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My Morning Could Have Started Smoother

September 17th, 2008 by

26 Comments »

26 Responses to “My Morning Could Have Started Smoother”

  1. on 17 Sep 2008 at 3:15 pm1 Rich

    Dang! How long is a typical day’s commute, and how long was today’s??? It’s a little hard to tell the scale from the satellite photo.

  2. on 17 Sep 2008 at 3:48 pm2 dan

    Typically, twenty minutes each way. Today’s was closer to an hour. I think my morning prep is making me sloppy.

  3. on 17 Sep 2008 at 4:46 pm3 Sam

    Ouch.

    How did first hour go after that?

  4. on 17 Sep 2008 at 4:47 pm4 A. T.

    I have an hour commute. I would have just done without! Here’s hoping for a better tomorrow!

  5. on 17 Sep 2008 at 5:28 pm5 Gina Marie

    Work shoes? I’m confused…. what shoes were you wearing?

    I’ve got a 20 minute each way as well. I won’t go back after I’ve been on the road for five minutes… unless I’ve left my school laptop at home, which I’ve done before.

  6. on 17 Sep 2008 at 6:07 pm6 dan

    @Sam, easy. Just wasted half of my two-hour prep period was all.

    @Gina, gym shoes. I hit the gym halfway through. Yeah, couldn’t really figure a good explanation for that into the infograph.

  7. on 17 Sep 2008 at 6:59 pm7 Jackie Ballarini

    Two hour prep in the morning? Do you get a break at all during the day?

  8. on 17 Sep 2008 at 7:11 pm8 Sarah

    Thanks for the reminder that the benefit of teacher housing is that if I forget something it’s a 10-minute round trip. I think some days I subconsciously intentionally forget things because I’m not ready to face the day.

    Yay morning preps. Though mine’s only an hour. And, Jackie, my only other break is a rushed lunch.

  9. on 17 Sep 2008 at 7:33 pm9 dan

    @Jackie, yeah, if you count lunch. Two hours prep, two days a week. Tuesday and Thursday are kinda like getting whacked in the face for seven straight hours straight. Wednesday and Friday are awesome, though.

  10. on 17 Sep 2008 at 7:47 pm10 Mr. K.

    Am I the only person who goes to a school where people with first period preps get abused to do no notice coverages (aka substitute duty) on a regular basis?

    Last year I had 70 coverages. And when I mentioned that it might be a bit much, I was told that I should appreciate the extra pay. Hrmph.

  11. on 17 Sep 2008 at 8:05 pm11 Ian

    I had a similar morning during week two. Drove the entire 20 minute commute, opened up the trunk and discovered I had forgotten my projector. But unlike you I had no 2 hour prep that morning. The day consisted of much improvisation and going old school w/ the whiteboard and overhead projector. The whole time, I thought to myself: “how do teachers still teach like this on the daily?”

  12. on 17 Sep 2008 at 10:32 pm12 Per

    I actually have two extra powercords to my computer, one at home and one at work. This way its not the end of the world when (when, not if) I forget to bring it…

  13. on 18 Sep 2008 at 4:33 am13 Sarah

    Mr. K — We didn’t get called to sub as much last year (had an huge number of aides who were constantly pulled), but they’re doing it this year. It doesn’t matter what prep though. And, usually, you split the period with another teacher.

    Why do people always assume that giving teachers a little bit more money will make up for additional work?

  14. on 18 Sep 2008 at 7:51 am14 Jason B

    @Sarah, as an administrator, I have had situations where a sub does not pick up an assignment or whatever. If I have to pull a certified TA or teacher who has prep at the start of the day, I do not do so with the mind set that a little but more money will make up for additional work. I am curious what better alternative I have when the students are present, the teacher is absent and there is no substitute?

  15. on 18 Sep 2008 at 1:50 pm15 Glenn

    Wow. I am now very thankful that I have a 7 minute commute with only 4.4 miles.

    I barely remember having a long commute (but I have had as long as a 45 minute commute in the past.) I feel for you, Dan, but I don’t feel the pain any more.

  16. on 18 Sep 2008 at 3:07 pm16 Jackie Ballarini

    Jason B, could you cover the class? :-)

  17. on 18 Sep 2008 at 5:19 pm17 Jason B

    @Jackie, and sometimes I do. The biggest problem is that there is only one of me and sometimes more than one missing sub. :(

  18. on 18 Sep 2008 at 6:35 pm18 Sarah

    Jason B, pulling occasionally is understandable, like when the teacher I’m filling in for has been sick for weeks and is finally taking time off to visit the doctor. Pulling often (like Mr. K being pulled ~1/3 of the year), not so cool. If it’s that big of a problem, then yeah, you need a better solution. Is there a way we could find more substitute teachers?

    FWIW my comment is fueled by more than the occasional subbing (which we don’t get paid for at my school–it’s just part of the deal). And I tried not to blame admin as much as the world at large for the attitude.

    *Shrug* Adding more and more to my plate isn’t going to produce quality work no matter how much you pay. It’s not everyone’s mindset, but it’s far too common. And it’s what I heard Mr. K is dealing with.

    Sorry for hijacking the comments again. I’m done with this one.

  19. on 18 Sep 2008 at 8:29 pm19 James

    Hi, I found your blog on this new directory of WordPress Blogs at blackhatbootcamp.com/listofwordpressblogs. I dont know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, i duno. Anyways, I just clicked it and here I am. Your blog looks good. Have a nice day. James.

  20. on 19 Sep 2008 at 3:13 am20 Jackie Ballarini

    Jason B – nice to hear!

  21. on 19 Sep 2008 at 5:55 am21 Johan

    Forgetting things at home or at work is always irritating. I try my damndest not to have to go back after anything, since I mostly ride my bike to work – some 11,6 km (about 7 miles) one way – I don’t want to turn back halvway. So far so good…

  22. on 19 Sep 2008 at 6:48 am22 Shelley

    Whoa. Srsly? Couldn’t just wear the gym shoes and explain that it was that or more gas/electricity/whatever you use to get to work? Unless you ride your bike. In which case you’re probably facing a whole ‘nother set of challenges.

    I used to keep my girl shoes (my term for work shoes) under my desk at work, since that was pretty much the only place I ever wore them. But my desk is against a wall in an office with a door that closes and locks… not everyone has such luxuries.

    Glad you made it in, in any case!

  23. on 19 Sep 2008 at 7:08 am23 dan

    In the hindsight of several days (and all of these comments) I now see solutions to at least two of these problems which didn’t involve my wasting time and gas. I’m most annoyed I didn’t remember the fifteen MacBooks (plus power cords!) located in the next wing, none of which — I guarantee — were being used.

    Whatever they say about hindsight being 20/20.

  24. on 19 Sep 2008 at 3:23 pm24 Nancy

    Solution for “forgetting”–never take anything school related home.

  25. on 20 Sep 2008 at 11:47 pm25 Johan

    Or home-related to work. Which in the case of the wallet I forgot at work, isn’t as easy to do (not bringing it that is).

    Yes, I forgot it at work on Friday, and realised this maybe half an hour after my post above – when I was already home. Such is life I guess. Lucky my fiancée is understanding and agreed to pay our movie and other expenses this weekend:)

  26. on 22 Sep 2008 at 6:53 am26 dan

    Forgot my deoderant and lunch at home this time. Bought ‘em both at the store on the way to school but I think it’s safe to suggest that days like the one depicted in this post are the rule not the exception. Ugh.