I got up in front of the class, and reminded them that Mrs. Blank wasn't there today. I introduced the substitute, and told them that they would be working on the questions in their unit guide. If they didn't have a book, they could borrow one from someone who did. I told them it was okay if they talked.
The results were shocking. In all six classes, students took out their books and started working. A lot of them had problems finding definitions if they weren't in the glossary (a surprising number didn't know to check the index). The first two periods were kind of chatty, and after that I made sure to specify that they had to stay in their seats. And they listened! Even 8th period, who I often joke is my 'problem class,' did a remarkably good job of sitting down and shutting up. 4th period was completely silent. Completely silent. 6th period was the most talkative class, but it gave me a good picture of the classroom dynamics. As I floated around the classroom, I was able to develop a tentative rapport with some of my students. These links are fragile, and easily sundered. Inevitably they probably mean more to me as a teacher-in-training than to the students as teenagers wrapped up in whatever it is the kids are doing these days. And when I come back in January, I might have to rebuild them from scratch.
No comments:
Post a Comment