Science. Roughly 3 weeks ago. We were working on creating conductor detectors, or "R2D2s".
My directions? "Try to create a system that can detect an object that will complete a circuit. Do not leave your seats. We will not be testing any objects yet."
I turn around to talk to a group of little scientists. As I'm turning I see motion out of the corner of my eye, but I dismiss it, assuming a student is throwing garbage away, etc.
Buzzzzzap. POP! Lights go out.
I turn around to see one of my students, a half completed R2D2 dangling from his neck, one wire in each of his hands and a look of complete horror on his face, frozen mid-hunch both arms extended toward the light switch.
I advance on the Guilty Scientist and in the calmest voice I can muster, command him to sit down exactly where he stands, which happens to be right by our classroom door. I take away the R2D2, note that the wires he was holding are burnt down to the insulation, and condemn the other two students in his science group to the same fate. I call the office to have the students picked up and forget to mention who I am or what classroom I'm in. Just that "A student has blown out the lights by sticking two wires into the light switch."
The rest of my class is being generally loud and unnecessarily obnoxious about the lack of light. Trying my hardest not to cry in frustration, I open both curtains, grateful to have my back turned to my students so I can collect myself.
All this happens in about 45 seconds. The room really is quite dark. I turn on my Read Aloud lamp and get the other 25 students back on track.
The 3 boys, including most-definitely-Guilty-Scientist are lead out of the room.
15 minutes later my students depart for lunch.
I'm left in my room, frantically collecting lamps from other teachers.
The notion that I'm a stupid new teacher and that all the other teachers will look down upon me keeps running through my head. The lights being blown out, its all my fault. I made a stupid mistake and ruined school property. How long will it take to get the lights back on? How will my kids see without lights? Can I even continue teaching? What will I do if I can't?
I sink into an inky black mood and fear that it won't go away by the time my students come back from lunch/recess. Read Aloud is next and it's my favorite. How can I read expressively if I'm so utterly pissed and downtrodden?
The lights get turned back on 3 minutes before recess is over. Apparently, "They make the breaker automatically switch off so it won't kill students such as Guilty Scientist".
My students return. I manage to pull myself out of the gutter and continue on with my day.
The moral of this story? Don't trust students with wires without very explicit instructions. And don't let one little mistake ruin your day. There are 24 kids depending on me. And that's what I told myself to end my little pity party.
My directions? "Try to create a system that can detect an object that will complete a circuit. Do not leave your seats. We will not be testing any objects yet."
I turn around to talk to a group of little scientists. As I'm turning I see motion out of the corner of my eye, but I dismiss it, assuming a student is throwing garbage away, etc.
Buzzzzzap. POP! Lights go out.
I turn around to see one of my students, a half completed R2D2 dangling from his neck, one wire in each of his hands and a look of complete horror on his face, frozen mid-hunch both arms extended toward the light switch.
I advance on the Guilty Scientist and in the calmest voice I can muster, command him to sit down exactly where he stands, which happens to be right by our classroom door. I take away the R2D2, note that the wires he was holding are burnt down to the insulation, and condemn the other two students in his science group to the same fate. I call the office to have the students picked up and forget to mention who I am or what classroom I'm in. Just that "A student has blown out the lights by sticking two wires into the light switch."
The rest of my class is being generally loud and unnecessarily obnoxious about the lack of light. Trying my hardest not to cry in frustration, I open both curtains, grateful to have my back turned to my students so I can collect myself.
All this happens in about 45 seconds. The room really is quite dark. I turn on my Read Aloud lamp and get the other 25 students back on track.
The 3 boys, including most-definitely-Guilty-Scientist are lead out of the room.
15 minutes later my students depart for lunch.
I'm left in my room, frantically collecting lamps from other teachers.
The notion that I'm a stupid new teacher and that all the other teachers will look down upon me keeps running through my head. The lights being blown out, its all my fault. I made a stupid mistake and ruined school property. How long will it take to get the lights back on? How will my kids see without lights? Can I even continue teaching? What will I do if I can't?
I sink into an inky black mood and fear that it won't go away by the time my students come back from lunch/recess. Read Aloud is next and it's my favorite. How can I read expressively if I'm so utterly pissed and downtrodden?
The lights get turned back on 3 minutes before recess is over. Apparently, "They make the breaker automatically switch off so it won't kill students such as Guilty Scientist".
My students return. I manage to pull myself out of the gutter and continue on with my day.
The moral of this story? Don't trust students with wires without very explicit instructions. And don't let one little mistake ruin your day. There are 24 kids depending on me. And that's what I told myself to end my little pity party.
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