A Day of Silence

I'm sitting here hacking up my left lung. I am sure it's my left because I can't breath out of my left nostril. Ok TMI - already.

Today was an interesting day of teaching, as I had to do so with no voice. This morning they were sympathetic, patient, and a little disbelieving that I really couldn't talk louder than a barely audible 12 inch whisper. But as I struggled to explain they did their best to jump in and help.
- They made random announcements, "SHE says we only have 3 minutes and it's too loud! Right? (he turns back to me) that's what you wanted me to say?"
- They read my lips as I handed out books - a choral of voices trying to distinguish between "Hannah" and "Madi", apparently those look the same when silently mouthed.
- They read my hand signals
- Took over the class novel
- And sent the kids out to recess when their work was done....

By the end of first recess their sympathy was generally gone, and Art became a bit of a fiasco attempting to teach using only pictures (thank heavens I had my slide show ready to go). And I
am not sure any of them know how to properly say "Achromatic" but oh well, who could correct them....


Things seemed to get worse after lunch and the throbbing in my sinuses wiped out my brain function. After 5 minutes of whispered explanation (we really looked silly gathered in this incredibly tight group trying to explain my notes on the board - not really good for the germ thing) I went to typing the rest of the days instructions. They read aloud as I wrote, they got really close to me to listen to my one word answers, and took the liberty of shouting out, " It's just too loud!" without me having to say a word.

But I survived, I even survived a whispered rehearsal this morning where everyone got so used to hearing me whisper, they started whispering their lines - I had to remind them they could actually talk.

Now, if only it was Friday and I didn't have to attempt to do this for two more days... I could call in sick, like most people do if they're sick. But I'd have to start making lesson plans now, and drive to school tomorrow to get out the papers and make copies, and make 10 phone calls to find a sane sub, and scratch the day for any possible learning, so I guess I'll just go to work.