Thursday, December 9
Gary Cruz walks in to his 8 a.m. class to find only two boys and two girls in the room.
“Where is everybody? Strange,” he says.
It’s drizzling outside.
“Hopefully people are stuck in the rain and will be here shortly.”
Their first exercise is to answer a “Do Now” question in their journals.
The students have conducted five teacher observations. Without looking at all of their observation notes, Cruz asks them to write down what they expect to see, such as teaching patterns and strengths.
A tall girl swings open the yellow door, balancing a cup between her chin and the checkered cardboard box she’s holding with both hands.
“Why’s everyone so sad?” she asks before sitting down to eat her breakfast sandwich.
“Not sad, just doing a Do Now,” responds Cruz.
Next week the students have finals, and Cruz goes through the schedule for his class.
Friday they will be setting goals for next semester.
“I’m not going to be here Friday,” says the girl who walked in late.
The reason: In several of her classes, the teacher will be playing a movie; in another, the teacher will be absent.
“I understand teachers want to finish grades, but they should encourage kids to come. And don’t we lose money when students don’t come?”
Some teachers are telling students to skip school, says a girl dressed in black. “They’re not allowed to say that, so they’re like, ‘Oh, I didn’t say that.’”
“Sorry, you’ll be losing $38,” says the girl who will be absent Friday.
Cruz moves forward with the class. Students break up into groups of two or three, and he gives them a questionnaire to fill out based on the teacher observation notes.
Students first read from the notes themselves.
“When students had their heads down, you asked them questions so they wouldn’t fall asleep.”
“Mixing up the way you teach keeps students from getting bored.”
Cruz goes around to each table, helping students individually with the questions.
He comes across a girl who’s distracted. “You’re such a good student, so thoughtful, but you always have to have your phone out.” Silently, she slips it into the pocket of her navy-blue sweater.
Students sit in a circle to discuss their answers.
What were they most surprised by?
So many teachers had a sense of humor. One in particular has calmed down greatly since last year.
“She said last year, when she got mad and screamed, it didn’t help. They would get louder,” says a girl. “When she calms down, the class calms down.”
What do they wish to see?
Teachers being more assertive, says a boy in a leather jacket.
“It doesn’t seem like teachers are being themselves. They’re trying to be cool.”
Still in the circle, Cruz has the students perform a class ritual.
“It’s our final check-in of the semester,” he says in a fake-crying voice.
“You have been so wonderful. You are one of the friendliest, kindest classes,” he continues.
He recalls that whenever he raises the topic of bullying, students vow to do something about it.
“We talked about an idea Wednesday — next semester, to mentor students who are bullied or by themselves.”
At check-in, students mention two things going well in their lives, one going bad.
“I’m finally done with [college] applications,” says a girl of Asian descent. “I got admitted to SF State,” she adds before the class applauds.
“I have a lot of bad things,” says a boy who doesn’t elaborate.
“I’m going to graduate next semester, and I’m 16! How about that?” says another girl.
A boy in a gray hoodie says he is going to Peru next week.
“Today is two years with my boyfriend,” says the girl who will be missing class next week.
“Congratulations!” the boy who is traveling to Peru says in a Spanish accent.
As the class comes to an end, some students tell Cruz that they will not be returning to his class next semester.
One boy says he always shows up late, so he might as well not take the class.
The girl who was playing with her phone says she doesn’t need the credits and that the class is too early for her.
“But when you’re here and engaged, your comments are so helpful,” pleads Cruz.
“I don’t like losing people in this class.”