The Snyder

I recently wrote a blog about names, but forgot to write about the interesting things that have come up because of my name.  I've got my opening speech consisting of, "Hello, my name is Mrs. Snyder and I will be your teacher today" down pat.  I don't even have to think about it too much anymore.  It's kind of fun writing Mrs. Snyder on the board each morining like I'm claiming the classroom in my name.  Usually I am quite happy to revoke my ownership of the room by the end of the day though.  Some schools also welcome their guest teachers by name of the intercom during the morning announcements.  It's a bit exhilarating to hear my name over the intercom.

I've had some students do some interesting word plays with my name as well.  Snyder, in all of its different spellings, is quite the common name.  At the school where I completed my student teaching and have subbed at a few times since has a librarian named Mr. Snyder.  I get asked by every class if I'm married to said Snyder.  Ironically, this Snyder is also named Richard, like my actual husband, and spells Snyder with a "Y" like I do.  I have since learned to just add the "no relation to Mr. Snyder the librarian" to my opening speech at this school.  I was asked by my fifth grade class yesterday if I was their Mr. Snider's (a sixth grade teacher) daughter.  I've also had a few students named Snyder that get quite excited to share a name with their teacher.

I think the name thing that has surprised me the most is that many elementary students seem to like to rhyme my name with spider.  I don't know if I look particularly archanidish, but I announce my name and first graders giggle with glee "Mrs. Spider?"  I know they are hearing me correctly, but somehow they cannot just accept a name for what it is.  Maybe it's because they are young, but I still find it amusing.

Management

I'm finally getting to the point in my subbing where I can tell the difference between a good teacher and a bad teacher just by observing how their classroom interacts and works without the teacher.  Sometimes I can even tell from the lesson plans.  Sometimes.  Bad teachers often leave brief lesson plans that have little directions for the sub as well as for the students.  Combine little direction with a poorly managed class and you get absolute chaos. 

Other times, everything works perfectly because the teacher has trained the class to continue work as normal even in their absence.  Today, I'm pretty sure I subbed for a master of management.  Master teacher's can write lesson plans that may be brief, still provide all the necessary information to finish every task for the day.  These teachers have also spent the entire year training the students on classroom procedures.   This class is so well trained that I had very few notes about what the students should be doing as far as jobs and procedures, and I didn't even have to ask the students to explain the procedure; they just did it. It is a very relaxing day.  Even when the students get a bit chatty, they are redirected quickly and regain their good work habbits.  During math, I felt free to help the few students that really needed help with the new math concept.  Students even knew to keep working when they had a question on a math problem until I could come by and help them with their problem.  All I can say is I am impressed.

I do understand that just because I had a bad experience doesn't make the class or teacher bad.  I know that there are some classes that drive even the best of teachers crazy.  Students also have good days and bad days, and the bad days tend to fall when a sub is in town.  Teachers have bad day too where they really don't have time to make up a stellar lesson plan.  All I'm saying is the great teachers prove their greatness with how their class behaves when they are gone.  Bad classes don't necessarily prove a bad teacher, but it is certainly not a good sign.

Minor rant on Names

Names have gotten downright weird.  I know that this is in some ways an "old" problem.  But, I still feel the need to comment on the ever widening problem of name pronunciation.  Maybe it's becuase the melting pot is still getting a good stir, or the need for parents to name their child something incredibly unique.  Either way, I've come across some very strange names over the last few months.  Most of them I immediately forget.  That's just what Ihave to do as a sub.  There isn't room in my brain to remember every child I've met for seven hours.  There are just too many kids in the district.  I've had a few strange names stick in my head though.  Take Jacobe.  I originally thought it was just an interesting spelling (also a viral plague on the attendance sheets) of Jacob.  Instead this child's name is pronounced Ja-Kobe (like the basketball player).  Today, I have a child named A.  Not short for anything, not pronounced weird.  Just A.  Said like the letter in the alphabet.  One nice thing about names in elementary schools is the students always have name tags on their desks AND they stay in the same classroom all day.  In high school however, the students always change, and  usually I have to take attendance for every class period forcing me to butcher through a miriad of ethnic names and creative spellings.

My second comment about names actually has to do with last names.  I just find it odd that with all the Smiths, Johnsons, Browns, and Whites out there I always get stuck with the unpronouncable last names.  They're lovely and fine names for sure, I just don't want to tell first graders that I'm here for *insert today's teacher's name* and then have them all laugh/correct me profusely on the mispronunciation.  I've subbed for many a hyphenated last name, a name too long to pronounce (or remember for that matter) and the all-time favorite simply short name that could easily be pronounced one of three ways.  I usually just tell the students I'm here for their teacher and move on.

Rant over