It's the final count down

As the end of the school year approaches, it is a bittersweet feeling. It is good to know that summer is within reach, but sad at that I will not get to see some of these awesome students for a while, if ever again. I have definitely enjoyed my last few weeks of subbing and look forward to: 1) hopefully getting a job 2) if not, continuing to sub. It feels a little surreal that I will be closing out the year for these students, instead of their regular teacher. It has definitely been a learning experience for myself and hopefully for the students as well. 

Farewell to the students and fellow faculty until fall. 

Why make me HAVE to deal with you?

I have been long-term subbing now for about a week and a half and I will be at this school until the end of the year. I think this school is great. The students are awesome, the faculty is wonderful and I don't know what I would do without my colleagues.

Some students like to push the boundaries, see just how much they can get away with...especially with a young sub. I like students, I really do, but why make me deal with something when the student knows, I know and the whole class knows that it is not an appropriate decision that this particular student is making...especially when they are in high school. We all are just trying to make it through another day. I know the student doesn't want to get in trouble and I certainly don't want to have to take the necessary steps when I know this behavior is controllable by the student. Why make me HAVE to deal with you?

Because of these childish behaviors, I feel reluctant to let some students graduate. I feel if they need to be behaving in such child-like ways they are obviously not ready for the real world. I only hope that whatever I can leave them with in the next few weeks will some how, some way, sink in and help some of these students.

Sandbags Equal Easy Days

Due to the rising river here in North Country, the city calls upon our middle school and high school students from all over the district to make sandbags to meet their quota (talk about child labor). Anyways, not all students are eligible to go due to grades, parental restrictions, etc. When I happen upon these days as a sub, it is probably one of the most easy days to be at that particular school (besides having a student teacher).
Today was one of those days. Classes combined to basically have a free day. Are teachers happy about this? No, because it disrupts their curriculum, especially so close to the end of the school year.
I personally feel that the city is telling students, "Education is not as important than creating these sandbags that we probably are going to put into storage until next year when we are threatened with the flood." Some may argue that without the help of these students, our city could be in potential danger of flooding. I would retort, "Maybe our city needs a better flood protection plan. We have had flooding for the past four years. Why do you think this year will be any different?"

And So The Saga Continues

It's always a good feeling when teachers recognize how well you do in their classroom. I definitely take it as a comment when they continue to ask me to sub for them.

I have recently received two offers for long term subbing assignments. As grateful as I am for these teachers to leave their classroom in my hands for a month or so at a time, it is still nothing like having my own classroom.

As the job hunt continues, so does the subbing. Now if only the district could notice how great of a job I am doing.....

Random Thoughts

As I sub at different grade levels and at multiple different schools, I often hear students say things that make me giggle or just wonder. I wish during my student teaching experience I would have started a blog or kept a journal of such experiences.

For instance, one day while at a middle school, I over heard this from a 6th grader talking to an observing college student, "Thaddeus? Are you like Spanish or something?"

Where they come up with some of the things they say, I have no idea.