The dreaded PTC

Today is the day of the dreaded PTC or Parent-Teacher Conferences, so this post may seem fragmented as I write about situations that arise.  One of the few days that as a teacher you don't look forward to.  The parents that you really need to chat with don't come and then the parents that you don't need to chat with do come and you have nothing to say to them, but they sit there waiting, expecting you to say something else but you've got nothing else to say.  Just an awkward situation.

As I'm sitting here, you can somewhat tell the differences in parenting by how the other kids are.  Are the parents in control of things or do they let the students roam around free and without control?  Are the kids wandering and looking for things to eat and get into?  I have a bowl of M&Ms in my basket for me to snack on and I just had one little boy look at them and reach straight into them.  This basket, mine you, is on the floor and practically under the table.

I haven't had that many parents show up yet, but I'm thinking that it will pick up as the night progresses.  It is only 3:40 and it started at 1:30 and it goes until 7:30.  Technically I don't get a break, so I'm taking things as they come.  When I have some time, I try to get a drink, or walk around.  My comfortable chair broke on the way down here, so I'm sitting on the hard plastic ones and I'm wondering how I'm going to work with this chair for the rest of the week?  I let one of the janitors know (who happens to be a friend of mine), so we're trying to get things done as we're sitting here.

3:50.  I spoke too soon.  I just dealt with a difficult student and his father.  I really don't like confrontation.  I try not to let my emotions get the better of me in situations like that, but then after it is over, I am shaky and I can feel things beginning to bubble.  Right now my hands are shaking.  This particular student has a history of being very rude and disrespectful during class and not turning anything in.  When I told the father all this, it seemed like he understood but wasn't too happy with him.  I am not happy with the situation, but at least the father knows.  The sister is another story.  The sister is older and she tried to blame me for the fact that he isn't doing all the work.  I really think it is more laziness than anything.  At least that little bit is over.

4:40.  Things are moving along.  It hasn't been all that bad yet but I can see an increase in foot traffic around the room.  I don't recognize a lot of them (which is good.  means they won't be coming towards me) but it does mean that time may be moving slower than I originally thought.

5:00.  You can tell the students who have good parents and also the respectful parents.  I just chatted with a couple who wanted to know what they could do to help their son at home to propel him forward and support what I'm doing in class.  Kind of brightened the mood a bit.  They were supportive of what I have to do in class and asked if they could come help if needed.  Nice for parents of a 7th grader.  The boy is also respectful in class and asks questions and tries to figure things out and answer his own questions first before asking me what to do.

6:30.  1 more hour

And my brain is gone.  I'll post my thoughts a bit later.

"Caught Up"

Okay, I never understood the term "Caught Up" when it came to teaching.  I always seem to be on top of things.  I don't allow things to go ungraded.  I don't think  it is fair to the students.  I don't leave the school until everything is graded and I use my prep time for that as well (isn't that what it is there for?).  But lately, a few teachers have been complaining that they can't get "caught up" with all the work they need to do and it isn't fair that the students are constantly whining about it.  Umm, isn't that why they turned in the work?  To show you that they can do it and that they want some sort of grade for it?

When I was in school, it would drive me nuts when I turned in things and it wouldn't appear on my grade (after a day or two of course).  I just wanted to know what I was getting and how things were going to progress and what I needed to work on.  Now, I know that a few of my students get privileges based on their grades, so I try to make sure that the grades are updated daily.

But it is interesting to see the other side of things.  I walked into another teacher's classroom to deliver something to her and she was playing solitaire on her computer with a huge stack of papers next to her.  When I gave her back what I had borrowed I noticed that they were in her "to be graded" tray and when I asked (very politely I may add) why she wasn't grading them and putting them into the system while she had some time, she replied that it was on her deadline not the students that she should grade and put things in.  And yes, she was one of the teachers complaining that she never had enough time to get caught up during the school day. 

Interesting way to look at things.