So, it is probably apropos this moment to iterate that my classroom has jobs. Some permanent, some that change on a weekly rotation. This story focuses on those permanent jobs. Those appointments are as follows:
Timer/Technology: StudentS1 -does all the timing and smart-board related work.
Secretary(formerly filer): StudentS2 - files all papers, answers phone, takes messages.
WorkStation Attend: StudentX - chooses audio book, sets up and takes down workstations
Couselor: StudentJ - listens to and filters all tattles as either fix it or take to Miss Wishon.
Quiet Monitor: StudentC - a former weekly job, but after this story...became perm.
These students take their jobs very seriously. The first 4 are very protective of their responsibilities and become simply volatile should some one else encroach on their work. I only have myself to blame for this, but I have created monsters. Monsters of the best and most adorable variety, but monsters none-the-less. The most glaring examples follow, including how StudentC made Quiet Monitor her own.
Secretary: StudentS2 was chosen based on her slightly annoying ability to be done with absolutely everything eons before everyone else, and then have the nerve to bored with reading books that were beneath her intellect. For a teacher, a perfect opportunity to pawn off some of the clerical classroom duties. It all started with filing the graded work into our mailboxes, and progressed slowly to organizing work to be graded and possible portfolio pieces, and ended with her answering my phones like a receptionist at a law firm. "Miss Wishon's room, this is StudentS." I knew I had made the best choice after the Larry incident, and was put off when she had the audacity to be absent from school.
Timer/Technology: Sometimes jobs are chosen for children who just happen to be near you when you are thinking about it, and it just so happens to work out. Anyone could have done the the Timer job, set a timer...press start. EASY. StudentS1 proved her worth, about 2 months after the initial appointment, when 2 amazing things happened. First, being protective over her classroom career, she naturally became a bit possessive of the smart-board and my computer. On this particular day, I heard her chastise another student with, "Don't be jumpin' on my Smart-Board." I adore when they police themselves. Then not 15 minutes later, with not a hint of panic on her face, she says: "We forgot to set the timer, I feel it's been about 5 minutes, so I'll set the timer for 7 minutes and then I'll remember to do 12 and 1." --I love a kid with crisis management skills. (12 to work, 1 to rotate).
Counselor: This was not a happen to be near job, it was born of necessity. I detest tattles, and simply refuse to listen to them. I've tried everything from tattle ears, to very direct lessons on tattling vs. reporting...don't let anyone fool you. None of it works, you know what works? A Counselor. After a brief training session about what I consider report worthy, I had turned my nosiest most constant tattler into a classroom management machine. After a few days of saying, "This sounds like something that should go to StudentJ," the kids caught on and I even got reports from Recess that they were telling each other to "take it StudentJ." StudentJ herself would sometimes take the lead, a miracle that I couldn't have predicted. One glorious day in March, my students had formed an editing line. That is a line of people who needed their writing edited or rechecked for mistakes. StudentJ was a member of this line, as it started to get a bit nosier than I prefer. Apparently it was also nosier than she felt it should be, because before I even I had my head up to quiet them, I see her step out of line, stand to the side and ask, "What exactly is the problem in my line?" She then pulled the 2 problem causers to the side, listened to the issue, made them apologize, and returned to her place in line. AMAZING. Let's be honest, you know I was trying not to laugh so hard I was about to cry.
WorkStation Attendant: Great kid, no drama...StudentX was the perfect choice. His story is short, so don't worry. Short and Stellar: just like 1st grade. He was full proof, set the stations out, change a game if he wanted, and pick the audio cd and book of the day for listening center. One day, he didn't change the book and another student started to complain. Instead of bending to their whining he said, "Good Reader's read it again," and went back to work.
Quiet Monitor: I had long known that StudentC was the best Quiet Monitor in the room, she was fair and well-liked. She also had higher expectations for quiet than me, AwEsOmE! However, I needed 8 jobs to keep the rotations going, so I kept it there. That is until, what I call, "Sad and Upset Day." We've all had those days, where the kids are out of control and bizarre. Sad and Upset Day, was one of those days. So much so, that by 1pm, we were having an emergency class meeting. Circled up, on the carpet, laying it all out there. Of course this is a moment, that someone needs to speak to me in the hallway. BLAST. While I am out of the room, rather...half in/half out so I can still see and hear everyone...we start to get noisy unattended on the carpet. I am doing some planned ignoring to focus on my guest. I have given a few teacher looks, but nothing more. At my 3rd, "You'd better stop" look, StudentC has had a enough. She joins forces with StudentJ and they begin to lecture the class:
Listen up, are you trying to make Miss Wishon sad and upset, because it seems like you are? She is nice to you and you are being rude! You know it makes her sad and upset when we are rude. So if you are trying to make Miss Wishon sad and upset, keep talking!
After that no one said a word, and when I returned to the carpet, several children apologized. After that display of leadership, I elected that we have StudentC become the permanent quiet monitor. Everyone was in agreement.
