Empathizing with my students

Another coach popped in today, once again at a relatively unfortunate time. I had one of my lowest math students trying to present his project. I followed up with the only student who finished her project but had not yet spoken, not allowing her to take a “D” and skip the presentation as she requested. This student hates to speak in public, in part because she speaks almost no English. The Dean had just been in with a suspended student, collecting that student’s work, a student had thrown another student on his back only a few minutes previously in the hallway, and it was near the end of the day. I can’t give my class great attentiveness points. I was allowing a couple of kids to work on their presentations on the Chromebooks, too, since they had to finish and present today. The grades are due tomorrow. The room was a disaster, since we are throwing out binders, papers and other detritus from the closing school year. Some of them had tossed out their used math workbooks and one had torn up the cover of that book in the process, leaving the pieces on top of the garbage. Sigh.

I feel like I just took pop quiz #6,232 for the year and I’m pretty sure I failed to pass with flying colors. I’m not sure I passed in any form. Every other hour of the day would have been better, mostly much better, but that “pop quiz” has to be the perfect example of my luck for this year. Just like some of my kids taking the latest unexpected or overwhelming test, I am sure I looked sad. I felt sad.
josez

I suppose I should appreciate my luck. Unlike my kids, I do have options. I can drop out of school, for example.

Eduhonesty: Oh, wait! I am dropping out. Retirement seems like the best plan at the moment. I am so done with pop quizzes.