The funny thing is that yesterday I was utterly convinced for a while that I'd already made it through both of my teaching days for the week; it was a sad moment when I realized that I hadn't. I probably came to that conclusion because I had a very full teaching day on Tuesday, and then a very full day yesterday, with union meetings and student meetings and meetings with fellow faculty members and and and... (I won't even go into the email conversations.) Why are meetings so exhausting, I wonder?
Maybe because sometimes the conversations that happen in those meetings are so weird. For example, one of my appointments yesterday was with a student from my English grammar and syntax class (all I can say here is that it's much more fun than you think it is; trust me on this). She came in, all perky and hip and cute, and sat down in a chair in my office and told me, very wide-eyed, that she didn't understand anything at all. Nothing. Nada zip zilch. In fact, she understood so little that she didn't know what to ask. So (I've learned strategies for dealing with this over the years; it happens more than you'd think) I asked her to analyze a sentence in front of me so I could see where she was hanging up. Turns out she really did know nothing. Nada zip zilch. After four weeks of classes, she didn't know the first thing to do with a sentence. So she said to me, "I'll just be really honest here. I come to class and I'm there, you know? And then you start talking, and my brain just turns off! I don't know why, it just does. I mean, I'm sitting towards the front, so I only text a few times in class, with my mother..."
Seriously? I mean, seriously?
So I looked at her, very straight-faced, and I said, "I'll make a deal with you. I won't text in class if you won't text in class. How about that for a deal?"
That seems like a good deal, doesn't it? It just doesn't get fairer than that.
I'm going to believe that knitting will make it all better. Tonight there are new episodes of Bones and Fringe, and I intend to work on the Urban Aran through both of them. I'm almost done with the back, and if all goes according to plan I'll be able to finish that and cast on for the front(s) tonight. Now if only I could decide whether I'm doing them both at once (steeks! eeks!) or separately.
Tilly says, "Let's go for a walk instead."
"What? We just had a walk? Oh, well, if you're sure."
16 comments:
Knitting will make it all better... just click you heels together 3 times and say "there's nothing like knitting, there's nothing like knitting, there's nothing like knitting, there's nothing like knitting."
I love the texting comment, I once worked with a reporter who couldn't understand why she missed so much at council meetings and why the competing paper always had more thorough stories... but the whole time she was at the council meeting, she was sending texts to my office...
My Dave is convinced that there should be some sort of scrambler in schools and cars so people can't use their cell phones and there are days I have to agree, it's not such a bad idea.
I certainly hope that the student wasn't blonde. She would give all the rest of us blondes a bad rep.
Oh my,,,
I think it is good the weekend is just around the corner and you have fabulous knitting to relax with.
I absolutely love your response to her. So perfect! Just in that moment you gave her so many life lessons right there on the spot.
Look at that adorable doggy face!
I was wondering if you were part of the walk out at schools yesterday. Guess not.
I needed a good laugh this morning. Thanks. I reminded me of a woman in a class I took her kept raising her hand and asking "Do we need to know this?" A class she had PAID for, much as your texting miss has. Or perhaps her parents. I know, make her diagram sentences in front of the class if she texts!
Only a few times? Dude, that's like, totally attentive. I mean. Really.
Oh I woke up yesterday thinking it was Friday! I was so happy until I realized...
Its funny I have no idea how to diagram a sentance. Chris is floored by that but I think I switched school districts (states) near that time and never had it in a class. But being in class for four weeks and knowing NOTHING is pretty shocking. Knitting will make it better. Knitting makes everything better!
(PS. Tilly you my sister? I want takes tons walks too and Mom say NO we just got back. She not see how good walk is. Better than lie there be BORED. I make lots sad faces but never work on her! Loves, Abbys. PPS. Gussy not like his walkies. He like fetch stead. )
We did discuss this in email, but OMG.
These children (yes) are going to pay our social security - and that's really scarey to me. And your response is the sort I WISH I could come up with when needed!
Tilly? I think she's a terribly patient pup. I think I'd have caved to those eyes...
(((hugs)))
I think your student needs to learn to knit, so she can do it in class and hear you. But not until she knows what she's doing! So, maybe too late for this class.
Knitting cures everything! Eventually.
I have this conversation all the time with my students, although obviously high school . . . What I don't understand is what parent will text with their kid when their kid is supposed to be in class. That one just hurts my brain.
And knitting does make it better.
Hang in.
Sarah
I wonder what her mother is doing while she's texting. Is she at work? Driving a car? What on earth do they find to say to each other so often? Bizarre.
Knitting always helps - next time she decides to text maybe you could break out the knitting? Just a thought.....
If my mom had been paying for my college, I know perfectly well I would have been killed for wasting her money texting her in a class she paid for.
Wait, I worked and paid for my own college. Maybe that's why I worked so hard.
I have to admit that I laughed out loud at this one, mostly because I identify with it so deeply. Especially the part where "I am so there until you start talking..." That's supposed to be reassuring??
The one (and only) thing that I can say for her is that she had the guts to show up and at least look for help, rather than spending the whole semester lost. I have to have a little more sympathy for those that realize that they know zip, zilch, nada and that try to do something about it than I do for those that think they know it all "except for your tests."
I'm pretty sure the species is doomed.
Hey, maybe you should text her final grade to her. I'm afraid you'd be able to do that right now.
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