Thursday, May 14, 2009

Job description: boxing ref....

I was so sleepy today that I was an eye-rubbing yawning mess in one of my private classes, and I felt bad.....not good teaching at all.

I had two hot chocolates as a kind of sugar/mild caffeine jolt to see if I could improve the situation.

Then I taught another class and things were still not exactly bright.

Another chocolate....

Much better.

But some of the kids in that second class were having some anger management issues. I have no idea what had gone on before hand, but I actually had a kid go at another kid in class.

Anger.......

I was nervous of letting them all go, thinking they would end up in a brawl outside....I don't know what had happened to them that day, if they had fought about something before class, or if they were just having a day.

Pulled them out, in pairs, alone....talked to them,

it got a bit better...

they all made an effort to pull it together.

I remembered they were all up till at least 1am watching the Barca game last night....

You guessed it,

Hot chocolate all around.

We left class a little early and I stood at the machine and dished it out.

Can't say they all left happy, but I think everyone got home without punching anyone.


Chocolate and sleep. Makes the world go around, no?

7 comments:

The Bodhi Chicklet said...

My vote is for chocolate. It hasn't failed me yet. That must have been a tough call - the fighting.

hooray said...

I HEAR you. I could so use a triple espresso right now, and chocolate would help, too!

Teachers are no doubt "boxing refs," substitute mothers, counselors, etc. It's a lot of work, especially this time of year when everyone is spent.

My brain is on permanent "fart" mode lately as I find it difficult to remember what I was saying and what I was going to do next.

We have 5 more weeks, and then I'm off to travel overseas for a month. I can't wait! ;-)

J.G. said...

Smart you, you figured it out in time to avert further problems. Could the two students have been rooting for different teams last night? I know sports are a serious matter, especially the football (soccer).

Anonymous said...

Smart moves there, lady! GM

The Bodhi Chicklet said...

The tags are the brain child of Emily (her last name escapes me but I've linked her over at my sight). At the beginning of the year, she introduced a project with a question a week, each to be done on a tag (journalling on the back of the tag). I'm loving it, even though I'm used to working in a much larger format, I feel like I can tackle one tag a week. But I've frequently fallen behind and had three or more on my "To-Do" list. I am also enjoying experimenting with different mediums. Check her out - it's never to late to get on the tag wagon.

Beth said...

Everybody suffers from lack of sleep - even the (invincible) young! And chocolate always helps. ;)

oreneta said...

Bodhi, chocolate is always good, no?

She, where you going? I knew you'd be able to relate.

JG, not likely, pretty universally Barça fans around here....I don't know what happened...but boy, was it happening.

GM, worked that time anyway.

Bodhi, it is a neat idea...

Beth, too true, the young just don't admit it and young Spaniards, even less.