Into the swing of things

Busy, busy days. I'm slowly adjusting my expectations for my high schoolers. Um, let's just say they listen about as well as Nina and Maggie.

Like, I gave my Algebra II class a pre-test. "Calculators are on the desk here in the front," I said. One or two takers.

Then 5 minutes later, someone raised a polite hand and asked, "Um, are there any calculators we can use?"

"Yup," I said, all enthusiastic and patient. "There's a thing full of them right here on the front desk."

A few more minutes pass... a hand is raised. "Can I go to my locker to get a calculator?"

"Right here in the front!" I say, still smiling.

A few more minutes... I hear someone whispering to the girl next to him. "Where did you get that calculator?"

"Box of them! Right here in front!" Wow. My kids listen better than this.

Five more minutes go by. A hand goes up. "Yes?"

"Are there any calculators?"

"FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY!!!" I yell. "CALCULATORS ARE IN THE BOX IN THE FRONT!"

I didn't really say that. But omg.

You know what though, I shouldn't mock the children. The announcements came on to tell everyone where each class was having their class meeting, and I totally ignored it. Then kids asked me where they were supposed to go, and I had to admit that I had no idea. I can't even force myself to pay attention to them.