English
This class is small like the previous class, but there are only two girls in the class which leads to a hard to navigate classroom dynamic. There are three boys who tend to steer the class into a positive or negative direction depending on their moods. Sometimes they can be very aggressive and argumentative, other times they are agreeable and pleasant. You never can tell. Today starts out agreeable and pleasant, but I have to ask the same students five or more times to get on task, and as I’m getting the class quiet and focused for the whole class lesson on “The Ballad of Love and Hate” two boys decide it would be a good idea to interrupt, and make a sexually suggestive remark at my expense, while a number of students laughed. I’m not really sure why they did this, or what the goal was, but I had already warned them that today was not the day. This class had to complete their assignment individually as well. I tried to have a conversation with one of the students after class who I feel is behaving in a way that is not indicative of who they generally demonstrate themselves to be, but they quickly became defensive and refused to take responsibility for their actions.
This class is small like the previous class, but there are only two girls in the class which leads to a hard to navigate classroom dynamic. There are three boys who tend to steer the class into a positive or negative direction depending on their moods. Sometimes they can be very aggressive and argumentative, other times they are agreeable and pleasant. You never can tell. Today starts out agreeable and pleasant, but I have to ask the same students five or more times to get on task, and as I’m getting the class quiet and focused for the whole class lesson on “The Ballad of Love and Hate” two boys decide it would be a good idea to interrupt, and make a sexually suggestive remark at my expense, while a number of students laughed. I’m not really sure why they did this, or what the goal was, but I had already warned them that today was not the day. This class had to complete their assignment individually as well. I tried to have a conversation with one of the students after class who I feel is behaving in a way that is not indicative of who they generally demonstrate themselves to be, but they quickly became defensive and refused to take responsibility for their actions.
10:15 - 11: 05: 3rd period English 2 Honors
These students have a major essay due today. I have gone over the procedure for submitting their essays no less than 15 times. Not hyperbolic. However, a number of students ask the same three questions over and over about how they should submit their essays. Once I have everyone’s essay, I pass out their Weekly Calendars and their study guides for the unit we are starting. We review the calendar, and the kids say the memes are “dank.” Next, we spend the rest of class going over the background information for World War I. It's cold and gloomy outside, and I have to turn the lights out so the kids can read the Google Slides. One kid asks if we can play my "Introvert Jams" as the kids call it. The Introvert Jams are a mix of Radiohead, Bon Iver, The National, Elliott Smith, TV on the Radio, and others that I play in class sometimes. The class enthusiastically supports the playing of Introvert Jams, and we have a lively discussion about the problems of romanticizing war and soldiers, the concept of dehumanization, and the transition from idealism to disillusionment. For the most part, students are attentive, engaged, and participatory.
These students have a major essay due today. I have gone over the procedure for submitting their essays no less than 15 times. Not hyperbolic. However, a number of students ask the same three questions over and over about how they should submit their essays. Once I have everyone’s essay, I pass out their Weekly Calendars and their study guides for the unit we are starting. We review the calendar, and the kids say the memes are “dank.” Next, we spend the rest of class going over the background information for World War I. It's cold and gloomy outside, and I have to turn the lights out so the kids can read the Google Slides. One kid asks if we can play my "Introvert Jams" as the kids call it. The Introvert Jams are a mix of Radiohead, Bon Iver, The National, Elliott Smith, TV on the Radio, and others that I play in class sometimes. The class enthusiastically supports the playing of Introvert Jams, and we have a lively discussion about the problems of romanticizing war and soldiers, the concept of dehumanization, and the transition from idealism to disillusionment. For the most part, students are attentive, engaged, and participatory.
11:07 - 11:53: 4th period English 2 Honors
This class goes essentially the same as the previous class with the exception of one student who asks every five minutes if I’ll be filling out a bracket. This class also as a group chat where they compare notes and remind each other of assignments. They also have gotten into the habit of making their own memes based on the stories we read, and they wanted to start class by updating me on all the “lit” memes that were created over the weekend.
This class goes essentially the same as the previous class with the exception of one student who asks every five minutes if I’ll be filling out a bracket. This class also as a group chat where they compare notes and remind each other of assignments. They also have gotten into the habit of making their own memes based on the stories we read, and they wanted to start class by updating me on all the “lit” memes that were created over the weekend.
12:00 - 12:46: 5th period English 2 Honors
This class is always a little more quiet and reserved than my other classes, but I do my best to bring them out of their shells a little. There’s one student obsessed with Bitcoin, so he gives daily Bitcoin updates (when there are daily Bitcoin updates). Mostly, I just resort to saying all kinds of absurd things just to make sure I have their attention. Today, I talked about how much I love Totino’s Pizza Rolls for about 5 minutes. One kid countered and said that Hot Pockets were better. I told him he sounded ignorant, everyone laughed (including the student), and we moved on with our discussion of World War 1.
This class is always a little more quiet and reserved than my other classes, but I do my best to bring them out of their shells a little. There’s one student obsessed with Bitcoin, so he gives daily Bitcoin updates (when there are daily Bitcoin updates). Mostly, I just resort to saying all kinds of absurd things just to make sure I have their attention. Today, I talked about how much I love Totino’s Pizza Rolls for about 5 minutes. One kid countered and said that Hot Pockets were better. I told him he sounded ignorant, everyone laughed (including the student), and we moved on with our discussion of World War 1.
12:46 - 1:15 LUNCH
Today, I had to spend about 10 minutes of my lunch speaking with the previously mentioned student who was trying to get out of adhering to the deadline for an essay that was assigned about two months ago. She did not seem to appreciate that I plan on sticking to my expectations and deadlines.
Today, I had to spend about 10 minutes of my lunch speaking with the previously mentioned student who was trying to get out of adhering to the deadline for an essay that was assigned about two months ago. She did not seem to appreciate that I plan on sticking to my expectations and deadlines.
1:15 - 2:01: 6th Period English 2 HN
This class goes pretty much the same as the others except there’s one student who repeatedly mumbles and mutters under his breath the entire time while refusing to take notes. It’s a bold strategy. Let’s see if it pays off.
This class goes pretty much the same as the others except there’s one student who repeatedly mumbles and mutters under his breath the entire time while refusing to take notes. It’s a bold strategy. Let’s see if it pays off.
2:01 - 3:45 PLANNING
I usually spend this time decompressing with other teachers and comparing notes on the day. After teaching straight through 6 classes with only a 20 minute lunch, I usually don’t have the energy for much else. Plus, on lecture days, I always end the day feeling slightly nauseous and with a headache. Today, I chatted with the teacher next door, made sure I had everything together for tomorrow, and then I had the grand idea to try and grade some of the essays the students submitted. Unfortunately, the temptation to ignore the essays won out when another teacher and I started discussing Get Out. Right as the bell rang to dismiss students for the day, I got a Low Balance alert from my bank. I get paid on Wednesday, so leave me alone, bank. You don't know my life.
I usually spend this time decompressing with other teachers and comparing notes on the day. After teaching straight through 6 classes with only a 20 minute lunch, I usually don’t have the energy for much else. Plus, on lecture days, I always end the day feeling slightly nauseous and with a headache. Today, I chatted with the teacher next door, made sure I had everything together for tomorrow, and then I had the grand idea to try and grade some of the essays the students submitted. Unfortunately, the temptation to ignore the essays won out when another teacher and I started discussing Get Out. Right as the bell rang to dismiss students for the day, I got a Low Balance alert from my bank. I get paid on Wednesday, so leave me alone, bank. You don't know my life.
3:45 - 4:30 After School
A student needed me to stay after school today in order to give a make-up in class essay for 45 minutes. Since I get to work so early, this is always kind of annoying, but if a student rides the bus, then they don't have enough time for make up tests or tutoring before school. I always tell students that I'm available in the afternoon by appointment, but they have to let me know first. This student was proactive, and arranged to stay after on Friday.
A student needed me to stay after school today in order to give a make-up in class essay for 45 minutes. Since I get to work so early, this is always kind of annoying, but if a student rides the bus, then they don't have enough time for make up tests or tutoring before school. I always tell students that I'm available in the afternoon by appointment, but they have to let me know first. This student was proactive, and arranged to stay after on Friday.
All in all, today was a pretty easy day.
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