Things Heard in the Classroom

I was called in to substitute for Mr. C earlier this week.  The last class period of high schoolers was asking if Mr. C would be back the next day.  I told them I thought he would...that was based on me not being scheduled to sub for him the next day.

As this conversation was going on, I must have referred to Mr. C as Mr. K.  I have spent many, many days in Mr. K's classroom.  "Mr. K?" one student asked.  "Did I say Mr. K?" was my reply.  "Yes, you did.  But that's okay you have been his sub so much this year, you have a right to not remember you are not him today."

I'll miss the students during the summer months.  And as much as the seniors are ready to graduate, they have grown on me.  It will be totally different without that class next year.

Things Heard in the Classroom

One day last week, I was subbing in the junior high department.  It was a certain student's time to be in the classroom.  He & I know this one lady who is not involved in the school.  Usually he likes to give me a message from her. 

His class was in the classroom first period.  Halfway through the class period, he saunters up to where I was standing.  Exhaling very loudly, he says in a very tired voice, "I don't see how you old people survive.  I'm nowhere near that old but feel like I'm ninety."  

Things Heard in the Classroom

I subbed for a week and a half for a teacher who was on a school sponsored trip.  Close to the end of that time period, one 8th grade student asked me how to write a lowercase "f" in cursive.  I wrote one on the board.  A few minutes later same student asked me how to write a lowercase "b" in cursive.  I wrote that on the board.  The student spent quite a bit of time studiously working on the assignment.  "You know", the student said, "I'm going to bring back the lost art of cursive writing."  How I wish it were always that easy to motivate students to do their work...although I had nothing to do with the motivation.

Things Heard in the Classroom

I have finally realized why I do not really care for substituting in the high school age range.  I do not know all their names.  So if there is a discipline problem it's hard to take care of...because I don't know the name(s) of the student(s) to speak to.

Since Christmas I have spent quite a bit of time in the high school.  By the second day, I had learned all their names.  And had by the end of the first week (by the grace of God) developed some sense of respect from the students.

Last week I ended up subbing for a high school teacher.  The bell rang which signaled the start of class time.  3 boys were not cooperating.  In my sternest teacher voice I could muster by that time of day, I said "J, L & C please be seated."  I heard L reply, "Well shucks, she now knows our names!"  

As I was inwardly smiling, I thanked the Lord for allowing me to learn their names.

Things Heard in the Classroom

I was substituting for the 6th grade teacher who teaches Social Studies to both classes.  We were discussing the Titanic that day.  We discussed the embarking of the voyage, we imagined a little (after reading what the book said) what it might have been like to have been on the Titanic and then discussed the sinking.  The class was very interested to discover that I had been alive when the Titanic remains had been discovered.  

"What did they find?"

"I think I remember hearing they found some of the dishes that had been used."  

"What else did they find?"

I told them I was in high school and couldn't remember a big deal being made over it.  Of course we didn't have a television so I didn't see all the hype that may have been made.  (They have trouble understanding that someone could survive without a television).

Finally after me not giving them the answer they wanted they asked, "well did they find any bones?"

I hemmed and hawed for a few minutes.  "Well did they?  Did they find any skulls?"

I told them I didn't remember anything being said about that.  

Can you tell that class had more boys than girls?

Things Heard in the Classroom

While substituting for high school sometimes all one can do is crowd control.  I give the assignment & also write it on the board.  I want to make sure the teacher knows I did assign it.  Then the high schoolers have to decide whether they are going to work on it during class period.  

After the assignment is given, the students' reactions are varied.  Some will work on that assignment the whole class period.  Some will start working on that assignment but will end up working on another class assignment.  Some will not work on any assignment and will just sit there and talk.  At the beginning of class, I tell them no talking.  But I have to tell you I do allow them to whisper.  It's so funny to watch.  They don't think I know they are whispering.  When I look directly at someone who is whispering, they will usually get quiet and motion for the person to whom they are whispering to get quiet also.  I never say anything to the contrary.

While they have been whispering, I have learned some interesting facts about the students and teachers.  I have learned which Bible teacher the students like best.  I have also learned the differences between the 3 Science teachers.  And I have learned which Math teacher is the best.  With each of these, the teacher that is liked the most is the one that has the most structure in their class.  

Two of the girls were talking about the Math teachers.  They say Mr. C works magic.  "As we learn a new section in Algebra, we have no clue what we're doing.  Then we learn a second new section.  We still don't know how to work Section 1 and now we have Section 2."  It continues like this until time for a test.  They come to school dreading their Algebra test that day because they don't know how to do any of the sections.  But somehow when they get the test, they know how to do every single problem.  "We don't know how Mr. C does that but he knows how to work magic somehow" is their explanation for what happens.  

I think that is very high praise for a teacher.

Things Heard in the Classroom

Close to the end of the day (very close to the end of the day) a 7th grade boy expressed a sound similar to pain, frustration, etc.  I asked the boy if he were okay.  Surprised he looked at me and said, "Yes, ma'am."  

One of the girls said, "Mrs. Wagner, you should know by now that he's dramatic."  I replied that I was aware he was.  (I didn't tell her but I did want to make sure he was truly okay)

A few minutes later another student, who had been called to the office, returned to the room.  He made a big to do about opening the door and then making sure the door closed.  To return to his seat, he "had" to go between desks where there were obstacles.  So he tripped over someone's feet...which led to him kicking over a pile of books...which led to him bumping into another's desk and causing their work to fall to the floor...you get the picture.

I looked at the girl and said, "Talk about dramatic".  The whole class giggled.

The office returning student said, "what's traumatic?  Did I do something wrong?"  

I assured him he had done nothing wrong & stated we had just been talking about people who were dramatic.  He said, "oh what does that mean?"

I used his actions in getting to his seat to show him how he had been dramatic.  I ended my explanation by saying that someone who is dramatic likes to call attention to himself. 

"Oh", was his very quiet reply.

I subbed for this group of students quite a bit this year.  For several subbing days after that, he was very quiet when he came back into the room.  Toward the end of the year, he became interested in a girl.  This caused his dramatic antics to continue where he had left off. 

Things Heard in the Classroom

The younger elementary grades LOVE to cut, paste and color with markers (unless it's something the teacher has left for them to do).  Almost every time I am in one of those classrooms I get surprises from the students.  They will hand me items they have made and make sure I get a hug from them.  I wonder "do they think I'll be nicer to them since they've given me something"?  Here are 3 different items made by different students.

These were made by a 2nd grader.  She was excited to discover we share a birthday.  (I had subbed for elementary computer the weekend before our  birthday.  She came to computer wearing a tiara and sign saying "birthday girl".  That's how we discovered we shared a birthday).  She - like almost all the younger elementary students - sometimes forget my name and call me by another teacher's name.

Not wanting to be outdone her friend drew me a picture also.  This is from a floral arrangement in the teacher's window.  It actually resembled the bouquet.  Forgive the blurriness of the picture.

This was given me by a little boy in the 3rd grade.  He was adopted from Russia and his dream is to go to Israel.  One of his projects is to sell magnets he has made.  He will then purchase supplies (school items, clothes, food, etc.) for poor children in this area.  One day on the playground he was misbehaving.  The playground supervisor talked with him.  He told her he didn't want to do bad but that seemed like all he could do.  Of course she took advantage of the opportunity and shared with him the plan of salvation.  None of us can do good by ourselves.  Jesus came as a baby, grew up as a perfect man, died on the cross for our sins and rose again.  Currently He is in Heaven interceding for us.  If we ask Him to forgive our sins, He does.  The little boy walked away but came back just a few minutes later and prayed asking the Lord to forgive him.  He knows he is forgiven.  He will tell anyone and everyone.

Things Heard in the Classroom

Toward the beginning of the school year, I was subbing in 6th grade.  We were reading a story which was an excerpt from A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  In the day's reading the little girl (who has not had food for several days) finds a coin & purchases six hot cross buns.  As she's getting ready to eat them she notices another little girl who is hungry and gives her all but one.  The teacher's manual said to discuss sacrificial giving.

I asked the children "Do you know what it means to sacrificially give?"

A student answered "10%".  Can you tell they have heard sermons on tithing?

I replied, "Yes we are to give 10% but sometimes 10% is not a sacrificial gift.  What if you were to receive $1,000,000.  10% of that would be $100,000.  That would leave you with $900,000.  That would not be a hardship."

To bring it to their level, I asked "what if you were to receive $45?  The local computer game store is running a sale on games.  They are $5/piece.  You have 9 games you want.  You need to tithe from the $45 which doesn't leave you with enough to purchase 9 games.  That would be giving sacrificial...only being able to purchase 8 games."

"Nine games is too many."

"Let's say you receive a basketball for your birthday.  You go outside to shoot some baskets when the little neighbor from across the road comes over.  You know his family doesn't have a lot of money.  He asks you if he can play with you.  You really want to use the ball first.  But you know you should share with him.  If you let him use the ball first that would be giving sacrificially because you would be sacrificing your chance to play with your new ball first."

"We don't play outside.  It's too hot & our parents are scared that someone will take us."  (When I'm relating this story to John, he reminds me that they have just purchased 8 computer games.  Of course they don't want to be outside!)

"There is a little old lady that lives across the street from you.  You have volunteered to wash her windows or mow her lawn.  You enjoy spending time with her and look forward to the day she selects.  But when the time comes to complete that chore, your favorite show is on TV.  You have to go and help her because you have promised but you are going to miss your show.  Going to help your neighbor right then would be sacrificial giving because you are not able to watch your favorite show."

"We'd just DVR the program to watch later."

With that I gave up trying to make sure the children understood sacrificial giving.  I left the classroom that day wondering if we are raising the next generation to not know the joy of giving (our time, talents, money) even though it may 'deprive' us of something we want.

Things Heard in the Classroom

One thing I have noticed in my subbing careers is that the younger students aren't sure whether you know how to teach (if it's your first time subbing in their classroom).  A few Fridays ago I subbed for Miss P's class.  The 2nd graders didn't know whether I knew how to teach.  Yes, I had been their sub for music, library and computer but never a WHOLE day.  Did I know what I was doing?  So to dispel anymore anxiety than had already been expressed, I announced to the class that Miss P had left her plans for me.  I would just follow them.  They had nothing to fear.  As I'm making that announcement to the children, I hold up the 2-3 sheets left for the children to see.  "Oh yes," one boy exclaimed.  "The torture list."