It has been 10 years since I have been in High School. I graduated in '99. Last Friday I made a trip back to high school, except in a different roll. I went as a teacher, well not really a teacher, but a substitute teacher. There is a big difference between a teacher and a substitute, for the most part students listen to a teacher not so much a substitute.
My work has decided to try to go to a four day week and working extra during the week and having Fridays off, so I decided not to waste my day off by doing nothing and make a little extra money at the same time. So I came up with subbing. I subbed at Lisa's school once as the Special Ed teacher, and I subbed for an English teacher last Friday at one of the high schools in the area.
I walked into the office Friday morning to talk to the Assistant Principle and to find out what class I would be subbing. She was talking to another teacher and told me that I would be in an English class. She said, "She has a pretty good class, Except for her last class!!!" The other teacher was like, "Oh yeah her seventh hour is bad!" Great you know that is exactly what you want to hear the first time you sub. The principle said, "but the good thing is that today is pep rally day, and the end of the day is short, so you won’t have them very long!"
It was pretty easy, the teacher had the class’s assignments on the board, and all I had to do was tell the class their assignment was on the board, check roll, and sit back and make sure they didn't get to loud. Well kids haven't changed much since I was in high school, and I remember that every time we had a sub we didn't do what we were supposed to do. So, I wasn't expecting them to do the work that was left for them.
The teacher left a seating chart for the class and asked to check roll by the seating chart. I thought this was funny, because when the kids came in they were like "oh a sub", and I could tell that they didn't know what to do about where to sit, because they would first go to sit in their assigned seat, then they would get up before the bell would ring and go sit by a friend. Well I noticed this, so when the bell would ring I would say, "Your assignment is on the board, and I will be checking roll by your assigned seats, so if you are not in your right seat you will be marked absent." It was fun watching them all get up and return to their right seats.
I had two English III classes, which the teacher left them to read a book and take notes. Yeah, like that was going to happen! You expect a whole class to sit there and read a book. Of course, they just sat there and talked the whole class hour. I didn't mind they were pretty good, I also let these classes get up and change seats. I mean really they were going to talk anyway to their friends, either by screaming across the room, or just sitting next to them quietly talking. I also had a Creative Writing class, their assignment was to working on some forum writing. Not going to happen. This was a very small class of like 10, and she said there wasn't a seating chart for them, so they could sit where ever they wanted. This class was pretty good they just talked the whole time.
I also had three, I say THREE ENGLISH I CLASSES!!!!!! FRESHMAN!! I don't like Freshman. There is something about that age group I just don't like. Kids are just stupid at that age, and of course her last class was an English I class. Now she left them more work to do which was great they had to read out of their book and take notes in outline form at least three pages to turn in at the end of class. Well the first English I class did the assignment and was very quiet and worked. The second English I class worked, but they talked to much, and some of the kids just didn't do it. Well the last class, "The Bad Class" I think one person did the assignment. They had some really aggravating kids in this class. One especially, she was irritating. She wouldn't shut up and she was loud. When the bell rang for that class I was thinking, “thank goodness that girl was getting on my nerves.”
The day was over, and the Assistant Principle said they always need subs on Fridays, and that she would call me again. The only thing is that this Friday I can't sub because Liam's baby sitter has a doctor’s appointment and she will not be keeping, so I have to stay home with him and then the next Friday I will be on an airplane flying to Disney World so I can't sub that day. I hope she calls me again even if I have to turn her down two Fridays in a row
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4 comments:
YOU'RE A SUB?!!!? That's so great, Keith!! I was expecting you to say that you walked into the principal's office & they asked if you were a new student! Hahaha! Did any of the kids ask how old you were?!
Actually a couple of Teachers asked why I wasn't in uniform, and a few teachers asked how old I was. A couple of students asked if I just graduated, and what school I came from. I told the teachers how old I was, but I told the students that I have been out of college for a long time, I wouldn't tell them my age.
I feel sorry for most subs. (Not my mom - all the students know her and respect her.)
I subbed for a kindergarten class half a day once. Hated it! They had scheduled bathroom times, but they kept coming up to me saying they needed to go. I let them because I didn't want to deal with any wet pants! The other teachers told me later that they ran all over me. Kindergartners!
I taught middle school for six years and never felt sorrier for a sub than for the one who took my place during my maternity leave. Somehow I got word from another teacher that my kids were treating her badly and she was in tears at times. She wouldn't ever tell me that herself.
Anyway, I talked with the principal (who was just filling in while a new one was being chosen) and planned to make a surprise visit. When I got there, he drove me around to my classroom in his car and let me out in the back so no one would see me and warn my students.
I hid in the empty storage/yearbook classroom right next to mine and listened. About five minutes before the class ended, the sub walked out and I walked in. You should've seen their faces. I wished I had a camera for that moment! Their eyes were as big as ever and mouths dropped open. Apologies started immediately. One boy said, "Mrs. Todd! You shouldn't do that! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
The next class acted better. I don't know if they got wind of me being there or not, even though I told the earlier class not to tell. They weren't quite as surprised when I walked through the door.
Anyway, they all minded their manners better until I came back to finish out the year. :o)
I always try to do my best for the teacher, because I don't want to be like some of those other subs who don't do anything, or don't do what the teacher asks. One of Lisa's sub stories: Lisa had a movie still rapped not open in her closet in the hallway that she was saving for the classes Christmas party, and she was out for one day four weeks before the Christmas party. She left work for the kids to do all day, and she teaches at a Montessori school so all the kids have their own work. When she got back to school the next day not only did the kids no do ANY of their work, but the sub OPEN the movie, and had the kids watch it!!! She was sooooo mad. So the kids work plans were behind a whole day, and she didn't have a movie for the kids to watch at the Christmas party.
Well she fussed her kids pretty good for not doing their work, and then she told them that now they weren't going to watch a movie at the party, and that they would do work during the time they were going to watch a movie, because they knew that that movie was for the party, and they let the sub have them watch it.
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