How Do You Sit Still During Long Meetings?

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 2:16 pm

Yes, I went back to teacher meetings today, summer is over. I took my own paper to correct and crocheting to do, only way to keep awake and out of mischief.

What do you do during long meetings? Can you concentrate the whole time?

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 2:23 pm

I have sat on Council meetings and currently attend meetings every week or so for the Political party of my choosing.

I did go on a training course very recently and I was so bored.... They thought I was taking notes but I was making shopping lists and doodling.

The meetings I attend where we have a guest speaker depends. Some rivet me and I will not even think about a cigg once but some, I have to go to the bathroom rather a lot.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 2:23 pm

I have to stand up and walk around or I will go nuts..!!

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 3:04 pm

Depends upon the size of the meeting. If it is conducted in a small room, I daydream. If it conducted in a large room, I daydream.

:D

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 3:06 pm

chonsigirl;1329047 wrote: Yes, I went back to teacher meetings today, summer is over. I took my own paper to correct and crocheting to do, only way to keep awake and out of mischief.

What do you do during long meetings? Can you concentrate the whole time?

Two possibilities, either I'm involved in which case I'll be talking or it's someone else's system and I'll be asleep - especially if the office is too hot.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 3:30 pm

So true Bryn I have the attention span of a NAT if the room is HOT I will think of a million reason to get up and leave.

Two possibilities, either I'm involved in which case I'll be talking or it's someone else's system and I'll be asleep - especially if the office is too hot.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 3:37 pm

chonsigirl;1329047 wrote: Yes, I went back to teacher meetings today, summer is over. I took my own paper to correct and crocheting to do, only way to keep awake and out of mischief.

What do you do during long meetings? Can you concentrate the whole time?

I wondered how you made out today, sounds much like most meetings, great idea bringing your crocheting along.

I've attended many, some I was interested in, some I just had to get up, get a drink and move around.

If its hot, which most are due to a lot attending, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!:-5

just can't handle the heat.....so I leave the room for a few minutes just to try and re-fresh.

Saint_ · Post by **Saint_** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 4:03 pm

Boy are you right, Chonsi. there's nothing more boring or long-winded than a bunch of teachers. LOL!

As for myself, I take notes, of course and occasionally they'll say or show something I haven't seen before or think I can use. But mostly it's all stuff I've known for a long time because education goes in cycles. Wait long enough and you'll see everything old new again under a different name. (Remember the old "SRA - Reading" program with the colors circa 1960s? Well it's back and now it's called SSR.)

I also like to work on new story plots, draw up lists of things to do (which never ends if you are a teacher) and generally....doodle.:wah:

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Mon Aug 23, 2010 4:30 pm

Oh, I'm like you Saint. Sometimes I write poetry and haiku. The art teacher next to me doodled quite a good beach scene, with whales and dolphins on the horizon.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:40 am

I snore quite loudly apparently.:-3

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 1:11 am

Depends on the topic of the meeting and how interesting the meeting leader is.

If it is an active meeting I am awake and involved, if it is boring I am the first to start fighting to keep my eyes open.

I tend to start getting frustrated when people or topics start repeating themselves, it is amazing how many people have trouble bringing a conversation to a conclusion, then I sometimes would step in and ‘summarize’ the agreement and request that we move on.

Oh ya, and lots of this: :yh_coffee

binbag · Post by **binbag** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 9:52 am

Long meetings to me are silly and a waste of time.

Without taking copious notes the brain can only absorb and keep fresh in memory an absolute maximum of one hours talk/speech/lecture. Even then, I've discovered, people, including myself, can only summarise in short, all aspects of the meeting the following day.

I feel it's impossible, when attending a meeting, to concentrate for more than an hour, unless, that is, the meeting is regarding a subject we are keenly interest in. I would say even then, all aspects of a particular meeting can only be reported as 50/75% accurate. So the notes in our notebooks had better be pretty descriptive.

My wife and I attended a meeting where the speaker continued non-stop for 5 hours. Totally ridiculous. I felt that particular speaker was a very vain man proud of his capability of his offerings of a 5 hour talk.

It was all for nowt, the audience handled it by going to the loo; going outside for a breathe of air; going for a soft drink; falling asleep; surreptitiously reading; rustling sweet wrappers so they could chomp away; some had their legs crossed- one swinging back and forth; many looked at the ceiling day dreaming; others simply went for a walk

By the time it was all over our brains were so numb we'd forgotten 95% of the speech.

All meetings should have the Red Light flashing at precisely 45 mins. :yh_sleep

Sorry for going on a bit, but it's a pet hate of mine.

At least it didn't take you an hour to read it. :wah:

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 1:21 pm

Oh, I am laughing at some of the replies. I am totting more stuff tomorrow for a full day of meetings-while my classroom sits empty and I'm not there to fix it up!

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:47 pm

chonsigirl;1329196 wrote: Oh, I am laughing at some of the replies. I am totting more stuff tomorrow for a full day of meetings-while my classroom sits empty and I'm not there to fix it up!

another day of meetings tomorrow?

Oh you poor thing, good thing you have your crocheting!

Will you have a chance after that to get your room fixed up Chonsi?

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 3:16 pm

I'll have some time on Thursday and Friday, in the afternoons.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:34 pm

chonsigirl;1329203 wrote: I'll have some time on Thursday and Friday, in the afternoons.

Good, as you need some time.

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 4:39 pm

I had a meeting a few weeks ago with a guy called Arthur Kemp If any-one wishes to google him.

I was actually so riveted to him, I not only wanted him to carry on talking for hours more but remembered every word he said long after-wards so I do believe there Is a lot to be said about who conducts the meeting or the speaker and weather they can 'hold you'.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:50 am

chonsigirl;1329203 wrote: I'll have some time on Thursday and Friday, in the afternoons.

Did you get your classroom all prepared?

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:55 am

I did pretty good, still some posters to go up next week. But the room is clean and spotless, everything ready for the first couple of days. I'll just have to learn to wake up from sitting still so long all week-I got 2 hours until belt testing and just finished my shopping and errands. I'm pooped already.

southern yankee · Post by **southern yankee** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 7:22 am

Always sit with a good friend. or at least someone i get along with. do alot of whispering. the most important thing. don't look at a CLOCK!!

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:52 am

chonsigirl;1329839 wrote: I did pretty good, still some posters to go up next week. But the room is clean and spotless, everything ready for the first couple of days. I'll just have to learn to wake up from sitting still so long all week-I got 2 hours until belt testing and just finished my shopping and errands. I'm pooped already.

oh wonderful Chonsi, wow, now you have so much to do.

try and get some rest.