...what it is like to teach 6th grade. I have done this for 8 years. You'd think by now I would be used to the crazy questions, the hormonal outbursts, the nasty notes, etc. Oh no, this year may be the one that completely does me in for good.
Today in class I had created what I hoped would be a thought provoking and fun activity to drive home the concept of unit rates to my kids. I purchased individual packs of chips and cookies, and the assignment was to work with their normal partner to figure out the unit price I paid per bag, and furthermore the unit price per cookie/chip in their bag. After doing this, they could eat the goodies while working a few challenge problems. Sounds like fun - right? Maybe for them. NOT for me. Let me just allow you to step into my world for a second and experience some of the things that actually occured today in my classroom:
When the number 6.895 was on the board I was told emphatically that the 5 was in the hundredths place. Bear in mind, we covered this unit 6 weeks ago. (Nevermind the fact this is NOT a 6th grade skill, but a 4th grade concept.)
"Mrs. Armstrong - what do you mean by work with a partner?" Um....the person whose desk connects to yours and has been your partner on a daily basis since January 6th?
A little boy comes to my desk and asks, "Mrs. Armstrong, how are we supposed to know how many cookies in our bag?" This is followed by a long pause by me while I sit and stare at him in disbelief. Um.....maybe you should open it and count them?
And the final straw, which sent me into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, was when I looked up at a girl in 5th period as she took a huge swallow from her 12 ounce Diet Dr. Pepper. In the middle of class. With no shame. And when I questioned her on it (since sodas aren't allowed at all at school for students), she had the nerve to simply close the top and try to stick it back in her backpack like she was going to save it for later. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? P.S. Her parents are both teachers!
Seriously, I am about to run screaming from the building.
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9 comments:
You know that I TOTALLY feel your pain! We definitely don't get paid enough!!! Miss you!
you have so much more patience than me - especially these days. i've been feeling pretty fed up this year. i think we're all having a tough one.
That's awesome. I try to laugh it off as much as possible, but I understand that sometimes it's just too much. I picture crumbled up cookies and chips all over the floor of your room.
Ummm..I work with parents and they are even worse. After publicizing our mission trips via email, regular mail, church bulletin, church website, AND having 3 very visible fundraisers, I had a mom email to say she'd heard NOT ONE THING about the mission trips this year. This kind of stuff happens on a weekly basis.
it never ceases to amaze me what they do! this has definitely been an interesting year! i am still in disbelief over this. after you left my room yesterday, my kids kept asking me what happened...i couldn't even find the words to say anything! unreal!
Well I think my question of the week would be " Mrs. Curry what would happen to us if the earth turned upside down??"
I can't imagine...I can barely weather Porter's questions. Earlier this week she asked Jamie how the wind stays up and yesterday she "multiplied" 5 times 3 in an instant in her head...she was buying 3 books at $5 each at the bookfair. Trying to explain what she had done...didn't work. I'm so glad you do what you do!
Now you know why we are homeschooling! :) You are an amazing teacher!! Keep up the great work!!
Hey Sara, I work with your mom and she told me to check out your page so I wouldn't feel so alone in the world of 6th grade math! I absolutely feel your pain! It is amazing to me how little they seem to actually learn. I feel like some days I am teaching the bloomin wall! Thanks for the laughs. Check out my page when you can.
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