I hunched down in my too-small middle school desk at the back of the room, trying to appear friendly yet mostly invisible in my silent observer role. In stomped an eighth grader in Ugg boots, her side braid artfully messy, her makeup expertly applied.
Slam! went her bookbag in her chair. "Oh my gah!" she shrieked. "Why is there wet stuff in my bag? Oh my god, it's my hair product. You guys, my hair product leaked all over my bag!" Hand flapping, procuring of paper towels, and fastidious and lengthy removal of all offending product ensued. She turned around and noticed me at the back of the room. "Who's that?" she shouted to everyone and no one in particular. "Is that a student teacher? Do we have a student teacher? Oh my god, do you remember the student teacher we had last year? What was her name? Ms...Ms. something...Ms. D! Oh my god, do you remember Ms. D? I hated her! I hated her so much! I hope this one's better than Ms. D. I think so. She looks better than Ms. D. Oh my god, Ms. D, ugh! Haha!"
Internet, I think it's going to be a long semester.
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Slip her some valium.
ReplyDeleteBut imagine the number of stories you will write. You just hit a GOLD MINE!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I hear ya... I taught two classes of Grade 7 French last year (25 kids in each class!) and some of the kids were exactly like the girl you just described... It was a long year, I tell ya!!
ReplyDeleteAre you looking to teach French in elementary schools? I'm teaching Grade 9 and 10 French now at the high school level and thinking I want to teach the kiddies (probably grade 5 and under- Grade 6-8 is a tough age group lol)...
Totally unrelated, but can I add you to my blogroll?
Bon courage!!!
I hold a masters degree and haven't mastered the art of the messy side braid and the well-applied make up.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Well, at least you look better thatn Miss D
ReplyDeleteUgh. Well, take consolation that even if they might not show it, there are a lot of other students in that room who are just as annoyed by that girl as you are.
ReplyDeleteand i could bleed in sympathy with you... don't let our youth go to waste...
ReplyDeleteI have an elementary education degree. It was between that and high school- I knew I could never handle middle schoolers. I agree that it will be blog gold, though.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, good luck. Middle school is that place I knew I could never teach. Give me 4 year olds, give me special needs, hell, I can even take a snotty high schooler. But middle school was always the place I knew my teaching dreams would go to wither and die.
ReplyDeleteAlso, where the hell was the teacher while little Miss Thing was doing her act? If the teacher was in the room and let this happen, I worry for you for the next 7 weeks!
ReplyDeleteYes, well. Sigh. The teacher is part of the problem.
ReplyDeleteOneika--No problem. Add away! :)
ReplyDeleteI know this is going to sound SO old but....kids these days!!! Sheesh.
ReplyDeleteShe'll be your new BFF in a couple of days.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Just added you!
ReplyDeleteHope the situation over there is improving. :-)
Even if the teacher herself is part of the problem, you can still learn a lot. I had a TERRIBLE mentor teacher (I went home and cried every night I was there), and what stuck with me the most was "When I have student teachers, I will NEVER treat them this way", and I've stuck with that. I'm on my seventh now. Good luck! It honestly goes by faster than you think.
ReplyDeleteGingergirl--Let's hope so! Thanks, it's good to know that it will end eventually, and that I will (hopefully) learn something from it.
ReplyDeleteYou'll whip her into shape. Use real whips.
ReplyDelete