tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55816162011-12-18T02:44:05.330-05:00Mr Teacher... teach me!Experiences of an adult education computer teacher in NYC.Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.comBlogger1111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-49067036218748312362010-06-21T15:21:00.002-04:002010-06-21T15:29:15.817-04:00StressStress is like cigarettes. It takes a LONG time to kill you. In the meantime, you get to go bald, lose you sight, gain weight, develop heart problems, etc.. yay!Wouldn't it be cool if when your stress level hits a certain amount, POP! you just explode? Done, no hair loss, no heart problems... just a nice, quiet, peaceful rest.No constant questions, no one pulling your arm, no one Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-88611180426467488662010-06-09T00:53:00.003-04:002010-06-09T00:58:23.980-04:00I tried!I tried. I really tried! But it's hard not to comment on/about some of these students. It's almost as if they're trying to get on a reality show.So I have this student... WHO MISSPELLED HER OWN NAME!! How in the world do you misspell your own name?Okay, you might do by accident. But I pointed it out to her AND SHE STILL DIDN'T REALIZE! I had to point it out THREE TIMES! And then she said Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-62879823530626147092009-06-11T10:24:00.003-04:002009-06-11T11:20:55.003-04:00UGH!I really, really, REALLY hate stupidity. I love innocence, naivete, childishness, gullibility... But stupidity!? ARRRRG! It drives me up a wall. And people who are stupid "on purpose"... WOOOO! I might have to call in sick the next day.Now you might be asking "What does he mean by 'stupidity'? No one is born knowing everything." No, I don't mean a person who doesn't know something. That wouldMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-15526594293429943122009-05-21T14:57:00.002-04:002009-05-21T15:16:18.997-04:00Retention.It's a very important thing. VERY.You've heard the phrase "In one ear and out the other". Well, I have a student who is a perfect example of that. Check this out:me: Sign your name here.her: What do you want me to do?me: Sign your name.her: Where?me: Right here. where it says 'sign'.her: Do I sign my name?me: Yes, your name.(she's looking at the sign-in sheet for 20 seconds)her: I don'tMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-76999417708587995662008-10-07T14:46:00.002-04:002008-10-07T14:51:02.675-04:00Sometimes... I just want to hit myself.How does someone take a typing test and get a zero? ZERO words per minute. You have have to absolutely hit not one key the whole time! If you typed 2 words, TWO WORDS, in two minutes, that be one word. I bet if you typed half word, they'd round up to one! DAAAAAAMN!AGH! I want to scream.Zero. zero words per minute. Un-flippin-believable.Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-23421546193579968512008-09-08T15:17:00.002-04:002008-09-08T15:34:07.978-04:00"What does that mean?"Today, a student asked me for some email assistance. She said "Would you know why this attachment won't open?" It was some attachment to an email from Nigeria. Someone wanted to send her "a large sums of cash money" (actual quote). She hadn't read the email, so we both laughed when I read that line. (Hint: she obviously knows a bit about the internet and email if she knew Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-80976646314193413472008-03-18T00:33:00.003-04:002008-03-18T00:44:55.309-04:00The Famous Student-Teacher CrushAs a teacher, sometimes an uncomfortable situations arise, such as when a student develops a crush on you. Most often it's because you're in a position of authority and they are confuse that with liking you. There is never a circumstance that one should allow his/herself to get involved with the student. The best thing to do is, recognize the situation, do nothing Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-34780755912249081292008-03-12T16:55:00.002-04:002008-03-12T16:59:26.914-04:00Sorry, I haven't posted in a (long) while, but I just didn't have any "zest" left. I'll be back soon with some more stories.Meanwhile, here's something I found online that relates to my blog:10 things your IT guy wants you to knowIf you ask me technical questions please don’t argue with me because you don’t like my answer. If you think you know more about the topic, why ask? And if I’m arguing Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-73935134556383010552007-11-02T22:41:00.000-04:002007-11-02T22:55:38.769-04:0010 Signs That You May Be "Ghetto"You go to work/school in a dingy, stained and/or stretched out t-shirt.Your eyes are red and watery when you walk in for the morning AND after lunch.You come back from a long lunch, carrying your lunch, to eat at your desk... and it's from a diner across the street.You see nothing wrong with announcing to everyone that you have "the f#@%in' munchies REAL BAD!"You Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-55433751408308528042007-11-02T21:46:00.001-04:002007-11-02T22:19:11.871-04:00OOOOOH MAN!Sometimes, I just can't deal with the bullshit. I have a supervisor (a few steps up hierarchy) who is annoying as one can get.Let me start off by saying she is a very nice, pleasant, cordial person.That said, she is also very annoying. She is passive-aggressive, sneaky and is completely unprepared to supervise people on subjects she has ZERO knowledge about. She'll question about the Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-30516844556769561642007-10-11T16:51:00.000-04:002007-10-11T17:03:27.996-04:00Been away for a while, needed some time to let some of these stories... "marinate", because sometimes, even I don't believe they happen.Well, I have a few MySpace stories for you. Here's one:The other day, one of my students asked me to help her post a new picture on her page (she didn't know how), so as I'm walking her through the process... "Ok, now click 'browse'... Switch to the CD drive..." Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1801815140308613502007-03-12T15:15:00.000-04:002007-03-12T15:47:44.180-04:00The definition of "ghetto"Every now and then, we get students who "don't know how to act". Anything can set them off, a look, a bump, a comment, sometimes... even an overheard giggle.So a new crop of students just came in, and one of the "newbies" was bumped. CODE RED!! CODE RED!!So, she felt slighted. So she, of course, gave the offender a stare and muttered a few obvious comments to her friend.Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-7738504829339170652007-02-16T14:26:00.000-05:002007-02-16T14:40:16.185-05:00I'm not stupid...This one student came in late today. About an hour and a half late. Then she wanted to go get coffee! She was told that she can't come in late, THEN go get breakfast. (She does this often). We told her that next time, she should pick up her food and then she'll be 5-10 minutes later.So we let her go get coffee. She takes 10-15 minutes going and coming back. Then she sits outside Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1169742921156971792007-01-25T11:13:00.000-05:002007-01-25T11:35:21.166-05:00Quick quiz, re: Diss CussingThat's not a typo. It's not about discussing, it's about dissing and cussing.Let's say you're on the phone and you forget where you are. First, you start talking a little loud. Then you start cursing. It usually begins with one. Then another, and another. Before long, you're cursing like a drunken sailor, after someone looked at him the wrong way, after his boss just Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1169741578189517042007-01-25T11:10:00.000-05:002007-01-25T11:12:58.206-05:00Yes, I'm back.I've been away for a while. Work is sometimes so stressful that when something happens, I just too "spiritually" drained to post about it.I'm hoping to post on a regular basis from now on. Pray for me. The Devil is crushing my soul. And by "The Devil", I mean "My students".Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1164659862721978922006-11-27T15:21:00.000-05:002006-11-27T15:37:42.733-05:00(TOO Many) Big Women Need Lovin'A lot of my students have been signing up to online profile sites/networking/social communities, such as: MySpace, Hi5, Friendster, BlackPlanet, MiGente, etc.. And, I normally don't mind, they're adults.But... recently, I caught a few of them on more... "adult" sites, such as: OnlineBootyCall.com, Lavalife.com, AdultFriendFinder, etc.. and some of their posts are Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1164206315083660812006-11-22T09:00:00.000-05:002006-11-22T09:39:03.833-05:00"Thanks for What?"I have to give thanks. Thanks for not being related in ANY way to my students.I have one student (let's call her Agatha) who said that at one family meal she prepared, she poisoned the food! Why, you ask... Her reasoning:"I was mad at my first baby daddy's mother and her man. They always be disrespecting me in my own home! Talking shit about me in front of my baby and my man! Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1160686844051914472006-10-12T16:36:00.000-04:002006-10-12T17:00:44.670-04:00"There are no stupid questions..."What a load of BS that is...Whoever said that phrase either a) doesn't know what they're talking about, or b) was lying to someone.Today I had this one student who could not, simply COULD NOT, stop asking questions about every little thing, even something I had just explained twice... slowly. Also, she kept saying "I just don't understand what you're saying." I'mMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1158724748587246622006-09-19T23:56:00.000-04:002006-09-19T23:59:08.586-04:00Funny BlogAnonymous EducatorI just found this. It's a blog by a teacher. A funny read.Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1158088865386963872006-09-12T15:09:00.000-04:002006-09-12T15:27:00.676-04:00The Corner SeatMany times a student will sit in the far back corner of the room, and then they perform the tell-tale sign... they turn the screen, so it's angled away from the next student's view.This is a sure sign that they're looking at porn. What the students don't know is that I can view their screen through the network.This one student, she swears her teacher gave has permission to sit in Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1158088108220213062006-09-12T14:57:00.000-04:002006-09-12T15:08:28.233-04:00Baby NamesTrue conversation I overheard:BellyLady: "I want to give my baby a good name, so I'm going over a bunch of names."WeaveGirl: "Yeah? What names you have in mind?"BellyLady: "I don't like Tiffany, everyone's using that now. I got Kendra, but it's kinda plain."WeaveGirl: "Yeah, you want a name that's unique."BellyLady: "How about Paris. That's sexy. But it's a boy's name."WeaveGirl: "WaitMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1154524621872864012006-08-02T09:10:00.000-04:002006-08-02T09:21:56.866-04:00"I'm tired of this bullshit!"That was the line from one of my students, in regards to dealing with her kid (emergency room visits, getting called to school, mischievous behavior, etc..). "I should let his little motherf#@%ing ass sit and bleed next time. Sheeeeet. And then, he drank my whole bottle of water! What kind of shit is that?"They never said kids are easy to deal with it.PS. AND... this Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1154524082737096752006-08-02T09:02:00.000-04:002006-08-02T09:08:02.746-04:00And they keep getting shorter...Yesterday, a student came in with a mini-mini skirt. It was so short that standing up, I could almost see her panties. Now imagine how much she showed when she sat down!And she didn't exactly sit "like a lady".I know there's a heatwave on, but ladies... do you have to wear such short skirts? And how short can they get before they're not skirts anymore, just a Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1154459150266770782006-08-01T14:59:00.000-04:002006-08-01T15:05:50.323-04:00Another "whoa" moment..One of my students was looking up her baby's daddy (on the NYS Dept of Corrections site), when she says "Oh no! I hope they don't meet up!"When I asked her what she meant, she said "Two of my baby daddies are in the same facility. I hope they don't meet up. They hate each other."Yes... "whoa".*Note: She said "two of them", as in "two of the four". Hopefully, they won't ALL Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1154451602115627852006-08-01T12:40:00.000-04:002006-08-01T13:00:02.173-04:00The ReturneesSometimes we have students who return after a few months. Sometimes they return after working for a while. Sometimes they return after being in other programs. Sometimes, they just haven't done anything.There are two categories of students that I dislike:1) The BS'ers, and the 2) The SlothsOkay, first the Sloths. These students haven't done anything, when given a chance they don't Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1154436904713397682006-08-01T08:45:00.000-04:002006-08-01T08:55:16.940-04:00"How you like them apples!"So, "Smarty" got a job. Hooray. It's not that I hated her, or even disliked her. I just didn't like her attitude.She's educated, but thinks that puts her above other people in the same situation. She knows how to behave, but has bad habits. She's smart, but thinks she knows it all.Anyway, she made some comment under her breath like, "I found a job, I'm out of here... Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1153426717376978082006-07-20T16:08:00.000-04:002006-07-20T16:18:37.443-04:00Rules.Like any other program, enviornment, situation, etc.. there are certain requirements that everyone (staff and students) must meet.Don't fightYou must wear shoesNo eating at the computersAct professionallyNo weaponsBe on time.etc...Mostly just normal "professional" behavior.So what do you do when a female shows up and it's obvious that she's not wearing a bra?And, why would someone (female) Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1153426092314858552006-07-20T16:00:00.000-04:002006-07-20T16:08:12.373-04:00WWYD?What would you do if you're in a room (such as a classroom), and while you're talking to someone , you see a bug in their hair?Not a bug like a fly or a fruit fly, but a nice-sized cockroach.Now, you know you don't want to embarass the person you're talking to, so you can't say it out loud. If you tell the person, they may freak out, causing a whole commotion.So what would you do?Me, I Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1153416857492018292006-07-20T13:10:00.000-04:002006-07-20T16:22:47.476-04:00"Stupid Intelligence"This is a term I've come up with to describe how some people can be educated (very well educated in some instances) but act like someone who doesn't know better.I have a student who's college-educated (currently attending), has worked in a professional enviornments (upscale retail and professional office places) , but she does/says things that that she's knows better than to Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1153415449966113982006-07-20T13:06:00.000-04:002006-07-20T13:10:50.023-04:00HOW MANY!?!?Holy Moley! A new student just came into our program, she's less than 40 years old, and she has.. (brace yourself)... 17 children! Now I know you're thinking she's all tired, "busted up" and walking funny, but she's not. You'd never know she has that that many kids.Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1150748436685473542006-06-19T16:16:00.000-04:002006-06-19T16:20:36.686-04:00COME ON!!!There needs to be a rule, no one over 300 lbs can wear a thong and mention it. Hey wear it if you want. (Who the hell makes a thong that big!? WHY would you make one that big!?)BUT FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING HOLY, 1) don't tell me about it, and 2) don't pull and snap the string with your thumb! WHAT IF IT BREAKS!!! OH GOD!!! STOP!!Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1150748142980077792006-06-19T15:38:00.000-04:002006-06-19T16:15:43.046-04:00Parenthood & Personal ResponsibilityAs a parent, sometimes many times you have to "make the call". You decide to do this activity instead of that one because it's better for your children. Sometimes you do the irresponsible thing because you need a break.Note: I wasn't involved. I wasn't there. I just heard the story from a few people.I have one student who decided to go to a ghetto house party, Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1150212270963235782006-06-13T11:18:00.000-04:002006-06-13T11:24:31.013-04:00Jay-Z? JAY-Z!?!Chick, who do you THINK you're kidding? Because it's not me or any other person in the room. What makes you think Jay-Z would choose you over Beyonce Knowles?I just had a student say she wanted to put her picture on some page, because "Jay-Z needs to get with this"! Come on! And to say that outloud! And to say it seriously! Someone else giggled when she said it, and she said "I'm Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1149862388839373772006-06-09T09:40:00.001-04:002006-06-09T10:13:08.850-04:00"Is there anything for me to do today?"In life, one of the main "directives" of a student is to learn. Many times, it's not just whatever subject is on the syllabus. Sometimes the teacher has other things that they need you to learn.Sometimes, that includes how to behave properly.One of my students is a college student, and this seems to give her a sense of "being better" than most of the other Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1149698283446668832006-06-07T12:20:00.000-04:002006-06-07T12:38:03.503-04:00Horse MouthThis is a term I use for people who talk a) very loud, and b) very "street".I have one student who every now and then, makes a professional call (either for an apartment, a job opening, an appointment, etc..), and she always gets at least one hang up.Typical call (and I'm guessing the other side of the conversation):HMouth: HELLO? Y'ALL GOT THAT APARTMENT READY NOW?Person: Hello? Who Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1149696803570453552006-06-07T11:55:00.000-04:002006-06-07T12:13:23.660-04:00Long break, but I'm back... and stressed more than ever.Alright... question. How does anyone, ANYONE, think it's okay to burp, OUT LOUD, in a room full of people (who are supposed to be acting at least PARTIALLY professionally), THEN, to complete the act... say, again out loud, "SAWRRY, Y'ALL! WHEW! SMELLS LIKE BALLS AND CORN CHIPS!"I thought to myself, "Did that just happen? Am I dreaming or Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1121281994541963892005-07-13T15:09:00.000-04:002005-07-13T15:13:19.556-04:00Tck'sssssssshOne of my biggest pet peeves is when a student sucks their teeth after you say something, intentional, unintentional, disrespectfully, in defiance... whatever.And it seems like these days, it happens more often. I just want to say "If you don't like it, leave." But.. I must keep my cool.Deep breath. Hold it... release. Ahhhh. I need a raise, and a month long vacation.Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1112706179282472112005-04-05T08:51:00.000-04:002005-04-05T09:02:59.283-04:00HOLY CRAP!I don't know how many times I've told "Greasy" not to eat in the computer room. And each and every time, she says "Oops, I forgot." Yesterday, I saw her sneaking chips out of her bag and eating them, using someone else as a shield. But a) I can see her out of the corner of my eye (great teacher skill), and b) HELLOOO!? who can't hear a rustling bag of chips and the eventual crunch? ThisMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1111981769655763172005-03-27T15:16:00.000-05:002005-03-27T22:49:29.656-05:00PEERS!I knew there were other teachers/instructors/professors/etc.. out there who, like me, blog about their experiences, and wish to remain anonymous. There was an article in today's New York Daily News, where a few are quoted.I've added a bunch of links to the sidebar. I haven't read even a tenth of them, but they do look promising/amusing/interesting/etc... just read.Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1110750068628556042005-03-08T16:12:00.000-05:002005-03-13T16:41:08.630-05:00Who's higher on the totem pole?Some of the students I work with are also taking GED preparation classes. Of course, they're at different levels, with some being closer to taking the test.The other day, the level 2 students (higher level) had to share a room with the level 1 students. A few of the level 2 students said "Why do they have to be here?" Now, this isn't the first time this has happenedMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1109973679144742512005-03-04T16:31:00.000-05:002005-03-04T17:01:19.146-05:00"How you gonna play me like that?!"Today, I thought a student was going to hit me. It would have been a much cooler story."Greasey" (from the "Food and Drinks pt 2" post) walked in about 30 minutes late, says "I'll be right back" and leaves class. After 45 minutes or so, I go see if she's in the main office. She's not. So I mark her absent. I finish class, dismiss the students to their next classMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1109625925475953562005-02-28T15:58:00.000-05:002005-02-28T16:25:25.476-05:00"That's not a problem, is it?"The other day, I come back to my lab, and I find the Shrimp (another teacher) in the lab, getting ready for his class. He says "Hey," in a casual manner, yet he's acting slightly nervous. As I sit down at my computer, he says "Oh, I had a problem logging in with the default profile, so I used our teacher's login. That's not a problem, is it?"The default login has Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1108565245143014912005-02-15T14:22:00.000-05:002005-02-16T09:47:25.146-05:00"Guys are always hitting on me."I have a co-worker (let's call her "Shirley") who is always telling me how guys hit on her. On the way home, at the laudromat, on line at the supermarket, in her ob-gyn's reception room... She once told me that some guy was hitting on her in an ER waiting room while she was going into labor!Now, personally, I don't think she's sexy, hot or sensuous. She's married Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1108326284057840192005-02-13T15:11:00.000-05:002005-02-13T15:24:44.060-05:00Food and drinks, pt. 2So, I have dealt with "Lola". And she seems to have listened. But I have another student, let's call her "Greasey", who is always, always, ALWAYS, eating in the lab. She sneaks a chip, or a cookie, or something all the time. And the thing is, she makes noise as she reaches into her bag. And everytime, EVERYTIME, I tell her that she can't eat at the computer, she says the Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1108054419875919262005-02-09T16:28:00.000-05:002005-02-13T15:05:45.456-05:00"Yeah, that's it... I think I'm done."Not everyone can teach. It's not just about the teaching, it's all the "little things" outside of the job description.Recently, a teacher here has been saying how she's fed up with teaching, and how she's "not cut out for this". Her students have really been acting up and getting on her nerves. I've told her not to take it to heart, but that's easier said Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1107873550059291142005-02-08T09:24:00.000-05:002005-02-08T09:39:10.060-05:00Food and drinks.
In my lab, as in 99.99999997% of computer labs around the world, I don't allow food or drinks at the computers. That's just plain common sense. But so many of my students decide that they are "grown" enough that they can do whatever they want.
They other day, I heard someone pop open a soda can, I turn and see a student (let's call her "Lola") drinking a soda while at her Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1107872579196268582005-02-04T14:11:00.000-05:002005-02-08T09:23:46.953-05:00Familiarity.
Sometimes, when you work in a close enviornment and you're a nice person and try to make people feel at ease, those people feel an openess with you. They get familiar with you, sometimes a little TOO familiar.
The other day I was having a conversation with another teacher, when a student walked by and "insinuated" herself into our conversation. She just jumped in, "Oh! No, you Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1105393523413159372005-01-06T16:51:00.000-05:002005-01-10T16:45:23.413-05:00"I'm just sitting here."
Today I was going over Microsoft Excel. And as I'm walking around to help a student, another student (let's call her "Beeker") is sitting in front of her computer with no programs open, just the desktop. So I ask, "You okay?" She says "Yeah, I'm just sitting here." and she continues to stare blankly into the infinite void of the wallpaper. (excuse the creative poetry) OrMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1105391819239466762005-01-04T13:14:00.000-05:002005-01-10T16:16:59.240-05:00"Ooh! Let me help!"
What's worse than a student who doesn't pay attention? One that pays too much attention.
I was about to start a lesson, when one student told me that she wanted to help me. She'd work the computer (hooked up to a projector) while I explained at the board. As I explained, I had to help her focus on what I was doing, instead of going ahead of the lesson. At one point, I asked Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1091466435755316432004-08-02T12:55:00.000-04:002004-08-02T13:07:15.756-04:00Body Odor
One day when I was younger, in my mid-teens, I realized I had a funky underarm smell. I had been playing all day and it suddenly hit me. And, of course, over the years there have been times when I'd forget to put on some deodorant, or would be sweaty, and realize I had B.O. (body odor). I'd run to the bathroom, and wash my armpits with a little soap and water, and if I had a deodrant Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1091465651070613512004-07-29T11:27:00.000-04:002004-08-02T13:36:08.556-04:00"No, Mama." "Yes, Papi."
Why is it that when someone realizes that you speak Spanish, they throw in "Mama", "Mami" or "Papi" into the conversation? I get, and see, a lot of that. "No, Mama, you can't do that. This is how you do it." And non-Spanish speaking people will throw in an Spanish accent. I know this guy who has a heavy accent (not Spanish), and when he says "Mami", he throws in this Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1090248139282143922004-07-19T10:34:00.000-04:002004-07-19T10:42:19.283-04:00"It's just a practice test!"
Why do we always have to prove steroetypes to be true? Today I was covering for another teacher, I didn't have to teach anything, just give them a practice exam. Again, a PRACTICE exam. I overheard a few talking about "sharing" their answers. I reminded them that it's just a practice exam, and that the score doesn't really affect them, because it's just a practice Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1089894694958716862004-07-15T08:05:00.000-04:002004-07-15T08:31:34.956-04:00At least make an effort
One thing that really bothers me, is after I tell my students the rules and they don't even make an effort while breaking them. Like most computer labs in the world, eating and drinking isn't allowed at the computers. After I told everyone, I know a few might have either forgotten or maybe it just slipped their mind.
The other day, I see someone drinking from a soda Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1088110330964574632004-06-24T16:34:00.000-04:002004-07-15T08:34:04.906-04:00WHAT THE? HUH!
This happened the other day... It was the end of the day, and one of the students (let's call her "Dizzy") had just left the classroom, when she suddenly came back in looking confused. "How do I get out of here?" I wasn't sure what she meant. I thought she might be joking. Another student sardonically asked her, "Remember how you got in here? Then go out the same way." Dizzy was Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1087920617275671082004-06-22T11:01:00.000-04:002005-01-10T16:19:36.086-05:00"....ooookay."
What do you say when someone, in what's supposed to be a professional setting, tells you something a little too personal? A student asked me for advice on whether to change her phone number. It turns out her boyfriend/husband was away and is coming home, and she'd been unfaithful during his absence. Now she's worried this "new guy" might keep calling.
She was a bit more detailed Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1087246252721056222004-06-14T16:43:00.000-04:002004-06-14T16:50:52.720-04:00"But we have class"
Like 99.5% of all students out there, my students usually like to leave early from classes.... except my class, of course. But today, although they still had one more class to go, I mistakenly told them that they were "done for the day" (after my class).
They complained! "But we have one more class!" "We can't go." "I don't want to cut class!" And then stayed in my Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1086988015805359692004-06-11T15:54:00.000-04:002004-06-11T17:06:55.806-04:00F$#* THAT! Oops!
There are a few students that I think will have a hard time a) finding a job, or b) keeping a job, because they can't stop cursing. Just today, a student was going to a job fair, and was saying "I don't f#%@ing want to go can change!" So I told her to watch her language. She said "Oh! I'm sorry. It just slipped out." The very next thing she said was loaded with cursing, "Yeah, Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1086639569342539732004-06-07T16:09:00.000-04:002004-06-07T16:24:51.016-04:00Sometimes I just want to scream.
For the billionth time, I helped a student to fix their resume. It's not helping that bothers me. It's the waiting until last minute, then whining when I'm too busy to sit and help JUST that student.
Today was busy: two computers messing up, a coworker's computer kept shutting and she needed it now, a student is asking for some special training, someone's Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1086638938686379532004-06-04T15:42:00.000-04:002004-06-07T16:26:56.623-04:00Yuck.
I'm actually surprised this hadn't happened up to this point.
It was the end of the day, when a student raised her hand, her face looking a bit anxious. She asked, "Do you have something to clean up with? I had a little accident." I didn't know what she was talking about, until she stood up. I noticed she had wrapped her sweater around her waist.
There was a brownish stain on her chair.Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1086125269507617292004-06-01T17:09:00.000-04:002004-06-01T17:27:49.506-04:00The Shrimp returns
I hate the Shrimp. He just annoys me so. If you don't remember, the Shrimp is another teacher who likes to bad-mouth other teachers and whoever he can, as long as he thinks it'll get him ahead, and a friend told me that he was trying to bad-mouth me in the office.
Well, the other day he came to my lab, he was teaching a class in my lab later that night, so he came in a littleMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1086124160429562962004-06-01T17:05:00.000-04:002004-06-01T17:09:20.430-04:00HUH!?!?
In class today there was a discussion of breastfeeding vs. bottlefeeding, and amongst the usual comments someone said "I think the bottle is better because what if you're dumb, the baby will be dumb." She thought you could pass on your "dumbness" to your baby through breastfeeding! A-mazing, simply amazing.Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1085770484030940642004-05-28T14:36:00.000-04:002004-06-01T17:28:55.193-04:00"But I need to finish something"
I was getting ready to close the computer lab so I could go to lunch, and I told the students, "Ok, you have five minutes to finish up, because I need to close." Ten minutes later, they're still not packed up. So I restate that I'm closing. Nothing. As if I hadn't really said anything. Not in a disrespectful manner, it was more like they were in their own world.
Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1085769293317903272004-05-26T16:05:00.000-04:002004-06-01T17:29:21.096-04:00"This is for you"
One of the newer students turned and said "Oh, I have something for you, and the other teacher." I thought, "Wow, that's nice." I had helped her with her resume recently.
She handed me an envelope. I turned it over, and it looked like a bill or something. I jokingly asked "Is this a subpeona?" She laughed and said "No, it's a paper for the Breast Cancer Walk, and you can just Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1084984091204961442004-05-19T11:52:00.000-04:002004-05-19T12:28:11.203-04:00The ones who (almost) push too far
Yesterday, I had an appointment and had to come in late. When I got in, a fellow instructor gave me a "heads up" about someone who's been waiting for me. A former student of the program (from about 3 years ago) was waiting for me for two hours and was a little upset about that. It didn't really bother me, because she was supposed to show up about three weeks Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1084566558804476462004-05-14T16:10:00.000-04:002004-05-14T16:30:26.593-04:00How many times?
Everytime, without exception, I have my students to sign up for an e-mail address, I tell them to not sign up to receive "free offers" because it's just junk mail. Nothing of any use. Total garbage. I also tell them to ignore all pop-up ads that offer deals too good to be true, like the "Click here to receive a FREE DVD player!!" or "Guess which one is Brad Pitt and win a digitalMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1084554957546873912004-05-14T12:45:00.000-04:002004-05-14T13:37:00.876-04:00Just thinking...
Without fear of losing any "humble points"... when I was hired, the staff seemed to like me right away. Not like "You're so great and wonderful! Thank God for you!". But more like "He's a real nice, helpful guy."
Within the first few weeks or so, I had heard a bunch of stories about the previous instructor. Here's a little backstory on him:
He was an older man, around 45-50. Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1084475459311236812004-05-13T14:26:00.000-04:002004-05-14T13:37:36.626-04:00Acting "ghetto"
Every now and then, we take the students to an event (a play, a film showing, a gallery, etc..), as a type of "cultural awareness" activity. Now, I do get defensive about "my ladies" (my students are all females) and don't like people talking bad about them, or talking down to them. So, I'm not saying our students are "culturally ignorant brutes who don't know how to act", nor amMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1084463800001888802004-05-13T11:28:00.000-04:002004-05-14T13:37:53.790-04:00"Sweety"
Now, before I continue, there are some relevant facts to mention about my students:
1. They're on public assistance, which I only mention because of there are a few who are looking to "upgrade" their partner.
2. Many women in the program are single mothers, therefore some are just looking.
3. Some are pregnant, and are in that short phase where they get easily excited.
4. Some have Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1082060883142995462004-04-15T16:28:00.000-04:002004-05-14T13:38:10.060-04:00"Director of Homeland Security"
Another teacher gave the students an assignment where they had to e-mail their resumes to prospective employers and make sure to "CC" him as well. A couple of students asked me for help in attaching their resumes. I noticed that two or three were applying for a certain position, Director of Homeland Security!
I asked one student why she chose that listing to Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1079382803815138062004-03-15T15:33:00.000-05:002004-05-14T13:38:25.330-04:00"Here, fix it."
I was chatting with a friend, who is a "computer guy" at his company. We were exchanging "computer guy" stories. He was telling me about how people walk up to his desk and, although he's busy doing something, they'll ask for some computer help. Usually something not work-related or important.
I was telling him how one student brought her computer in for me to fix. She didn't Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1079367855681161422004-03-15T11:24:00.000-05:002004-03-15T11:26:36.640-05:00"But we always get a 20 minute break!"
Today a new teacher started working and, of course, the students in her group tried to take advantage of her naivetè.
They told her that they always get a break. And, of course, the "15 minute break" turned into a 22 minute break. Even longer for a few who didn't come back until almost 30 minutes. Most of these students came in late, more than an hour Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1078342764616873832004-03-03T14:39:00.000-05:002004-03-03T14:41:33.513-05:00"But I need this right now!"
Today, we had a job fair for the students. So, of course, almost everyone was rushing at the last minute to get their resumes finished and printed, even though we've been telling them to be ready. One girl came in in jeans and a t-shirt, NOT dressed for an interview. When asked why she wasn't dressed properly, she said she "didn't feel like meeting with people." and Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1078243573873435522004-03-02T11:06:00.000-05:002004-03-03T14:21:52.246-05:00It's amazing what people think you don't know.
The other day, I was covering a class that didn't have a teacher. The subject was some basic math. The students thought that because I taught computers, I didn't know this subject. As I was explaining it, I heard one of the students say "He knows this stuff!", I laughed, and she said "I thought you didn't know math! I thought you just knew about Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1077740575522024232004-02-25T15:22:00.000-05:002004-02-25T15:24:57.670-05:00"I love it when a plan comes together."
When you're a teacher, you usually end up with your average mix of types of students. A few good students, a few that need a little extra attention, a class joker, a tough guy or two, and those that you really have to work at.
But every now and then, a you get a good group. A group that when say something, BAM, they got it. You might have to re-explain Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1077032156056467132004-02-17T10:35:00.000-05:002004-02-17T10:37:49.860-05:00Private information.
When you're the teacher, students always want your information (phone, e-mail, etc...). They want to be able to call you when they need/want to. To them, it's just a phone call or two, but they don't understand that I teach between 80 to 180 students each year. If each called me only twice, I'd have a call every day of the year. Although they always ask for my phone number, Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1076707953175979472004-02-13T16:32:00.000-05:002004-02-13T16:34:23.360-05:00Did their brains shut down? Part II
Ok, so only "Tupac" came in the next day (she later called "Biggie" to say she should have come in and that "it was no big deal"). After talking to the director for about 15 minutes, she's allowed back into class. Later on (less than an hour and a half later), I catch her looking at porn! In Class! IN THE FRONT ROW! AND COMMENTING TO OTHER STUDENTS!! I'm just Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1076450008347017622004-02-10T16:53:00.000-05:002004-02-10T16:55:15.860-05:00Did their brains shut down?
One of the main problems I have with people who do drugs is their judgment. Or rather, their lack of good judgment. Today I had two students, let's call them "Biggie and Tupac", come in for the last hour and a half of class. They just walked in like it was nothing. Biggie gave me a quick, guilty look, but otherwise they were joking and talking loud like there was Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1076364715935901352004-02-09T17:11:00.000-05:002004-02-09T17:13:42.233-05:00It's the lazy ones that get me.
I don't mind when a student doesn't understand something, even if I have to explain something four or five times. It's when a student makes no effort to pay attention, then blames people or things around her.
I have this one student, who I originally thought might be bright because she claimed to know a lot about computers (she didn't). She sometimes sits staringMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1076090276672583942004-02-06T12:57:00.000-05:002004-02-06T12:59:40.246-05:00Online identity.
When teaching Internet basics, I usually mention to my students that there are times they shouldn't use their real information (name, address, birthday, etc..) because they don't know who or how it'll be used. Suddenly, 85% of the class NEEDS to hide their information. ALL OF IT. They don't even want to use their real names. "I used my cousin's first name and my daughter's Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1076089837812986372004-02-06T12:50:00.000-05:002004-02-06T12:52:21.153-05:00Older people and the Internet.
The other night I taught a basics class on using the internet. A l ot of older people take this class because they have problems "getting it". Young people understand it immediately. While I like the idea of older people learning to use the internet, many times it's very difficult to teach them.
I had a student who was typing her information so slowly, that the Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1075823821724185102004-02-03T10:57:00.000-05:002004-02-03T10:58:41.936-05:00"I think you tha' snitch."
If you read my Jan 27th post, "Appropriateness", you read about the student who was shopping online for dildoes during class. Well, seems a staff member mentioned something to her. So she sees me in the hallway, and says, in a joking manner, "I think you tha' snitch." I asked what she was talking about. She says "Nothing. I'm just playing." And later I overheard her Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1075816929652992152004-02-03T09:02:00.000-05:002004-02-03T09:03:49.716-05:00Huh?
Question. Why is there a pair of panties (if it's one item, is it still "pair of panties"? anyway..) on the chair? One of my students got up to go down the hall. As I passed her chair, I noticed there was something there. A ball of navy blue material. "Oh, it's panties... HUH?!" I did a double take. "Yes, it IS a pair of panties!"
Now this brought up two questions (I know "only two?"), 1.Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1075242603151018262004-01-27T17:30:00.000-05:002004-01-27T17:31:36.200-05:00Appropriateness.
There are certain things you can and can't do in certain environments. If you're at work, you can't make sex jokes. If you're at Church, you can't act jump and run aroundaround like a gorilla. When you're in school, you can't shop for dildoes on the internet. Sorry, that's just the way it is.
Yes, two of my students were talking about dildoes. WHILE I was helping one with her Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1075241632318105612004-01-20T10:33:00.000-05:002004-01-27T17:16:15.043-05:00What's your price?
One of my policies with students is that there's a line. I'm friendly, but can't get too personal with them. And I don't give/lend money. But I'll make an occasional except (with money, not getting personal). There's this one student who is always borrowing money from other students, a dollar here, two dollars there.. It's gotten to the point that other students ignore her. SoMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1074180253558492402004-01-15T10:24:00.000-05:002004-01-15T10:25:34.500-05:00New year, same issues...
Mugg is still annoying. I think it may be her personality. Although she normally acts like a thug, I've seen her try to act "nice" (you can tell she's forcing it). She only seems to do it, when she wants something. That tells me that she knows that her usual behavior puts people off.
Yesterday was a "regular stressful" day. That would be between "regular" and "very Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1074180068700364582004-01-08T13:13:00.000-05:002004-01-15T10:22:29.686-05:00The Sneaks
Every now and then, I catch a student doing something. Now, if you got caught sneaking out of class once, either be more cautious next time, or don't sneak out again. Or, if you feel the need to sneak out again, at least try to be better at it.
I have this student, I'll call her "Pink Nickel", who once snuck out of my class early so I signed her out early. Yesterday, she saw her Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1071158129155169892003-12-11T10:55:00.000-05:002003-12-11T10:56:15.060-05:00I'm only one person.
Most of us, when we're in grade school, learn a very important lesson, "If the teacher is helping someone else, although you can raise your hand, you have to wait." I have this one group of student who just can't seem to wait. And it's not just one or two individuals, it's more than 75% of the group.
The other day, I was helping three students (all at the same time), and Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1069343558752843462003-11-20T10:52:00.000-05:002003-11-20T10:53:03.920-05:00ARRG!
Sometimes we have problems with the server and can't print. So I tell the students "Don't print. Your computer will probably crash and you'll lose your unsaved work." And everytime, EVERYTIME, someone raises their hand and says "Excuse me, teacher, but my computer froze." And it's ALWAYS because they tried to print, WITHOUT saving first. Then another one. It's like with Jedi knights, thereMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1069174419041514702003-11-18T11:53:00.000-05:002003-11-18T11:54:03.060-05:00I hate the complainers.
I don't mind helping a student to do some work, even if they're very slow. But I hate it when someone comes in and complains on and on. "I can't find my disk. Oh, Hell no! Somebody stole it. Why is no one helping me find my disk? I'm going to kick someone's ass. I swear I'm going to quit this shit!" Then, when I find the disk right where it was supposed to be, the studentMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1067892503120612762003-11-03T17:54:00.000-05:002003-11-03T21:05:49.733-05:00Wow!
While I don't think I'm a jaded person, or that I've seen everything, I believe that I have seen a lot and am not some "innocent, naive baby". But today... Wow! I overheard one student telling another about an experience she had this past weekend with her man (boyfriend, husband, or what... I'm not sure).
She said they go into a fight. A real fight. She said she took off her jewelry and Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1066685470018871302003-10-20T17:31:00.000-04:002003-10-20T17:31:09.883-04:00STOP ASKING AND TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT! JUST ONCE!
I have a couple of students who tell me that they "know computers", but they ask so many questions, it makes me wonder. Most times it's one right after another. A few of my friends don't believe me when I say it's stressful sometimes. They think teaching adults is easy. Here's a typical dialogue with one of the students who "knows computers":
herMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1066165040555870892003-10-14T16:57:00.000-04:002003-10-14T16:58:33.906-04:00Remember Pat from Saturday Night Live?
Pat was the androgynous character that know one knew what his/her gender was. Anyway, I was teaching this class the other day and someone was waiting for me. At first I thought it was a women, the I wasn't sure, then I thought it was a man, then I wasn't sure, then I REALLY wasn't sure, then I realized it was a man when I saw the name on my attendance listMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1066163449654531832003-10-14T16:30:00.000-04:002003-10-14T16:30:49.383-04:00A job well done is it's own reward.
Compliments are great. In a staff meeting, someone mentioned how someone else (an employer, i believe) was surprised that the students knew so much about using a computer (MS Word, Excel, Internet, mail merge, etc..). So I much-appreciated "good job" from the boss.Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1066158819493056272003-10-14T10:54:00.000-04:002003-10-14T16:27:18.540-04:00Some people always seem to "know".
I have a student who alwyas has an answer, even for the questions she asks me. She'll tell me that there's something wrong with her computer, then when I go to fix it, she'll say somethng like "I was going to fix it, but I just wanted you to see what the problem was. I could have done it." or "It said the same thing last time, and I saw you fix it, but I didn'tMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1066158325028400692003-10-10T16:05:00.000-04:002003-10-14T15:05:58.580-04:00Can you not smell yourself?
One of my students smells bad, VERY BAD. She smells like she urinated on herself, and has been wearing the same clothes for a few days, in the middle of summer. Nasty, just nasty. I don't know what it is, everyday she wears different clothes. They look clean. If I was someone else, I'd say something to her. But I try to make everyone feels comfortable in my class. Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1063896163280966442003-09-18T10:42:00.000-04:002003-09-18T10:42:42.863-04:00You don't always get what you think is your's.
Yesterday, a lot of the students were on the computers working on their resumes, and there weren't any available computers. This one student (Who I'll call "Tough Girl") starts to complain, "You people get a lot of money for us being in this program. You should have new computers here for us! I shouldn't have to wait for someone to finish." I try toMr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1063833946421946212003-09-17T16:18:00.000-04:002003-09-18T10:19:35.223-04:00Got caught once, shame on you. Got caught again, just give it up.
I have student (I'll call her Sneezy - she has HUGE nostrils and seems to blow her nose a lot), who always, ALWAYS, says she already knows whatever I'm trying to teach her. If I'm teaching Word, she'll say she already learned it. If I'm teaching Excel, she already learned it. The problem is, she doesn't. She always gets things Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1063747474177794842003-09-16T17:24:00.000-04:002003-09-16T17:24:34.076-04:00Same old, same old.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. I have this one student (the loud sidekick from a previous post, let's call her "sidekick girl"), who just doesn't want to learn, and is always getting caught doing something else. I personally think she's on something. Maybe crack.
Anyway, I always catch her doing something else when I'm teaching. If we're doing word Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1063746094381755962003-09-15T14:01:00.000-04:002003-09-16T17:02:23.560-04:00Just one more day.
You know when you come back from a break, no matter how long it was, you'd be happy if it could be extended one more day. Well, I got my wish. The day we came back, we had a problem with rooms, so the break was extended one more day. AH! How sweet it is!
Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5581616.post-1060291335557888172003-08-07T17:22:00.000-04:002003-08-07T17:22:15.590-04:00The sun can't always shine.
As I was on my way to class, I saw one of my students. She had been very quiet lately, and today she seemed more quiet than usual. I noticed she was teary-eyed. My first instinct is to ask what's wrong, but I hesitated because I wasn't sure what the "proper procedure" for handling this type of situation was. I asked anyway.
She told me that she's depressed and Mr Teacherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02405623526946442174noreply@blogger.com0