Despite being on a substitute list that is 500+ strong, I have still managed to get several jobs this semester. Maybe the testing season was particularly frustrating this year, resulting in more teachers desperately needing to use up their personal days this spring. whatever the reasons, I and my checking account are glad to be the beneficiary of their flights from the classroom.
As a sub, your day is always interesting. You have several variables to deal with the moment you walk into a school building:
1. You usually don't know the school building.
2. You usually don't know the kids.
3. The teacher's plans may - or may not - actually fill each hour.
4. Kids like to test you to understand your boundaries as the sub.
I learned this the hard way yesterday.
Up until recently, I've been a classic lenient sub. I mostly use verbal corrections to get kids back on track. But if any of them ignore my correction, or give me the look that says, "Make me, why dontcha," I've been slow to act and hesitant. Letting things slide when they could use some interference.
Yesterday a kid used language inappropriate for school - after a warning. I wasn't especially offended, but the principle I have for language is: 1 warning, then the office. So I sent a kid to the office - and I walked him down there, feeling HORRIBLE the whole time.
Discipline sucks. Especially when you realize that the kid you're sending to the office is not a troublemaker. I don't get how teachers, let alone parents, do discipline consistently, but a good friend gave me some quality books on classroom management so I hope to learn about it from them.
Friday, May 7, 2010
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