SMART Move!

Let me start by saying, "every action has an equal but opposite reaction."  Thanks to our good friend Sir Isaac Newton, we know that everything we do has a consequence of some sort. It's a shame that the reality of this natural law has yet to register with my students.

I found out the hard way that planning for a sub for two days takes approximately the same amount of time as planning for an entire week or more of my own teaching.  My detail oriented self struggles to relinquish control at time...I know, I know, I'm working on it!  After leaving detailed sub plans for last Thursday and Friday, and mentally preparing my students for what was to come and how they were to act, I was confident that all would be well.  Thankfully, I allowed myself to believe this enough to finally relax on our long weekend in NYC! 

I was quickly shot back to reality as I returned to school this morning, and flipped through the notes left by the sub.  Just as I had begun to smile, proud that the sub had been so impressed by my thorough and organized notes for her, I froze.  Was I reading this correctly?!  It's couldn't be....
On Thursday one of my basic math students, let's call him J, was absent.  Having not been informed of this prior to me leaving, I had not informed the sub of his absence.  Another student, lets call him S, who is with me for Algebra at the same time as J and 3 others are with me for basic math (yes I teach 2 classes at once...please don't ask how!), decided to take advantage of J's absence.  During attendance, S happily informed the sub that he was J.  Not surprising, as this is an age old trick, tried and true with substitutes.  However, the difference was that on this day there was a chapter test in basic math.  Well, this did not stop S...he proceeded to take the test, even signing J's full name at the top. 
Despite the fact that I have baseball cards (with the names/ photos of students) on my bulletin board, the sub did not catch the blunder; though who could blame her, as my boys are quite charming and convincing when they want to be!  It was not until J was back on the second day of her sub placement that she realized what had happened.

...Now imagine my surprise when I realized that not only did I have to confront both students about this...but I had to do so without laughing.  This move was so cleaver and cunning that I couldn't help but laugh.  Though I wanted to high-five him for pulling off such a move, I know that if I let S get away with this, students will continue to attempt moves such as this from here on out, most likely turning it into a game of some sort.  My solution:  to allow J, the basic math student, to take S's Algebra quiz and to give S whatever grade his underclass friend receives.  Keep in mind, not only is J 3 year's younger...his math skill level is at approximately a 4th grade level.  So imagine giving an Algebra test to a 4th grader.  Yes, I realize that to some this is brutal, while others lenient...but I know that this will get through to my student, as will the apology letter to the substitute and a phone call home.  Let's just say, I may no longer be a class favorite tomorrow : )

On a SMARTer note...my SMART Board was delivered today and will be installed within the next week.  This might be the first time this semester that I have am close to tears due to joy rather than stress (though don't get me wrong, there will always be plenty of that)!  I am finally bringing this classroom into the 21st century and can reach the students on their level...praise the Lord! 

Well, I must finish editing an IEP, as I have my last IEP meeting of 2010 tomorrow, after school.  The second I adjourn the meeting, Thanksgiving break begins. THANK God!

Yours Truly,
Ms. Phillips