Teacher's workshops are quite amusing. They're not amusing because of the content, but because of the people.
Yesterday, I went to a workshop at William Paterson University. There was free coffee and danishes offered, so of course people were mingling by the food area for the most possible time. I can't fault them for this; I was standing around that area too. Free, watered-down coffee is something I can't avoid. The danishes were gross though---"institutional danishes" is what I would call them. Generally, if a food resembles something that was present in my college cafeteria, I do not dare try it.
When I arrived at WPU, rain was pounding. There was not flooding, sleet, hail, or anything else that could be classified as "dangerous." Nonetheless, the workshop presenter told the crowd of us that the workshop would be starting later because of the weather. I found this to be hilarious.
Teacher workshops are constantly filled with abundant noise...not sounds, but pure noise. The chatter tends to dwindle once the workshop begins, but there are still rude attendants who will try to whisper to their friends. Whispering is the most obvious action ever, that ss--s-ss--ss sound. During the workshop, there were many times when cell phones ringed, buzzed, chimed, and chooed. You'd think that once one person's phone went off that others would mute theirs. Nope.
Teachers tend to attend workshops in pairs, minimally. I attend workshops whether or not someone else is going; I am 33. I think I can attend an instructional course by myself and make it through all the ins and outs of socializing with strangers. "The Quad" apparently disagreed with that sentiment.
"The Quad" was clearly a group of younger teachers--- mid 20s. They reminded me of some pseudo Sex and the City group; each female seemed to have her own style and personality. In my mind, I could even imagine characters' names connected to each individual girl. I'd say "woman," but it just does not seem to be an apt word. One girl was conservatively dressed- a subtle floral shirt with a khaki skirt; she was definitely the Charlotte of the group. One girl had a Vera Bradley bag and that's all I recall---the Miranda of the group. One girl had a stylish peplum shirt on; she was the Carrie of the group. Then, came the Samantha of the group. She had on a gauzy cobalt blue shirt with black tank top underneath, turquoise skinny jeans, and gold-embellished sandals. It's great to be fashionable and all, but this is a teacher's workshop. I just don't get it.
Meshed in together, I could hear conversations pondering whether or not we would get a PD certificate, talk of effective lamination techniques, and ramblings about Cape Cod.
Basically, I heard this:
Yesterday, I went to a workshop at William Paterson University. There was free coffee and danishes offered, so of course people were mingling by the food area for the most possible time. I can't fault them for this; I was standing around that area too. Free, watered-down coffee is something I can't avoid. The danishes were gross though---"institutional danishes" is what I would call them. Generally, if a food resembles something that was present in my college cafeteria, I do not dare try it.
When I arrived at WPU, rain was pounding. There was not flooding, sleet, hail, or anything else that could be classified as "dangerous." Nonetheless, the workshop presenter told the crowd of us that the workshop would be starting later because of the weather. I found this to be hilarious.
Teacher workshops are constantly filled with abundant noise...not sounds, but pure noise. The chatter tends to dwindle once the workshop begins, but there are still rude attendants who will try to whisper to their friends. Whispering is the most obvious action ever, that ss--s-ss--ss sound. During the workshop, there were many times when cell phones ringed, buzzed, chimed, and chooed. You'd think that once one person's phone went off that others would mute theirs. Nope.
Teachers tend to attend workshops in pairs, minimally. I attend workshops whether or not someone else is going; I am 33. I think I can attend an instructional course by myself and make it through all the ins and outs of socializing with strangers. "The Quad" apparently disagreed with that sentiment.
"The Quad" was clearly a group of younger teachers--- mid 20s. They reminded me of some pseudo Sex and the City group; each female seemed to have her own style and personality. In my mind, I could even imagine characters' names connected to each individual girl. I'd say "woman," but it just does not seem to be an apt word. One girl was conservatively dressed- a subtle floral shirt with a khaki skirt; she was definitely the Charlotte of the group. One girl had a Vera Bradley bag and that's all I recall---the Miranda of the group. One girl had a stylish peplum shirt on; she was the Carrie of the group. Then, came the Samantha of the group. She had on a gauzy cobalt blue shirt with black tank top underneath, turquoise skinny jeans, and gold-embellished sandals. It's great to be fashionable and all, but this is a teacher's workshop. I just don't get it.
Meshed in together, I could hear conversations pondering whether or not we would get a PD certificate, talk of effective lamination techniques, and ramblings about Cape Cod.
Basically, I heard this:
