So today was an exercise in misery.
I work as a sixth grade teacher now. First year teaching, I'm /finally/ getting some kind of control/respect from the kids.
Today was...special.
To begin with, we were informed about a week ago that, oh, btw, we're going to be doing a mock test for the writing section of the state test. The whole school. Never mind that only the eighth grade will be required to take the actual thing in March. Okay, that's cool. What they don't tell us is if we'll be keeping our homeroom group or our RIT Band groups for those two hours.
Find out yesterday I'll be keeping my homeroom group. >.< These kids are the worst mix of kids possible and I am amazed at the behavior changes in them when they're with the RIT Band group. So /why/ am I stuck with them for two hours?
We were also told that we'd be starting at 8. So I didn't plan a lesson. We didn't actually start until 9. >.<
At nine, I get them started on the test. All's well and good, right? Nope. Now they're trying to get me to break the rules. "What's prewriting?" "I don't know how to do this" "How do I spell that?" *headdesk*
Two hours go by, and they're starting to crack. But, they're all done. We'll be going to lunch soon. I tell them, "You can talk quietly at your desks". Have to call them down a couple of times.
Then I have to leave the room to deliver the testing materials (nobody mentioned this part to me either!). What do I get to hear down the hall? My class. Go back, chew them out. They settle down. Unfortunately, I didn't know I had to give the pencils back, so have to leave again.
They're even louder the second time.
So now they get to spend lunch with me, because this is ridiculous. OH NO! We can't have that. That's unfair! They're YELLING at me.
Please remember, testing is still going on in the building.
Yeah, I was able to grab some of them for lunch detention, but most slipped away.
Then the bonus happens: Three of the students in my grade nearly get into a fight.
This is topped off by two more fights that happen later in the afternoon in the seventh grade, one of which I had to step in to help by restraining one of the girls from behind.
And the other teachers say it's only going to get worse as the weather warms up.
I work as a sixth grade teacher now. First year teaching, I'm /finally/ getting some kind of control/respect from the kids.
Today was...special.
To begin with, we were informed about a week ago that, oh, btw, we're going to be doing a mock test for the writing section of the state test. The whole school. Never mind that only the eighth grade will be required to take the actual thing in March. Okay, that's cool. What they don't tell us is if we'll be keeping our homeroom group or our RIT Band groups for those two hours.
Find out yesterday I'll be keeping my homeroom group. >.< These kids are the worst mix of kids possible and I am amazed at the behavior changes in them when they're with the RIT Band group. So /why/ am I stuck with them for two hours?
We were also told that we'd be starting at 8. So I didn't plan a lesson. We didn't actually start until 9. >.<
At nine, I get them started on the test. All's well and good, right? Nope. Now they're trying to get me to break the rules. "What's prewriting?" "I don't know how to do this" "How do I spell that?" *headdesk*
Two hours go by, and they're starting to crack. But, they're all done. We'll be going to lunch soon. I tell them, "You can talk quietly at your desks". Have to call them down a couple of times.
Then I have to leave the room to deliver the testing materials (nobody mentioned this part to me either!). What do I get to hear down the hall? My class. Go back, chew them out. They settle down. Unfortunately, I didn't know I had to give the pencils back, so have to leave again.
They're even louder the second time.
So now they get to spend lunch with me, because this is ridiculous. OH NO! We can't have that. That's unfair! They're YELLING at me.
Please remember, testing is still going on in the building.
Yeah, I was able to grab some of them for lunch detention, but most slipped away.
Then the bonus happens: Three of the students in my grade nearly get into a fight.
This is topped off by two more fights that happen later in the afternoon in the seventh grade, one of which I had to step in to help by restraining one of the girls from behind.
And the other teachers say it's only going to get worse as the weather warms up.

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