tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:00:11 +0000the daily comings and goings of a teacher, an educator, who... just happens to be homelesshttp://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/noreply@blogger.com (ryan)Blogger877125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-5891028483896349355Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-03-12T07:00:11.195-06:00Like I predicted, it’s been a lost week because of the upcoming Spring Break. Those kids who haven’t cut loose early for vacation have been exceptionally zoned out. I think I could have told them anything and it wouldn’t have mattered. I could have dished out my deepest, darkest fears, and I don’t think they’re ears would have perked up any. I have even been half-tempted to bring in my home videohttp://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/03/spring-breakdown.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-2629626135662363019Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-03-11T07:00:04.698-06:00As you know stuff gets taken from the workroom on a regular basis. I know; I don’t get it either. I joke about being a starving teacher, but I’d never stoop to taking another person’s a Lean Cuisine. Plus it is not like a box of hanging file folders is the one thing that is keeping me from living the dream.Anyway, this time it was a humongous industrial pencil sharpener that’s gone missing and http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/03/pencilly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-7452895909128545743Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-03-10T11:55:03.261-06:00Another reminder came into us from one of the associate principals because of some recent issues with the staff Xerox machine. It often breaks down, which is no big surprise because this school is the size of a mall and we only have access to the one photocopy machine. In a situation like this, wear and tear will always win. Why doesn’t the administration get that?This reminder came with some, umhttp://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/03/sex-machine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-3101386658186268541Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-03-09T07:00:01.429-06:00You may not know this, but our school district hosts a rodeo. It’s scheduled for after Spring Break. The FFA has asked teachers who are interested in volunteering in a rodeo clown competition. To sway us to participate, we’ve been informed that all proceeds will go to charity. So let me get this straight; they want to put make-up on us in a situation that has a strong possibility involving a http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/03/rodeo-drive.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-2110615340083101767Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-03-08T16:31:11.224-06:00Well, we just completed a week of state testing. That means we have a week more of school and then it’s Spring Break. I’m not even going to try to fool myself. I thought last week was bad, but now we’re not going to get anything done for an entire week. Their bodies are here but their minds are already doing beer bongs at their parents’ lake house. Shoot, I expect some of their bodies are alreadyhttp://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/03/dead-week-comes-early.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-957664434346484751Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-03-05T07:00:06.874-06:00We got an e-mail telling us that some lady has been approved to bring her business to the school district and provided us her contact information. We can now relax. Our expensive, prepackaged, just add water meal needs have been met. Talk about an enormous weight being lifted off teachers’ shoulders….In an unrelated story, here’s what this year’s gift baskets contain for those who don’t win an http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/03/lets-get-down-to-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-2441470075642386065Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-03-04T07:00:09.891-06:00The nurse has sent us a reminder that students are allowed to wear masks to prevent the spreading of germs as long as they have written permission from a parent or guardian. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to ask a kid who looks like an extra in the movie Outbreak to hand over anything for me to inspect let alone a permission slip. Another thing the nurse said that made me take pause http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/03/masking-agent.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-8754235720872927765Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-03-03T10:46:25.892-06:00Over the years I’ve shared incidents students have had with the vending machines. They’ve ranged from money issues to practical jokes. Well, teachers aren’t immune to run-ins with the damn things. Most frustrations come from the unit in the teachers’ lounge, since it’s the one we go to most. I don’t know. We just don’t use the other ones because students can see us. Let’s face it; we don’t want http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/03/around-vend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-2468395292062641200Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-03-02T07:00:06.086-06:00I wouldn’t call this a week of state testing. It is actually just four days. Another interesting fact is that we don’t even test for four days in a row. We tested all day yesterday; today we’re back to our classes and then tomorrow, it’s back to testing.Here’s my question: How in the hell am I expected to get anything done with my students with a scenario like that?The classes will probably go http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/03/day-break.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-1727275619149929574Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-03-01T07:00:08.383-06:00I’m guessing that not all of the students around here are focusing on the state testing we are having here this week. There are signs… like the assault on campus after school on Friday. One girl put a rock upside another girl’s head. Who okayed xeriscaping at this school anyway? Forget the physically violent students. The jack-a-ninnies have twenty-foot windows for target practice!Anyway, we werehttp://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/03/rocky-finish-to-week.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-6523583727502890531Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-26T07:00:05.507-06:00We have state testing next week. Usually, I’m not too nervous about this kind of stuff, though maybe I should be since districts are starting to use the results as part of teacher evaluations. Are you telling me students wouldn’t tank a test to get rid of a teacher they hated because he never showed movies in class and made kids read instead? Tell that to the kid who started a gay rumor about me http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/post-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-3163702932580003187Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-25T07:00:06.071-06:00We got one of those semi-regular reminders again from the front office to post a note on our door when we take our class somewhere else in the building. There’s solid reasoning for such a request. Think about it; if someone like the nurse or a counselor needs to get ahold of a student, then they need to know if we’re in the library or somewhere.For me, there’s another reason to leave a note that’http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/make-note.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-7261080724033683956Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-24T07:00:12.537-06:00Over the years I’ve shared a number of e-mail communications with you guys from various staff members, especially administrators like our principal Pécan and the heir apparent, AP Evelyn Hammer. I’ve shared them because there’s always something that gets a reaction out of me, from laughter to screaming. There was even that one e-mail about the student who tried to hold-up the National Honor http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/return-to-sender.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-8162984491405804685Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-23T07:00:12.057-06:00Yesterday, Hammer passed along to us that the IT was unable to connect to the Internet. That’s funny, right? I mean these are the guys that we go to for Internet help. I wonder if they tried turning it off and then on again.HA!Not to worry, though, because Hammer shared that the district was bringing in experts to fix the problem. Again, aren’t they the experts? Think about it. The math teachers http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/internot.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-4079097663444226338Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-22T07:00:12.329-06:00I guess one of the teachers is doing some sort of fundraiser for something. I’m not too sure because an e-mail went out to the entire school, but it makes reference to some cause I’ve never heard about, and it looks like the fundraising is in its final stages. I’d usually just delete something like that. It was not obviously meant for me, but this e-mail had a shocking attachment.The message in http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/to-name-few.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-6210204869321651Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-19T07:00:08.447-06:00Today is the last day of the fourth of six grading periods this year. I always refer to the last day of these grading periods as “Zero Day” because a zero is the grade I get to record on that last assignment of the period for so many. I don’t understand it. These kids see the home stretch of a grading period and just don’t do the last assignment. It’s like an “almost finishing is good enough” http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/whos-on-fourth.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-7607185789344933237Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-18T07:00:08.024-06:00The new vision posters for the school district are ready to be picked up at and signed for in the front office. You see, we have to sign for them because it is mandatory to display these banners of a shared vision for the purpose of our school district (that I had nothing to do with in developing) to demonstrate unity.Though it sounds like the statement has “OR ELSE” in it, it does not. It’s one http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/visionary-position.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-5954039775221794653Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-17T07:00:09.868-06:00Hammer has sent out an e-mail asking teachers to refrain from using hot glue to hang items on the walls of our classrooms and hallways. Besides her reason that the removal of the glue most likely results in taking paint off the walls, there’s another reason I can think of not doing it. Can you imagine if a jack-a-ninny got their hands on a glue gun around here? It would be like one of the http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/hot-sticky-mess.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-261054562286868652Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-16T14:41:21.844-06:00So we had BAP last Friday, the Friday before Valentine’s Day. Usually, the BAP’s before Valentine’s, kids bring in snacks for each other to celebrate. You know, it’s stuff like cookies, cakes and brownies. Like we don’t have enough junk food floating around here. Fortunately, my kids aren’t motivated enough to organize such an effort. Now that I think about it, I guess that’s a poor reflection onhttp://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/what-can-brownies-do-for-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-2952385687503962563Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-12T07:00:08.443-06:00The senior pranks have started early this year and this morning’s was Valentine’s themed in a way. Somehow some jack-a-ninnies were able to sneak in and replace the snacks in one of the vending machines with condoms. Man, either our security around here needs an overhaul, or these kids were led into action by a freakin’ black-clad Tom Cruise character.Either way, I think it is hilarious. It http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/my-funny-valentine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-4046091074004028718Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-11T07:00:04.141-06:00Okay, so we teachers teach all day long. Before and after the day we even make ourselves available to our students to help them get over the learning hump. Shoot, with the mandatory state testing just over the horizon, SLHS has even offered students an out with detention if they go to state testing focused tutoring mornings before school. Guess who they have leading that: the teachers. Wow, on http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/going-back-generations.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-2587953723202329749Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-10T07:00:00.608-06:00The Key Club has initiated a very thoughtful endeavor. They have started a collection of slightly used shoes for needy children. They are wanting for all kinds of shoes. They’re looking for tennis shoes, basketball shoes, cleats and even dancing shoes. It all sounds great, except that this school may not be the best place for a drive-seeking out slightly used shoes.The shoes that these kids wear http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/shoe-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-3881752100192467579Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-09T07:00:03.335-06:00Pécan sent an e-mail that gave us the heads-up on a visit that the school would be receiving. Later this week during the morning hours a Coast Guard rescue helicopter will be landing on campus. It is coming for an educational visit, and Pécan wanted to notify us ahead of time so as to make sure no staff members panicked with it’s approach.Though this job does give me a “lost at sea” feeling with http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/what-helicopter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-478764600406512251Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-08T10:09:14.803-06:00During one of our ever-important department meetings, one of the teachers made the comment, “I’m not here for the students. I’m here for the literature.” I have to admit that it was a bit awkward, given the fact that the topic of discussion was our colored paper supply. Like I said, it was quite a crucial meeting.Anyway, I consider myself as a guy who gripes about his students like no one has http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/you-are-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6753973.post-2293869401170997059Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +00002010-02-05T07:00:07.071-06:00This morning a teacher sent an e-mail saying nothing more than this:Is there anyone who would consider performing with me Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “Rapper's Delight”? I need a couple of people.I’m going to be honest with you everyone. I would be no less disturbed if she asked, “I need someone to wear a leather outfit during a donkey show.”Seriously, I can’t feel like a http://www.hoboteacher.com/blog/2010/02/thats-rap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (ryan)