New Week, New Problems

This was not a good week for my students.

Besides having the last test of the semester for my course and most of their other courses, they are preparing for finals next week. On top of that, there was a student death in the other large high school (during school) and a violent attack of a student who goes to my own school. The kids are stressed out and frustrated and tired.

I had three students who didn't sleep at all last night since they were up studying. I mentioned to them that sleep helps on a test as much as studying does. Of course, I didn't mention that I did the very same thing myself through high school and college. Some of us are slow learners (and I'm not talking about my students).

It was interesting if depressing to see the responses to the two difficult situations. The death in the other large high school here was responded to with flyers and information for the teachers to read in class, counselors and professional support staff as well as substitutes who were in the building just in case a teacher was having a tough time. The situation here was different and was responded to differently. There was a message from the principle and it mentioned that a student could approach a counselor if need be. My own mentor asked how many kids knew the student attacked, and about a third raised their hands.

The students seem unsettled by everything rather than depressed, though that could just be me reading into the situation. Anyhow, a few were discussing it rather than working and I just let them. Not sure if I was helping them deal with it or making things worse by not distracting them with physics. Ah well.

Hopefully next week will start looking up as finals begin and I have more time to get organized for next semester where I will actually start teaching.

Woo!

First week back

Well, it is the end of my first week back to school - both taking classes and teaching classes. And I survived! But just barely.

My car decided this was the best week to begin stalling at random moments for no apparent reason, my alarm clock ran out of batteries (it isn't the kind that plugs in), and that was just the beginning.

My mentor teacher was unexpectedly absent on the day I finally was able to take my car in to the mechanic. "No problem," I said. "Plenty of time to drop off the car and take a cab to work. I mean, I do have almost two hours between when the place opens and when the first class starts..." I did not knock on wood, sadly.

So after dropping off my car at the mechanic and waiting over an hour and a half for The Cab That Never Arrived, the owner came out and drove me to school! He is going straight to heaven, for sure.

Anyhow, the kids didn't seem to mind me being a little late (there was a paid sub there though he didn't know the material), and I did a bit of lecture for them and helped them with the assignment. It all worked out.

But I have to say I am terribly glad to be finished with the week.

In other news, for Christmas I got a Harry Potter scarf in Slytherin colors (colours? heh) and with a Slytherin patch on it. I am so amused! Also some other cool stuff that is harder to explain but just as amusing or cool or pretty, depending. The break was good for me, even if I spent most of it writing papers.