I'd forgotten about this part of going to university. There are many many people I have to deal with every day. Almost all the time, those interactions just happen and no one even notices. But then there are the other times. I think those can be nicely split into "Too bad, so sad, suck it up princess" and "Hey - ASSHOLE!" categories. "Too bad, so sad" would be something like having a favorite computer in the lab and going to do a whole bunch of work and finding it occupied by someone else. No one's fault, but it just kind of sucks for you. The Asshole stuff runs alot deeper.
I want to start with bathrooms. I don't care how people pee. I don't care if people hover, cover the seat with TP or squat on the toilet. But, for the love of God, leave the stall in decent shape for the next person. If you have such a delicate heiney that you can't bear to sit on a public toilet - fine. I really don't care. But it's an asshole move not to wipe the bits of pee off the seat. Same thing if you are the kind of person with a delicate heiney and weak legs who feels compelled to kill a few more trees and cover the seat with TP. Whatever. But it makes you a jerk to ignore all the TP falling onto the floor as you stand up and just leave it there. Go ahead, grab a large fist full of TP before touching the handle on the toilet. If you are decently coordinated, you can even drop that TP into the toilet before it finishes flushing. But, don't kick the handle. You are the asshole that breaks it. And, if you try to kick the handle and it doesn't work in that direction, it's an asshole move to just leave the toilet unflushed. If I go in there and it flushes easily when I pull the handle towards me, then it was just you being a gross disgusting pig.
I know we don't have assigned seats. So - when someone sat in the seat I'd been in for the first week on the second week, I dealt with it. But, we're now many weeks into term. Generally, we all sit in the same spot every day. Especially since it's a 9am class. That makes you an asshole for sitting where I normally sit on the morning of the midterm. It really isn't nice to throw people for a loop like that. It's early. I'd like to settle in and get ready. It also makes you an asshole for sitting there sniffing through the entire exam. You were sniffing before it started. I offered you a kleenex (from a travel pack) and you declined. You are an asshole.
Seriously, this isn't hard people. Don't leave your lunch wrappers on the couch when you leave! Don't spill your pop and then not go get some paper towels to wipe it up. Don't eat and type on the lab computers leaving gunk on the keyboards... Those things make you an asshole.
There are a few tens of thousands of us on this campus. Pull your head out of your self absorbed ass long enough to think about even just a few of those closest to you.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Apathy... I have it
It's probably pretty obvious since I haven't been posting, but there's been nothing even close to notable happening in my classes. That doesn't mean I'm unhappy or bored. In fact, there's a really nice rhythm that's developed. My free spirit days of the fall are over. I used to get off the LRT early and take a nice walk in the air. Now, I'm going all the way in and joining the herd as we all march up the escalators. There is something comforting about that. I think it reminds me of my Earth Sciences days, and those are happy memories.
I don't like that my classes are so disconnected with different people in each of them. It makes it far too easy to find something better to do than walk across campus. Things like reading a book or checking my e-mail occasionally take precedence.
But, once again, I am prompted to post because of the sheer ignorance and stupidity displayed by some of my classmates. I don't think it's worth going into details, but the following things have happened:
1) Making fun of the idea of transgender including laughing while saying, "he.. she... he.. she...????"
2) Completely agreeing with the St. Albert school board's decision a few years ago to fire/remove a transgender teacher who transitioned during employment.
3) Asking why mothers of children with FAS aren't charged with a crime.
4) Stating that they would be very hesitant to call CPS over a young child's claims of parental abuse. Because "mom hits me" would most likely just be parental discipline.
5) Saying that they would only call CPS is they had absolute proof of actual abuse.
Sometimes it makes my head hurt. I've actually gotten to the point where I just don't have the energy to debate with them anymore. Apathy...
I don't like that my classes are so disconnected with different people in each of them. It makes it far too easy to find something better to do than walk across campus. Things like reading a book or checking my e-mail occasionally take precedence.
But, once again, I am prompted to post because of the sheer ignorance and stupidity displayed by some of my classmates. I don't think it's worth going into details, but the following things have happened:
1) Making fun of the idea of transgender including laughing while saying, "he.. she... he.. she...????"
2) Completely agreeing with the St. Albert school board's decision a few years ago to fire/remove a transgender teacher who transitioned during employment.
3) Asking why mothers of children with FAS aren't charged with a crime.
4) Stating that they would be very hesitant to call CPS over a young child's claims of parental abuse. Because "mom hits me" would most likely just be parental discipline.
5) Saying that they would only call CPS is they had absolute proof of actual abuse.
Sometimes it makes my head hurt. I've actually gotten to the point where I just don't have the energy to debate with them anymore. Apathy...
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Novelty has Worn Off
Semester 2 has started. I don't know whether it's because it is my 2nd semester or that it's just a regular term without the promise of student teaching at the end, but it's already dragging. I remember being surprised at how fast things moved in the fall, this time I am annoyed at how slow everything is. The first lecture in each class was so slow. It was the traditional go through the syllabus in excruciating detail followed by a promise of more interesting material the next class.
There is a serious difference in the attitudes my classmates have as well. Last term they were all trying their hardest to be professional. Textbooks were bought before classes began, readings were done, groups were immediately formed for the group projects and dates set to start working. This time? It's as if no one cares. It's going to be hard to keep the momentum going that I established last term. I do find it surprising to see the difference in how other people approach things. Comments about proffs is a big one. Last term, even when I knew they didn't like the instructor, they were still polite and refrained from making overt comments. This term, people seem to feel free to be as derogatory as they like.
The main one that is blowing my mind is the way people are dealing with our Inclusive Education professor. He is deaf. He teaches through 2 interpreters. This does mean there is a slight lag between when a question is asked and when it is answered, but I'm really impressed with how seamlessly it all works. What has me shocked is that people have left his section because they find this process "annoying" and are irritated with the way it works. I remember people last term talking about him with an entirely different voice. What a fundamental example of "not getting it"... It makes me angry when I think about how people talk about him. And then it makes me very sad for their future students with special needs.
It is also frustrating to hear the whining. People want everything for nothing. One of our classes has assignments that are all or nothing in terms of grades. It's a computer class which assumes very minimal prior knowledge. The decision, which I agree with, is that they want to assess the material being taught and not what people know from before. So, if you do the assignments (meet 75% of the requirements) then you get the marks. Interestingly, the main complaints aren't coming from other people who know alot about computers, but from the students who know some and were hoping that would give them an advantage. I think it's a good system. There are still the exams to do really well on.
There is a serious difference in the attitudes my classmates have as well. Last term they were all trying their hardest to be professional. Textbooks were bought before classes began, readings were done, groups were immediately formed for the group projects and dates set to start working. This time? It's as if no one cares. It's going to be hard to keep the momentum going that I established last term. I do find it surprising to see the difference in how other people approach things. Comments about proffs is a big one. Last term, even when I knew they didn't like the instructor, they were still polite and refrained from making overt comments. This term, people seem to feel free to be as derogatory as they like.
The main one that is blowing my mind is the way people are dealing with our Inclusive Education professor. He is deaf. He teaches through 2 interpreters. This does mean there is a slight lag between when a question is asked and when it is answered, but I'm really impressed with how seamlessly it all works. What has me shocked is that people have left his section because they find this process "annoying" and are irritated with the way it works. I remember people last term talking about him with an entirely different voice. What a fundamental example of "not getting it"... It makes me angry when I think about how people talk about him. And then it makes me very sad for their future students with special needs.
It is also frustrating to hear the whining. People want everything for nothing. One of our classes has assignments that are all or nothing in terms of grades. It's a computer class which assumes very minimal prior knowledge. The decision, which I agree with, is that they want to assess the material being taught and not what people know from before. So, if you do the assignments (meet 75% of the requirements) then you get the marks. Interestingly, the main complaints aren't coming from other people who know alot about computers, but from the students who know some and were hoping that would give them an advantage. I think it's a good system. There are still the exams to do really well on.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
That was lots of fun.
I've had some time to decompress and start to think about my student teaching experience. First off, I think I want to make sure it's clear that I had a great time and learned alot from my mentor teacher who I really got along with. That being said, I saw and experienced many things that have made me try to formulate my own ideas and philosophies.
I think that the most concerning attitude I experienced was the "us VS them" thought pattern. It seemed that some of the other teachers and their student teachers focused on waging a war against their students. It became a challenge to pick the right day to give a quiz to make sure that the kids hadn't done their homework and did badly on the quiz so that they'd "learn" to do their work. Or taking the tricky question off an assignment, changing it slightly and putting it on the test just so that they could say "it was on the homework!!!!".... Neither giving quizzes or putting modified homework questions on a test are really questionable. But the reasoning behind it seemed so adversarial to me. It was hard to work through. Especially because my mentor teacher really bought into the "we're all on the same side" mentality. He believes that he is there for the students and we're supposed to work together. That seems so much more reasonable.
I was also slightly bothered by the low expectations. Some of the teachers seemed to have low expectations of the students. They placed the "few" who they thought would be able to go on to post secondary on a pedestal and then kind of smiled at the rest. I know that this is born out in reality, but there was a well stated belief that most of them didn't have a chance. They expected students not to do their homework or study. They expected students to behave poorly. Other teachers had much higher expectations. One big place where teachers seemed to differ was on how students behaved while doing individual work. Some classes were LOUD and others were much more orderly and quiet.
I also really enjoyed seeing the various places where students found homes. Some students ate lunch regularly in my mentor teacher's classroom. Even if they weren't working on chem or physics, they'd meet there and eat. Other students found those homes in the art room, or film and media studies. It was nice to see that there were places for these kids to go where they could interact with an adult and feel connected to their environment.
I'm excited for my next semester. It will be more relaxed than this last one. But, it will also be challenging as I take my first math class in 8 years and go back to writing papers and exams. Mainly, I can't wait for next fall when I get to do my long placements. That has promise and I hope I enjoy it as much.
I think that the most concerning attitude I experienced was the "us VS them" thought pattern. It seemed that some of the other teachers and their student teachers focused on waging a war against their students. It became a challenge to pick the right day to give a quiz to make sure that the kids hadn't done their homework and did badly on the quiz so that they'd "learn" to do their work. Or taking the tricky question off an assignment, changing it slightly and putting it on the test just so that they could say "it was on the homework!!!!".... Neither giving quizzes or putting modified homework questions on a test are really questionable. But the reasoning behind it seemed so adversarial to me. It was hard to work through. Especially because my mentor teacher really bought into the "we're all on the same side" mentality. He believes that he is there for the students and we're supposed to work together. That seems so much more reasonable.
I was also slightly bothered by the low expectations. Some of the teachers seemed to have low expectations of the students. They placed the "few" who they thought would be able to go on to post secondary on a pedestal and then kind of smiled at the rest. I know that this is born out in reality, but there was a well stated belief that most of them didn't have a chance. They expected students not to do their homework or study. They expected students to behave poorly. Other teachers had much higher expectations. One big place where teachers seemed to differ was on how students behaved while doing individual work. Some classes were LOUD and others were much more orderly and quiet.
I also really enjoyed seeing the various places where students found homes. Some students ate lunch regularly in my mentor teacher's classroom. Even if they weren't working on chem or physics, they'd meet there and eat. Other students found those homes in the art room, or film and media studies. It was nice to see that there were places for these kids to go where they could interact with an adult and feel connected to their environment.
I'm excited for my next semester. It will be more relaxed than this last one. But, it will also be challenging as I take my first math class in 8 years and go back to writing papers and exams. Mainly, I can't wait for next fall when I get to do my long placements. That has promise and I hope I enjoy it as much.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Respect and community
My time here is almost done. My teaching responsibilities are done, so another student teacher and I used today to explore the rest of the school. We discovered the amazing cosmetology department. If students complete all the modules they will graduate ready to do a 1 year apprenticeship at a salon. The education they get would cost them $10,000 from a private school. I think that's awesome.
We also watched the annual Christmas lunch time stuff. The school sets up a venue for students to perform for their friends. They sell hot chocolate and donuts and students show off their skills. I was amazed at how supportive and respectful the students watching were. They made it a very safe place for their friends. There were some great performances and some that didn't go as well. But everyone was cheered and walked away from the mic with a smile on their face. The level of respect was incredible. Students obviously feel incredibly safe to be willing to open themselves up like that. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Then we spent some time with the skill class in the foods room. That was an entirely different experience. One of the student's mom was there. He's about to age out of the program because he's turning 20. And she is a bit sad that he has to leave. They seemed like they were having alot of fun and the EAs and teachers working with them were really patient and caring. My friend and I are going back tomorrow when they are in their regular classroom to see how the rest of the program goes.
Between cosmetology and the skills class, I was reminded at how narrow my focus has been for the last 5 weeks working with students taking Physics 20. A very small percentage of the students at this school are in that academic of a stream. And it's important to keep in mind that the school has a mandate to educate everyone, not just the top academic kids. But, this isn't something that's been mentioned in anyway in my classes. I have friends who got K&E assignments with their student teaching. And none of us had any clue what that even meant. (It goes, Skills, Prep, K&E, regular academic). I think that is something that was lacking from our IPT.
We also watched the annual Christmas lunch time stuff. The school sets up a venue for students to perform for their friends. They sell hot chocolate and donuts and students show off their skills. I was amazed at how supportive and respectful the students watching were. They made it a very safe place for their friends. There were some great performances and some that didn't go as well. But everyone was cheered and walked away from the mic with a smile on their face. The level of respect was incredible. Students obviously feel incredibly safe to be willing to open themselves up like that. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Then we spent some time with the skill class in the foods room. That was an entirely different experience. One of the student's mom was there. He's about to age out of the program because he's turning 20. And she is a bit sad that he has to leave. They seemed like they were having alot of fun and the EAs and teachers working with them were really patient and caring. My friend and I are going back tomorrow when they are in their regular classroom to see how the rest of the program goes.
Between cosmetology and the skills class, I was reminded at how narrow my focus has been for the last 5 weeks working with students taking Physics 20. A very small percentage of the students at this school are in that academic of a stream. And it's important to keep in mind that the school has a mandate to educate everyone, not just the top academic kids. But, this isn't something that's been mentioned in anyway in my classes. I have friends who got K&E assignments with their student teaching. And none of us had any clue what that even meant. (It goes, Skills, Prep, K&E, regular academic). I think that is something that was lacking from our IPT.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Week 4
Week 4 is done. Wow! Time has passed in that weird way where it doesn't feel like any time at all has passed, but I also feel like I've been there forever. I think that means I enjoyed it.
I can't wait for next week. I feel like I'm in a groove. I like what I'm teaching, I like my students and I'm really starting to like the whole process. It's getting easier and easier to plan what I'm going to do. It's getting easier to recover from failed experiments, and then trying them again.
I started teaching my 2nd class this week. I was/am very comfortable with the first class. But it threw me for a loop the first couple days with this new set of students. They are very different. They ask different questions, get stuck on different concepts and have a different group personality. I think it was really nice to have gotten the chance to gain confidence with the first group before having to learn how to bounce back and forth. My first lesson was a bit of a flop. I felt like I got behind and never managed to catch up. That was Block 1. Then I got to Block 4 and my original group. It was like I was home. The same material went awesome.
We went on a field trip today. My mentor teacher and I took 45 grade 11 students to Galaxy Land for a physics lab. It was certainly a very different experience than the couple of field trips I've been on with Natalie where the kids held hands and walked in neat lines. These were field trip veterans. They were also really well behaved kids who made the bus driver swoon as she gushed to us about how nice they were on the bus and they all thanked her as they got off. I guess she'd driven for a field trip a few weeks ago where the teacher got to the point where he had her pull over and threatened to take them all back to the school. Our kids? None of them ever stood up or did anything that got her attention.
I think that is probably one of the things that has surprised me the most. When I tell people I am going to be a teacher, they seem compelled to tell me what little shits students are these days... I haven't seen it. I've seen students push limits (mostly in other classes). I've students try to take/get away with the most they can. I've seen them show no interest at all in their futures. But I've also not seen them be rude, even when being rudely berated by a sub for something they didn't do. I've seen them hold doors for each other and thank the bus driver. They smile and say hi in the hall and say good night if they pass the classroom at the end of the day.
It's been a good but long week. Next week I get evaluated... That should be fun :)
I can't wait for next week. I feel like I'm in a groove. I like what I'm teaching, I like my students and I'm really starting to like the whole process. It's getting easier and easier to plan what I'm going to do. It's getting easier to recover from failed experiments, and then trying them again.
I started teaching my 2nd class this week. I was/am very comfortable with the first class. But it threw me for a loop the first couple days with this new set of students. They are very different. They ask different questions, get stuck on different concepts and have a different group personality. I think it was really nice to have gotten the chance to gain confidence with the first group before having to learn how to bounce back and forth. My first lesson was a bit of a flop. I felt like I got behind and never managed to catch up. That was Block 1. Then I got to Block 4 and my original group. It was like I was home. The same material went awesome.
We went on a field trip today. My mentor teacher and I took 45 grade 11 students to Galaxy Land for a physics lab. It was certainly a very different experience than the couple of field trips I've been on with Natalie where the kids held hands and walked in neat lines. These were field trip veterans. They were also really well behaved kids who made the bus driver swoon as she gushed to us about how nice they were on the bus and they all thanked her as they got off. I guess she'd driven for a field trip a few weeks ago where the teacher got to the point where he had her pull over and threatened to take them all back to the school. Our kids? None of them ever stood up or did anything that got her attention.
I think that is probably one of the things that has surprised me the most. When I tell people I am going to be a teacher, they seem compelled to tell me what little shits students are these days... I haven't seen it. I've seen students push limits (mostly in other classes). I've students try to take/get away with the most they can. I've seen them show no interest at all in their futures. But I've also not seen them be rude, even when being rudely berated by a sub for something they didn't do. I've seen them hold doors for each other and thank the bus driver. They smile and say hi in the hall and say good night if they pass the classroom at the end of the day.
It's been a good but long week. Next week I get evaluated... That should be fun :)
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Emerging from the fog
Week 3 is done.
Wow!!!
When I realized that as my mentor teacher and I walked out of the building yesterday, I was stunned. Where did the time go? It's like over the last few days, things have started to make sense and I'm starting to feel like I'm in control. And very soon things are going to wrap up.
I've had a great time teaching for the last 3 weeks. The actual teaching part has mostly been what I expected. What has been different is all the other stuff. Things like the politics, and procedures, and all that "other stuff" that takes up so much time. Even something as simple as photocopying an assignment for the students required locating the photocopy room (one of the many doors labeled "teacher's workroom" is actually the copy room) and then having to learn how to use the machine. I could go on and on about all the little things that unexpectedly took up so much of my time, but that would take along time.
Figuring out how to work closely with someone has also been challenging. I get along very well with my mentor teacher. We are on the same page with pretty much everything (classroom management, how to relate to students, that sort of thing). But he's really good at what he does, so it's been really challenging to try to do my own thing. It's hard to come up with my own demo when his is really awesome.
Possibly the thing that gives me the most cause to pause about my future career plans is watching other teachers. Some of them are awesome. They know their stuff and they treat the kids really well. But other teachers... I need to think about how I'll feel working with/near them for the theoretical next 30 years. I've tried hard as a parent to spend most of my time with other parents who share the same basic ideas about parenting. This feels really similar. What to do?
In the short term? Enjoy my last 2 weeks which will be a blur of tests, oscillatory motion, teaching with a sub, a field trip and seeing a bunch of 16/17yos get really excited about Christmas.
Wow!!!
When I realized that as my mentor teacher and I walked out of the building yesterday, I was stunned. Where did the time go? It's like over the last few days, things have started to make sense and I'm starting to feel like I'm in control. And very soon things are going to wrap up.
I've had a great time teaching for the last 3 weeks. The actual teaching part has mostly been what I expected. What has been different is all the other stuff. Things like the politics, and procedures, and all that "other stuff" that takes up so much time. Even something as simple as photocopying an assignment for the students required locating the photocopy room (one of the many doors labeled "teacher's workroom" is actually the copy room) and then having to learn how to use the machine. I could go on and on about all the little things that unexpectedly took up so much of my time, but that would take along time.
Figuring out how to work closely with someone has also been challenging. I get along very well with my mentor teacher. We are on the same page with pretty much everything (classroom management, how to relate to students, that sort of thing). But he's really good at what he does, so it's been really challenging to try to do my own thing. It's hard to come up with my own demo when his is really awesome.
Possibly the thing that gives me the most cause to pause about my future career plans is watching other teachers. Some of them are awesome. They know their stuff and they treat the kids really well. But other teachers... I need to think about how I'll feel working with/near them for the theoretical next 30 years. I've tried hard as a parent to spend most of my time with other parents who share the same basic ideas about parenting. This feels really similar. What to do?
In the short term? Enjoy my last 2 weeks which will be a blur of tests, oscillatory motion, teaching with a sub, a field trip and seeing a bunch of 16/17yos get really excited about Christmas.
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