Period 6 Posting

One of my Year 9 students just asked me how much I get paid. Then another one asked me why I teach? For both of these questions I really didn't know the answer. I had a rough idea, but I wasn't really sure how to answer them. I know I am happy with both things...although when I worked out $18.00 an hour was my pay rate, I got a bit worried. Can that be right? I'm glad I don't do any planning at home. Anyway, the next conversation I had with him went like this (I was helping his friend on the Internet):
"Why don't you go and do your job Miss?"
"What do you think my job is?"
"Aww, I dunno. Sit behind that desk (points to desk at front of room) and watch us do work and then help us sometimes too."

What an interesting concept of teaching this student has. Where does this ideal come from? Is it what he wants/likes or expects?

Another comment of his that amused me:
"I hope Miss S is really, really sick so she can't come and teach us tomorrow and we have an assembly every period...but not too sick so she can still get better." Quite dramatic, but then he reflects and thinks that maybe his comments are a bit harsh. Quite funny really. These little comments occur all the time. Fortunately, I had the chance to quickly record them while I remembered them today.

I have a student in my class who considers himself a "Water Saver". Which means that he doesn't shower often and the kids tease him about this. He is socially inept and has ADHD (unmedicated- "Mum can't afford it"). Today I had the opportunity to ask a new student to the class (swapped from my other class) to talk to him about hygeine in a friendly way. Hopefully this helps. He really just doesn't seem to care about his odour and really it is very offensive. I really don't know whether it is laziness or trying to save money (maybe his Mum only lets him shower occassionally) Who knows? But whatever it is, it makes it difficult for him to survive at school. How do they expect us to teach with these things going on in our class?

Last comment for today...I've been reading some Generation Y /Net Gen articles (VERY INTERESTING- Will comment later). I know how to tell a real Gen X-er from all other Generations- They go automatically to the computer clock to check for the time , whereas all others got to their watch first and computer clock second. I noticed that today.

Bye for now,
M x