Miss. Clueless

After a never-ending day in 4th grade, I had a dinner scheduled with the teacher I did my student teaching and internship with (aka my CT -- cooperating teacher). I always enjoy our dinner and am so thankful to have had such a wonderful mentor and now friend. Anyway, since I have moved on, she's "replaced" me....but I do use the term loosely. I could, of course, NEVER be replaced. She had many stories to tell me about the new intern, all of which I was flabbergasted to hear and dumbfounded that someone like this might be in charge of children one day.

Incident #1: On the first day of the month, my CT asked the intern to fix the calendar for April. I had made the calendar last semester and even made little balloons with each kid's name and birthday, so that they could be put on the calendar without any thought...but nobody would get forgotten. She sends the intern into the hall to complete this. (I probably made the calendar from scratch faster than she wrote 1-30 on it.) She is working on it for quite some time when my CT goes to see what she's up to. CT sees another teacher and asks what intern is doing...she can't bring herself to ask. They finally ask and she says, "There are too many boxes."

Incident #2 (but probably more like 200): Intern is modeling a lesson (or something) on the overhead. She is using a transparency that looks identical to the paper the kids are using (I made the transparencies...and used them many times). To demonstrate how to set up the paper, the intern turns the transparency sideways to begin writing (keep in mind the kids are supposed to be reading this and those of you who know how transparencies and overheads work, know that this does not!). The kids and CT tell her, "We can't read that." She says, "But I can't write like that." (REALLY?!?!) And then, as she is writing, my CT is in awe..."Miss. Merr" she writes. A kid raises her hand to say, "Miss doesn't have a period." "Oh, it doesn't???" The story goes on in that she isn't writing on the transparency using the lines correctly and the kids get very upset and so does CT because she's taught this to her many times before. Kids need something done right...they can't handle when they've learned something and you still do it wrong. (Well, their last student teacher didn't do it wrong. *wink*wink*

Incident #300: Miss Clueless (intern) was scheduled to teach a lesson today and her supervisor was coming to watch. I know from experience that supervisors don't just drive to the school hoping they'll get to see you in action...they plan on it. Well, Miss Clueless writes it on CT's calendar, "Lesson 10:00". CT rearranges her whole morning schedule, doesn't do guided reading, work stations, etc. just so that Clueless can fit in her lesson. Well, she begins at 10:00 and no supervisor is seen...she keeps going, nobody...finally at 10:30, Miss Clueless' lesson is over and in walks her supervisor. CT is confused as to why she is showing up when the lesson was over...apparently Clueless told her supervisor 10:30 and didn't tell CT the real time.

Incident #4,000: Miss Clueless visits music class (as part of her internship assignment, we all had to do it). This is a special day in music class...it's a TAKS day for the rest of the school, which means everyone must be as quiet at possible and try not to disturb the hallways, etc. Well, that was a great plan until Miss Clueless starts playing clapping/paddy cake games in the corner of the room with some kids. (Yes, there is a lesson being taught by the music teacher at this time.) The music teacher gives THE GLARE and the kids move away, Miss Clueless apparently didn't take the class about THE GLARE. So, she is then seen braiding a girl's hair a few minutes later. CT had no idea this happened until it was all outlined in an e-mail in which the bottom read, "YOUR INTERN MAY NOT VISIT MY CLASS AGAIN UNTIL SHE HAS LEARNED HOW TO BEHAVE!"

If this girl only knew everything I did each week (during my internship, never mind student teaching) because I was expected to do it and because I was so efficient I needed more to do...CLUELESS!