Friday, February 03, 2006
Heh, he, he...he, he *twitch*, The Week in Review
Overall, this week hasn't really been too bad, but it has been a little strange (surreal is more apropos a term), and a bit difficult in spots. Being a new substitute teacher has its ups and downs, as I am finding out, but one of the things I am finding about myself is that the actual classrooms themselves are not my greatest fear. (I really enjoy the classroom). It's the administration and the threat of not being called back if I make a wrong move that has me biting my nails.
Only half of the teachers this week provided me with decent notes on the proposed lesson plans, the other half being vague and incomplete. Unfortunately, I think that most teachers assume that a seasoned sub will be coming to their classroom, unaware that a new sub will not know all the details of a particular class or school yet. The strangest part about this issue is that the ones that didn't leave me decent directions were the ones that spoke to me about their classes face to face. (Twilight Zone theme music inserted here).
My most difficult day was yesterday, when I subbed for an "alternative" school. I guess it would have helped me to know that "alternative" is another name for "disciplinarian". These kids were what I like to refer to as "the lost children"; they were the street kids, gang affiliated kids, kids whose homelives "suck", and kids who need a lot of love and praise. I only had one major altercation with one poor kid who threatened my life, however, I mistakenly lost my temper back at him, told him to "sit his a** down" (!) and was reprimanded. I don't think the principle cared whether or not the kid was going to "bag my a**". Whatever...as they say. At any rate, we all got along well, except that as is the norm with a sub, they didn't really want to do their work. I had one kid that I will call "the Godfather" that was under the mistaken impression that he was the "leader"...hmmmm...I put him down a peg after explaining to him that when he asks to go to the office directly after another person asks to go to the office, I am seeing a "domino effect" to which he replied rather angrily, "are you calling me a follower?" So, I explained in the only way possible: "Yeah!" Later in the day, after he refused to do anything else that I asked, I let him "read" quietly at the back of the room. He was hiding behind a book doing who knows what, so I decided that a slow, indiscreet wander-over wouldn't hurt. What I saw changed my view of street kids forever! He was drawing freehand a picture that he had before him in a children's book, and it was perfect. I told him that it was fabulous, to which he objected and said that he's not good at drawing. I made him look at me and told him, "My mother was an artist, and I know a good artist when I see one!" He sucked it in like rain in a dry desert. These kids really are somebody. They just make bad choices.
Okay, well, this has gone on longer than I expected. I must leave to go to Annas in about ten minutes. Have a great weekend!
Only half of the teachers this week provided me with decent notes on the proposed lesson plans, the other half being vague and incomplete. Unfortunately, I think that most teachers assume that a seasoned sub will be coming to their classroom, unaware that a new sub will not know all the details of a particular class or school yet. The strangest part about this issue is that the ones that didn't leave me decent directions were the ones that spoke to me about their classes face to face. (Twilight Zone theme music inserted here).
My most difficult day was yesterday, when I subbed for an "alternative" school. I guess it would have helped me to know that "alternative" is another name for "disciplinarian". These kids were what I like to refer to as "the lost children"; they were the street kids, gang affiliated kids, kids whose homelives "suck", and kids who need a lot of love and praise. I only had one major altercation with one poor kid who threatened my life, however, I mistakenly lost my temper back at him, told him to "sit his a** down" (!) and was reprimanded. I don't think the principle cared whether or not the kid was going to "bag my a**". Whatever...as they say. At any rate, we all got along well, except that as is the norm with a sub, they didn't really want to do their work. I had one kid that I will call "the Godfather" that was under the mistaken impression that he was the "leader"...hmmmm...I put him down a peg after explaining to him that when he asks to go to the office directly after another person asks to go to the office, I am seeing a "domino effect" to which he replied rather angrily, "are you calling me a follower?" So, I explained in the only way possible: "Yeah!" Later in the day, after he refused to do anything else that I asked, I let him "read" quietly at the back of the room. He was hiding behind a book doing who knows what, so I decided that a slow, indiscreet wander-over wouldn't hurt. What I saw changed my view of street kids forever! He was drawing freehand a picture that he had before him in a children's book, and it was perfect. I told him that it was fabulous, to which he objected and said that he's not good at drawing. I made him look at me and told him, "My mother was an artist, and I know a good artist when I see one!" He sucked it in like rain in a dry desert. These kids really are somebody. They just make bad choices.
Okay, well, this has gone on longer than I expected. I must leave to go to Annas in about ten minutes. Have a great weekend!
