Tough Decisions

It has been a little bit since my last post. There is a good reason for this, I promise.

It has come to my attention that there have been some teachers (in the States) that have received disciplinary action because of blogs they keep surrounding their classrooms and students. I was unsure of whether to continue this blog as I really do love my job and I wouldn't want to jeopardize it over such a silly thing.

However, I have decided to keep going for one simple reason: I like putting down into type some of the crazy things that I hear and see during my day. It allows me to look back and laugh when I'm having a particularly busy or just plain shitty day.

One thing is for sure, however. I will tone down my more negative stories (i.e. students acting disrespectful, etc.) since looking back on these ones just make me annoyed and this really doesn't help.

I need to stay positive!

Fresh start!

With that being said:

On Monday, I decided to make yogurt with my grade 11 college prep Biology class. Overall, I think they enjoyed it! Today we are going to mix some fruit/sugar/granola/whatever into it and eat it while watching the movie Outbreak (virology!). When I mentioned this plan on Tuesday, one of my students piped up:

"Sir, I'm not eating it."

"Why not? It's good for you!"

"I didn't know there was bacteria in yogurt until you told us."

"You mean the ingredient 'active bacterial cultures' didn't give it away on every single yogurt container you've ever encountered?"

To be honest, my last statement assumes they've actually READ the ingredients of yogurt. Big assumption on my part, I know.

Par for the course...

I can't complain about my classes this semester. For the most part I have some hard working kids! As I type this my grade 10s are working away on a chemistry assignment (you could almost hear a pin drop...if it wasn't for my incredibly loud and swiftly failing heating unit). However, I do have one grade 10 who is well known throughout the school as being an absolute asshole. He physically threatens other students (both male and female) and teachers (yup, you read that right, teachers). As a side-note: he is short and stocky. I just refer to him as the gremlin. Oh, and he is really only tolerable in class when he comes stoned (I wish I was kidding about this...).

I received an email from my principal yesterday asking if my attendance is correct: is the gremlin attending my class? Yup! Apparently mine is the only class he is attending...because he has two friends in it. And here I thought it was because I'm such an amazing teacher.

Fast forward to one hour ago: I receive an email from the principal stating that the gremlin has been suspended for persistant truancy and physically threatening a student whom he had previously threatened in November (which also resulted in a suspension). With that being said, guess who stroolllllls into my period 2 class (late, of course)?

Ummmm....Gremlin, you shouldn't be here. You're suspended.
What the fuck am I suspended for?
I guess you should go see {our male VP} and find out.

*The last line is what I actually said, what I wanted to say was:

Oh I don't know, maybe the fact that you skip every class but this one, you bully students and you are just a generally awful person. Leave.

That would probably come back to bite me.

Baby Names

A couple of students who hang out in my classroom at lunch were discussing the difficulty teachers must have in naming their children due to all of the students (good or bad) that they teach in their career. I told them that this is a very real problem for teachers. Long story short, I told them my daughter's name, as it is pretty unique. One of them made a comment:

"Sir, that's a pretty cool name! I can picture her being in a Viking metal band with that name. I think that she belongs in one."

Best comment all day.

Latin prefixes!

I was explaining to my grade 10's that the prefix 'tetra-' means four and, to keep it straight in their heads, I told them that we, as humans are all tetrapods (meaning four feet). One girl exclaims:

Cool! That's going to be my facebook status. *typing on her phone* "I...am...a...tetra..." Sir, how do you spell pod?


One part of me is excited that she learned something new. Another, larger part of me concerned with proper spelling, is weeping inside.

Hoth!

Today in 3C Bio we made candy cell membrane models that involved nibs, gummy worms, hershey's kisses and toothpicks. It is a pretty decent little activity to introduce the cell membrane and the functions it provides the cell. My clever/sarcastic student (let's call him Flask [his last name reminds me of a specific type ;) ]) decided to make an Imperial walker out of nibs and toothpicks. Turned out pretty well!

In his words, tasty AND destructive.

Cell Parts

My Bio 3C kids are learning about the cell and all of the organelles found within. Today is their quiz. It should be noted that I have students with a WIDE range of abilities. One of them in particular, while very nice, is a little slow on the uptake and makes some pretty hilarious comments. The best part is that he doesn't really get that what he is saying is incredibly stupid, for the most part. I have another student who is obviously quite strong academically and he makes the most hilarious (and sarcastic comments). A dynamic duo, no?

I'm looking forward to this semester!

"You mean all of these things are in one cell?!?"

"Welcome to Science!!"

Sem 2!

I have lots of students this semester so hopefully I'll have a lot to post.

Today while my 3C Bio kids were working on their cell parts flash cards I had one girl shocked when I mentioned that you had to write the function of the cell part on the back of each card.

 "Look! It's right there in the instructions."
"Sir! Who reads instructions?!"

Silly me!