Middle school students really are as bad as they say.
First of all, we had our taiko performance at Fontbonne on Wednesday. It was a decent show, although I don't know what happened on the other side during Ashura. Something weird. And there was this camera guy who was getting so much TOO CLOSE that he actually prevented some of the performers from doing all the moves they had planned to. Not cool. If you are a photographer, and you are about to photograph performers during their show, please ask when and where to be on the stage. Really.
Thursday morning I got up, took the kids to school, and went to the middle school. Those kids were just a tad informal. I really had to fight to keep control, and some of the things they asked for were ridiculous. Someone in EVERY HOUR had a medical emergency and needed to go to the nurse. Two people needed to use the phone to call their parents. Most people in 3rd and 4th hour didn't have pencils. Three girls in 8th hour were tardy, and then proceeded to copy each others' homework for the rest of the hour. Lucky me, the second day I was to give them their chapter 4 test.
The second day, it was not so hard to get them quiet. They already knew I was mean. In fact, I would have to say that the second day was not bad at all. One boy made the mistake of opening his book with his foot during the test. He knows I saw him. He came up to say hi to me 5 times between classes that day. Guilty conscience? One class got through with the test, and they were allowed to play Hangman.
During my planning hour, I was asked to watch some 8th graders. That was a problem. I didn't ever get them under control. I feel terrible about it. I wish I could re-do that hour. Then, back to the other class, and more tests. 8th hour, I was prepared for academic dishonesty.
The same girls were talking and signaling each other during the test. I took their names down, and said I was considering moving them away from each other. I got up to do that, and realized that I would still have to keep an eye on them, only now they wouldn't all be in one place. I decided instead to go and stand in front of them....for a whole hour. They stopped writing. Really. I had assumed that one of them must have read the chapter. Otherwise, what is the point of copying each other's work? It seemed I was wrong. NONE of them were able to complete the test! They eventually started to ask if they could put it in the pile of "not finished" and then come and finish it Monday. I told them that it was highly unlikely that the teacher would let them take the test after having had the extra weekend to study. They turned theirs in early anyway. I wrote the time down (since it was NOT the end of the hour) and put them in a separate stack. I seriously hope he doesn't let them get away with that nonsense. Rotten, sneaky, dishonest, cheating brats.
Ah! The youth of America. Don't ya' love 'em? Actually, I miss some of them....
Saturday, I didn't feel like leaving, so I didn't get my hair cut. The weather was beautiful, so the kids were outside a lot. In the evening, we watched Raiders of the Lost Arc for the first time. (Well, first time for the kids.) They loved it.
Sunday, Josh gave me a ride to taiko while he visited family in the city. We had Steak N Shake on the way home, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. I don't think my bread was fresh... Then I went out in the rain to do the shopping. Going to make two new recipes this week!
Taiko on Tuesday will be a meeting instead of a practice. Looking forward to it, I think. There is a lot that needs to be asked about.
I'm slowly reading The Mysteries of Udolpho. Hee hee. I'm also looking for new book recommendations after I'm done.
The weather finally turned today. It is nearly 9am, and still below 30 degrees. My little dogwood that I was hoping would survive fell over in the wind yesterday. There is no saving it; it was detached at the root. I am sad. It was so lovely. I'm done trying to put trees in that spot. I will try a shrub, and if that fails, too, I am giving up entirely.
Already planning Thanksgiving, and even Christmas. Someday, I will have Christmas on my own terms. I insist on it reverting into a sweet holiday that is about family and being nice. Not this year, however.
I hope things are going well for you! Have a wonderful week!
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