This cartooning for a living is hard work. I only have four (well really only three) panels done, and I’m already exhausted. Maybe it’s just Christmas. Anyway, here is Part One (minutes 1-6) of a typical day in Mr. Coward’s class, doodle stylie: As the kids come in, they know to take out their notebooks and get ready for the inevitable warm up. Most days, the warm up is a CPS lesson with our vocabulary, spelling, or academic words. There are usually 6 sentences they have to copy and fill in the proper word for. I rerun these on Friday’s test. When we go over the warm up, I can write on it with my wireless slate (also good for writing instructions live). While they are doing the warm up (we’ll go over it in six minutes: cue the Timer), I circulate up and down the aisles (tripping over backpacks and gangly middle schoolers “low-riding” in their seats) checking whatever homework is due. This is a check. We’ll actually go over it and correct it later in the period. (U.M.O.P.P.C.A.S.S.= Unholy Mess of Papers, Pens, Cables, and Some Shtuff.) (aside) The Popple. Notice the slot in his belly for collecting
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Another question I get a lot is: “What does a typical period in your class look like?” As all we teachers know, there is no such thing as a typical day. However, as I have said many times, middle-schoolers crave routine, so there IS a certain groove to my class. Mondays are for going over the homework for the week, and taking/going over the spelling or academic word pretest for the week (I alternate those each week). Wednesdays are always vocabulary days, and Fridays are for Mental Floss and the weekly test. And then within each class period there is also usually a routine. Rather than writing about that routine, since we’re on vacation now, and I’m feeling sporty, I’m going to show not tell, in cartoon style. Well, doodle style anyway. That might take a little longer, but for you it’s worth it. Here’s the first panel. I’ll be finished with the rest soon. I drew it with one of my wireless slates, like I use in the classroom.
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This afternoon, I asked my friend and colleague, in his experiences with junior high, how many times he could remember seeing two seventh grade boys hugging. Sincerely. “Like a man-hug, or a real one?” “What’s a man hug?” “You know, you start out with the soul shake, and then you pull in and sorta bump chests, and then the other hand sorta slaps the back.” “Not that kind.” “Ummm. None.” “I knew it. It was a first for me too!” Milk and Cheese, the “True That” boys, were at it again. They were moving their desks closer together (again), like they like to do, and jabbering nonsense. Nothing major, and technically it was before class, but I said, “Well the quarter does end Friday, and I change up the seating chart every quarter, so next week I get to move you guys far, far apart.” One of our recent vocabulary words was crestfallen. I should have taken a picture of them to use as an example. Milk holds out both arms pleadingly (and it if it wasn’t sincere, he should be an actor) and says, “But…But…But… What about The Team?” OMG. The class is dying. Half of them are happy [...]
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That reminds me of those great SNL skits about the Sofa King. You know, how the prices are "Sofa King" low, the deals are "Sofa King" great, etc. (You obviously have to say those phrases out loud to get the joke.)