Back to the school entries- it’s been too long. Before I continue though, one of my friends mentioned that I have been too general with my district descriptions, that she is always wondering which district I’m talking about. I have been thinking about how to refer to these districts because I want to play it safe so any wondering eyes from those districts don’t lock on to my posts and figure out who this is in case I post something I shouldn’t. I could of course refer to the districts as A, B, C, and D, but that would probably get to be just as confusing. How about I come up with some better descriptions:
♦ Hometown district = the district in which I live, presently my favorite district I might add.
♦ Near-city district = the district I work in that is closest to the big city, Chicago, to where I live and bears a few similarities. This is the district that has the really tough ELL and BD classrooms.
♦ Next-door district. Of course, there is more than one town next to me, but the ones to the north, east, northeast, and southeast of me I am not signed up in at the present time. Two are too small, and the other two called me so rarely I didn’t sign back up with them.
♦ Supersized district. This district has a lot of schools. It encompasses one entire town plus parts of at least three others. It of course isn’t as big as Chicago’s school district, but what is? Besides which I am not signed up for that one of course.
With that out of the way, I was in near-city district today doing something quite crazy- I returned to the classroom I had big problems in just a few months ago. C will be glad to know that this is officially a BD/ED classroom, no LD kids to be found, unless they are also BD or ED (behavior, emotional disorders). I was in my full faculties when I accepted this assignment just so you know, tired but not so much I didn’t know what I was doing. I reasoned that there were unusual special circumstances last time- all four teachers/assistants were sick the day before, and I was one of two subs that day. If you think young kids need consistency, these kids are like autistic kids in their such need. They just broke down without it and I happened to be one of the targets that day. So, in full figurative battle gear I headed to the school this morning, expecting anything. I was early, got a look at the plans, talked with the other teachers, then read a book until the start of the day. Fortunately I was the only sub this time. The kids arrived, I waited for the explosion, then.. nothing. It was actually a quite pleasant day. One 8th-grader was absent for the first few periods meaning I didn’t have him at all which turned out to be a good thing as when he arrived it was apparent he remembered last time and got visibly upset if I just talked to him. As for the rest, they had no such problem even if they did remember last time I was there. Also making for an easy day, two of the classes involved just listening to an audiobook while the kids followed along (and they did, I guess S.E. Hinton is a hit with them), and one class was a single girl watching a movie. The other two had potential for disaster as they actually involved my input and/or teaching, but the other teacher smoothed things out before they happened. Kudos to her for using her planning time to keep watch as I led reading a story together before they could get a chance to work independently, which is what they are most comfortable with. The other two, assistants, were off in watching the ones in specials at this time. The last class was tutorial, and because this is the last day of the week (Good Friday tomorrow) the ones who did well that week got to watch part of a movie. The other teacher took the ones who didn’t earn it to another room.
You were looking for a, err, more exciting day, weren’t you? Admit it! Sorry I had to disappoint you 
How about the other three days this week? Well, I subbed for art in hometown-district yesterday, special-ed math the day before (same district), and, lessee… oh yes- Spanish in the near-city district on Monday. All days went very well. The Spanish lesson, oddly enough, was actually social-studies lesson on Latin America rather than a lesson or worktime on actual Spanish. At that school the 6th-graders don’t take Spanish so it was all 7th and 8th. They also don’t do industrial tech which leads me to wonder what they do instead of these classes. Art was movies for all followed by a little drawing. 5th grade had the most problems but the rest of the day went well. The only real thing to report for the special-ed math day was 8th grade at the end of the day- they were so quiet and really worked- was this really 8th grade in April (the start of 8th-grade-itis, a common condition in those who know they will be in high school in a few short months). That and there was a little mess-up at the end of the day when I found out I was supposed to bring the 8th graders down at 2:00 for an assembly. Couldn’t they have announced it at 1:55 or something? Oh, well. They only missed 15 minutes of it.
For the other two districts I haven’t worked much in them as of late. Next-door district continues to have next-to-no assignments available for some reason and supersized district actually canceled the last two days I signed up for. Thanks a lot. At least they didn’t do it the morning of so I was easily able to get other assignments. Speaking of canceling, I wonder how long it will take to cancel this next one I signed up for? This isn’t bitterness talking, but reality. You see, it’s a three-week assignment. Yes, you read that right- three weeks. As a noncertified sub, they are sure to pull that one away when they realize what happened. I have my suspicions it wasn’t even meant to go up on the system. Perhaps another sub canceled the assignment by using the system instead of calling the school. I will be genuinely surprised if I still have the job come next Friday. I am more than willing to do it- I just don’t think the district will let me. Anyway, make your wagers and I’ll keep you posted.
So you made it home alive, no bumps, bruises…..or bites this time, eh? Good for you! I was a teacher’s aide in an autism class several years ago. I only got bit once that I can recall, but getting hit and your hair pulled was a regular thing. It’s hard to be upset about something they can’t help, though.
No bites or bruises, but one of the assistants called me brave for returning. Now doing it every day as either assistant or teacher is the true definition of brave. I guess that sentiment is true for either BD/ED or Autism rooms.
The code key for identifying schools DOES help, and I appreciate it. Now if I could just remember which the next door and supersized encompass… I think I know, but I’m not sure…
I live very close to the border of hometown district and next-door district. Supersized district is probably more known for its business area than its residential one for the main town. I hope that helps- otherwise I can IM or email you the exact towns. I won’t do this for just anyone just so ya know! 🙂
I think I’ve got it – hubby helped a little 🙂