We started our state testing yesterday. Reading. Yeah. I felt it very necessary to call in the troops. Thus...
Thankfully, they were a hit with the kids!
This afternoon we were working in our cell packet, coloring diagrams of cells to label the parts and organelles we'd read about earlier this week.
At one point while the kids were coloring they were talking about sports teams.
KU.
KState.
The next thing you know, we are talking about visiting the emergency room.
Taking out tonsils.
Keeping tonsils that had been taken out.
While we were getting ready to go home, the teacher-student confrontation happened...
Student: Can I have my $5 SOAR buck back?
Me: No. You didn't care about the $5 SOAR buck when you gave it to boy.
(I have a no trading policy in my classroom after problems arose early in the school year. The student was trying to "buy" a flavor packet to put in a water bottle.) Unfortunately the conversation didn't stop there. It probably should have. I get really tired of this student's disrespect and poor attitude, though. The student continued mumbling bad attitude comments loud enough for me to hear to people nearby.
Me: Is there something you would like to say to me?
Student: No. What?
Me: Well, I would prefer that if you are going to get mad and start calling me names that you do it to my face instead of behind my back. Let's talk about it.
The student continued to mumble comments about how stupid this was and talk to other nearby students about not being able to wait for next year. The student wouldn't have to be in my class next year. Again, this would have been a fine time to end the conversation. Just let it go. Move on. Of course, I didn't.
Me: Unfortunately, I feel like the only difference next year is that you'll have more teachers to get mad at and say mean things about.
The student preceded to tell me there was another teacher at our school that she said more bad things about too, but I was definitely number two on her list.
Me: I'm sorry to tell you this, but I did not become a teacher to be your friend. I was not hired to be your friend.
Girl nearby: Yeah. She's supposed to help us learn.
Student: And be respected.
What a shocker that the student made that comment! Good to know that the student knows that because this student sure doesn't show it (on a regular basis)!
Me: You are exactly right.
Not proud of the extent of that conversation, but surprised by the way it ended and the fact that the student's irritation deescalated.