The up-side of the unbelievably annoying…

3.31.10 By Kati Delahanty

It’s unbelievable how many decisions teachers have to make in one single workday. Scratch that. It’s unbelievable how many decisions teachers have to make in one single class period.  Scratch that too.  It’s unbelievable how many decisions teachers have to make DURING THE DO-NOW.

Today, for example, was one of those days when literally every single person in our classroom during 4th period “needed” something at exactly the same moment. And that moment was minute 1 of 80. So, in order to get through the chaos, I made one decision: say whatever it takes to get them working.

0:01:00

“Ms. Delahanty, can I use the bathroom?”
—No, not during the do now.

“I can finish my popsicle in here, right, Ms. D? I was at the end of the lunch line, and the bell rang right as I sat down to eat. I can’t do ANYTHING until I eat.”
—Joy, look at me. Today only. And you have to eat and write at the same time.
“That’s impossible.”
—Find a way.

“Does anybody have lead?” (pause) “DOES ANYBODY HAVE LEAD?”
—Here. Borrow my pencil for today.
“Your pencil isn’t mechanical. I only use mechanical.”
—Today you’re using this one.

“Can I please go to the nurse? I really need some Advil.”
—Me too. No. We’ll suffer through it together.

0:01:15

—Amy, why haven’t you gotten started? You look upset.
“I can’t do anything today. My heart is broken. I thought I knew what love was, but I don’t. I shouldn’t have come.”
—Here’s the thing: I’ve been where you are. And I know how miserable it is. I also know that if you focus on class today, the next 80 minutes will go by much faster.  Come after school and I’ll help you put your heart back together.

0:01:36

“Has anyone seen my earring?”
Please sit down, Craig. We’ll look for it in a minute.”
“Nah….nah…..I just got it pierced. I can’t find ten errors in this paragraph until I have my earring.”
(Just so we’re clear, those were his exact words.)
—You look for ten errors, and I’ll look for your earring.
“You don’t understand. I CAN’T.”
—Did your earring have sentimental value?
“Nah…I just need it so the hole doesn’t close up.”
—Here, take mine. Wash it off with hand sanitizer, and get started.

When the students realized that I would literally find a way to “fix” any problem that might prevent them from doing work, they all got started.  For example, Craig decided that his piercing wouldn’t close up THIS period and that he could, in fact, look for ten errors without his earring.

It’s this need to quickly put out fires and remind students that their number one priority has to be about learning that makes teaching so exhausting and so real.
Classes like these are rare and they are hard, but once the eye twitch goes away, I come out of them loving my students even more because I realize that they know I’m going to bring it back to the learning. They expect me to help them get past anything (a lead-less pencil or a broken heart) that might—even momentarily—stand between them and their learning. And, the occasional frantic start reminds me that my students are adolescents who are trying to figure it all out and choose what kind of people they want to be. Many of them are actively deciding if high school fits into that plan. So when they come in and say that they can’t do the do-now until_______________ happens, they really just need me to remind them what’s most important…why they are here.  And, admittedly, I need the reminder that they need a reminder too!

In that way, we do for each other. I force them to recognize when they are avoiding work. And they, in turn, occasionally avoid work so that we have a moment to center and refocus on our goals together.

At least that’s what I tell myself after 80 minutes of “No,” a lot of deep breaths, one sweat-stained sweater, and a few mental WTFs.

In closing, I want to just appreciate (as a way to process through what at 10:30 this morning was complete and utter annoyance) some of today’s 4th-period avoidances:

“Can I go to the bathroom when she gets back?” “And can I go when he’s back?” “And I need to go when they are both back.”

“Ms D, Zack swore really quietly so you couldn’t hear it. That’s a non-negotiable.”

(At decibel 30) “Where’s my bag?” (looks down) Oh…it’s right here.

(When they have been in the room for 5 minutes) “Which class do we have next?”

“Are we watching a movie today?” (note: there is not a TV anywhere in the room.)

(Following the mini-lesson and right after I asked “what are your questions?”) “How was your weekend, Ms. Delahanty?”

Gotta love ‘em…

more from Kati Delahanty on the blog
more about Charlestown High School on the blog