BOOOO YOOUUU, FCAT!!

Ahh, FCAT… how I for real loathe you. The FCAT Reading is for sophomores and it’s at the beginning of the day. That means, when it’s over and 1^st period is supposed to start, I have about 5 juniors in my class and the rest trickle in over the next hour. If I can be there on time for 1^st period, so can you. It’s annoying that I can’t continue with group work when whole groups are missing because juniors want to sleep in. Awesome for you, I slept in too—but I live 40 minutes away and I still made it on time… what’s your excuse? Walking into first period when there’s 5 minutes left and asking ON TUESDAY to take a midterm you missed FROM THURSDAY really doesn’t make me a happy teacher. More kids show up in second period that first, but some kids are still under the impression that FCAT days for sophomores mean skip days for juniors and seniors and that isn’t true.

Because of scheduling, lunch is in second period instead of third. The administration told us 65498412518 times that the students are to report to the classrooms and go to the lunch that the teacher is scheduled for, NOT THE LUNCH THEY NORMALLY TAKE. Think about it: if the kids went to the lunch they normally had, the teacher would only have half of their class in there. Students couldn’t figure this out. Then some of them come in, Monday and Tuesday, griping about how they normally eat first lunch and they JUST CAN’T MAKE IT to second lunch because they may die. You’ll be fine—sit down. Then, I get asked 65 times “Ms. Baker, what lunch are we again?” Really?  : l  Stop.

Then, fourth period rolls around. It’s not RIGHT after lunch anymore, but it’s still post-lunch, so one of two things happens on FCAT days: they’re either SUPER off the walls because FCAT made them go stir-crazy OR they sit in silence for an hour at their desks like their brain is frozen. In my fourth period, I had more of the former. Since I do feel (almost) bad for them because of this stupid test, I tried not to do anything too intense because I’m obviously awesome.

Last Wednesday and Friday, we did our midterms in the computer lab. I love using technology and I LOVE www.wordle.net so I figured that’d be the best idea since I had to spring a midterm on them so last minute. Here are a few of the ones that are printed out in color. Also, if you’re a teacher person and you want the instructions/rubric, let me know :)

Since I didn’t blog yesterday, today will be Awkward & Awesome Tuesday!

Awkward:

- Student asks me for gum while I’m chewing some and when I tell him “You can’t haaandle gum”, it falls out of my mouth…

- “Ms. Baker, if I’m quiet all period tomorrow, I mean ALL period, can I have your sister’s number?”

- Students drawing pictures of me…

- “Ms. Baker, how do you pronounce this word?” “Uh…?”

- Spilling water all down my face and my shirt when I forget that I’m drinking and try to talk at the same time…

Awesome:
- Breakfast with sissy :)

- “Ms. Baker, PLEASE don’t go.”

- Being nominated for a “You Did It” Award from a veteran teacher because I’m a “breath of fresh air”

- “Ms. Baker, I did that extra credit”

- The amazing women (and Mr. Archer) that I eat lunch with

- My homeroom babies leaving me random love notes around the classroom

- The Front Office has officially recognized me as a legit teacher, as seen on this late pass

Peace, Love, Wordle midterms, and OXFORD COMMAS J