Observations on subbing

Life can take us on strange rides. Our lives can change trajectories at any given moment. So because life has strange twists and turns I once again find myself working as a substitute teacher. It isn’t exactly where I picture myself at this juncture in my life, but its not a bad gig and most days I find something to smile about while I do it.

It’s interesting doing it a second time around, I am reminded of things that I had maybe forgot about from the first go round. So I figured I would compile some of my observations that I have made about it.

1.     You get asked “who are you today” on a daily basis and it doesn’t seem weird.

2.     Jr. High school kids are difficult people, they use to be adorable little kids, and eventually they will become young adults with reason… but right now they are not great and that’s just how it is.

3.     Those who teach Jr. High are amazing saint like people who deserve our respect.

4.     Kindergarteners are adorable… and exhausting.

5.     Some little students find my name difficult to say, and older ones just like to play with my name leading them to call me numerous things including but not limited to: Ms. W, Ms. Land, Ms. Warlord, Ms. Watermelon (really?!) and my personal favorite Ms. Wonderland.

6.     Subbing for a HS advanced placement class, where you are administering a quiz is a plum job, enjoy it and bring a book!

7.     Sometimes eating alone in the classroom is preferable to the awkwardness of eating in the staff longue with all the regular teachers.

8.     Kids act ridiculous when the have a sub… it’s gonna happen, just know that going into it.

9.     Disorganized, sparse, or no lesson plans (yes that happened to me once) is a substitute teachers nightmare, and no we will not come back to your class.

10. Convoluted, intricate hard to follow lesson plans also suck, not as bad as disorganized ones, but they too make our lives hard. I will do my best to keep them on tract, but remember I am only stepping in for the day; I am not going to be able to do it exactly the way you do it.

11. Teachers who leave clear organized lesson plans AND who leave extra work if the kids get done are my most favorite people on the planet.

12. You can sometimes tell what kind of day your going to have by the condition of the classroom you step into in the morning.

13. Anytime a student starts a sentence “But our teacher lets us…” you know it’s probably gonna be bull crap.

14. It’s true, kids actually really do say the darndest things.

15. Nothing will make you appreciate the work that K-12 teachers do like substitute teaching.