The Day "Billy" Came to Class
It was a few days ago that I noticed a new face at the back of my C-Block Physics class. This wasn't necessarily shocking. Students do change classes, and I've had a few new faces appearing in certain classes. (Not counting Chemistry, where one day I marked "Jimmy" absent when, in fact, it turned out that he wasn't even in the class--hm). But around the second day of seeing Billy, and of accepting his homework and contributions in class, I introduced myself during lab and welcomed him to class. Here's how it went down:
(Mr. W) "So, I saw you were here yesterday and I don't have a new attendance list yet--what's your name?"
(Billy) "I'm Billy."
(Mr. W) "Did you transfer in from another Physics, Billy?"
(Billy laughs. Students in back row laugh. Billy looks a little guilty.)
Turns out that "Billy" (not his real name) has a free period during my class. He's a senior, and took Honors Physics two years ago, but, in his own words, "I have a free block, and I can either do homework out there, or in here, and my friends are in here!" I said it was cool with me. After all, he doesn't have to be here, and yet he not only comes to class, but pays attention, contributes, and does the homework? It kinda rocks. I mean, my class can't be all that bad if Billy is willing to sit through it when he doesn't have to, right? :)
Who'd have pensee'd it?
It's Monday, and most of my students are out camping in the rain somewhere. Funny, I wish I could say that more often. :) No, just kidding. But they are. Really. And the rest of them are taking computer classes, learning how to type, not do drugs, important stuff like that.
Where does that leave me, you might wonder? Exactly here. In the middle school, sitting outside Room 101, typing on a laptop while I'm waiting for this period to be over. Why am I here? Why, you say, the middle school? The answer is because I will shortly be teaching French to 6th-graders. Eh, oui. Who'd have thought! I'm subbing 3 French classes a day thru Wednesday. It's a change, but ain't it cool?
For now... a plus tard tout le monde!
How Scattered Am I ?
Well, the first real week is over. It was only four days, but I think it counts. Let me sum up the week's events in a series of short, scattered, grammatically-questionable statements.
The kids are great, they make me laugh. The physics classroom is my personal stage and I have a captive audience for all of my fabulous wit (read: terrible jokes). I've never been this tired. The week is more fun than the weekend. I'm (possibly) deathly allergic to something but I don't know what. Until I find out what it is, I'm walking around with an auto-injector of epinephrine in my pocket. I'm trying a new strategy in Chemistry: Really boring typed lecture notes on powerpoint. I'm having to figure out exactly how I'm going to grade (with points and stuff). The great thing about that is the more complicated my grading scheme, the more latitude I have to mess with it. I went and sat by the sea yesterday, it made a nice sound when the water drew back over the rocks. I like living by the sea, except I like it when there's stuff there. Open expanses of horizon and beaches aren't for me. No, I like my sea to be full of boats and bridges, islands and inlets. That's why I love the Pacific Northwest. I'm hungry and probably not eating enough. Going to the doctor informed me of my current weight, which, Grandma's urging aside, I must admit is a bit low. My car hasn't been stolen yet. I might get to sub for middle school french classes in a couple of weeks when most of my students are gone on their "Outdoor Education" week. I haven't had to deal with any parents yet. My favorite pub is no longer my favorite pub because they got rid of Pilsner Urquell and replaced it with Carlsburg. Ick.
Next post I'll try to eat lunch before sitting down to type!
Grading with an Epi-Pen
Well, hello there.
I had a little adventure last night, though not really by preference. Apparently I'm allergic to something. It's either school, home, kitchen, some spice, gyros from "It's Greek to Me," apples, Columbia bread, cayenne pepper, cheap Trader Joe's Garbanzo Beans, a bad batch of basil, or, or ... I don't know.
Looking back, it was a bit scary, though I didn't necessarily feel it at the time. Over the course of an hour, my breathing became quite labored and my eyes puffed up to the point of looking simply awful. Thankfully, my friends Jon and Liz were coming over for dinner, but when they saw me, it was decided I should go to the hospital. I was epi-penned, benadryled, stuck with air tubes, and made to breathe funky stuff... man. I am fine now, a little puffy around the eyes still. But mostly apprehensive, since the offending substance may still be somewhere in my house, and I've yet to learn what it is.
Next post will be less of a downer, I promise! On the plus side, carrying an epi-pen around is neat, in an abstract kind of way. Knowing that I can always just stick myself in the leg, just like they do in movies with stars like Harrison Ford. Yeah.
