A Thank You (email) Note

This is one of the reasons I like subbing. This past week I subbed for the same teacher for three days. I was only suppose to be there for one, but I convinced the district to let me stay until she returns because it was not fair to the students to have a different substitute teacher everyday. Plus, it got me out of subbing middle school math and science subbing gigs I had already accepted but not really wanting to do. An added bonus was that she had AP Government Seniors, which are always fun a week before they graduate from high school.


Anyway, this is the email note I got when I came home from subbing at a different school today. Let me just say, it made my already great day - better.
______________________________________________________________________________________________


Hi Christen,

Thank you SO much for your help this week in my AP Government classes.

I had a sub scheduled for all 7 days. We had met for lunch and gone
through all of the plans, etc. and then - she fell very ill.

I couldn't do much from Kentucky, but you were WONDERFUL! You saved the
day. I very much appreciate the detailed notes and organized paper work
you left more me.

Thank you again. I sincerely mean that you helped make the best of a
tough situation. Best to you,

Amber Graeber, M.Ed, NBCT
Social Studies Teacher
ASB Advisor
Bellevue High School, Bellevue, Washington


______________________________________________________________________________________________

The more nicknames you have, the more "street cred" you have...

My nicknames that my students have given me in the last two years and yes, I do response when they call me these:

1). "Ms. G!" - You have to say it in a "Middle-School-White Boy" sort of way, that it is really wrong for a scrawny white kid trying to be all hip and gangster-like.

2). "C-Momma!" - This came from a class last year that I was with for a week and a half and let call me by my first name because they were Juniors in High School. It is endearing. When I sub there, you will hear this name be yelled down the hall, if students see me.

3). "G-Money!" - Freshman this year gave me this one. I think it sounds like a really bad stripper name. But you know Freshmen, once they set their mind to something, it sticks - no matter what.

4). "Velma" - Yes, the chick from Scooby Doo. I have an Aunt (for real) that looks like her, so I was not to surprised then a Middle School student call me this. It did not help that I was wearing a orange sweater that day, and my hair was going a little 1970s crazy...

Weird last name attempts that students have called me: Gandolf, Ghandi and Grendel...

One of the Many "Fan Mail" I get as a sub

This even includes which Anime I should watch...

The 8th Grade Boys Inappropriate Mad-Lib....(Rated R)

 Funny story. Originally I took the Mad Lib book away from a group of 8th grade boys because they were not working at all on the Closed Readings on "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I know, you are thinking, "closed readings" in Middle School, seriously. Anyway, I took and looked at the one they did, it was your typical bathroom boy humor, nothing to offending. I walk back to the teacher's disk and start flipping though the Mad-Lib book. As I am flipping, one of the boys realizes there is a really, really inappropriate Mad-Lib in it and dashes towards the desk and begs for the book back. I say no. They plead, and I ignore them. They go back to work and I start looking for the horrid Mad-Lib. While I am doing this, the rest of the class is looking at me, waiting to see my facial expression. To be honest, the Mad-Lib did not shock me. I tore it out and placed it in my pocket. I did not tell the teacher, because they was a by-product and did not happen in my class (as far as I know). I told the boys I would not rat them out, but it does make a good story for my friends.

I Took A Bible Away From a Student

I never thought I would be a substitute teacher that would take away a Bible from a student. I have taken many things from students: paper footballs, notes, paper fingers, cell phones, mp3 players, homework for other classes, other books, balls and even those finger skateboards. The fact that I took a Bible away sort of disturbs me. To be fair the student was blatantly disruptive, unfocused and not listening the book she was supposed to be reading/listening.

It was fine until we reached a section of the non-fiction novel Daniel’s Story about the Holocaust and Auschwitz (all the school district 6^th grade social studies are reading this), there was an analogy/history about the Jews being prisoners in Egypt and building the pyramids. I asked a question if they understood that paragraph because there was some confusing looks on some of the student’s faces. Then I mention the Bible, Old Testament and the annoying disruptive girl in the back row (obviously not her assign seat, but it was a battle, at that moment, I choose not to do because I do not know where they were suppose to sit) said she had a Bible with her and showed me loudly and proudly. Obviously she did not know much about the Bible (I am not even sure if it is hers) because then she asked me where it was located and but I realized she only had the New Testament. She did not understand the difference. I just let it go.

We continued reading.

When I read to and with a class, I roam. I am not that teacher that sits of front and stares at the class during reading. I find that students behave if they know I could be right behind them without them knowing (I call it my ninja move). The next thing I notice she has the Bible open to a random page is “hiding” the larger Bible in her reading book, not very smart. If you are going to read another book in during reading time, you need to have smaller book. Obviously sixth graders have not learned the art of cheating properly yet. I told her to put it away. The Para-Educator also told her to put it away (all the social studies and English classes in middle school are Honors, but this is the learning issues honor class, do not get me started on this).

I moved on. We continued reading.

By the time, I walk back to her (less than a minute) the Bible out. She was talking to her neighbors. This time I took the Bible, and the Para and I told her to find her original seat, along with her disruptive neighbor.

I am not sure why I feel guilty about taking the Bible away. I am not sure if it was really hers or someone's New Testament. I know that when I was in middle school I was that girl in class that talked all time about the Bible (yes, I was at a private Lutheran school, but it really was not that religious). This was also the time, I was getting ready for my Honor Stars testing in Missionettes (yes, I once was a “poster child” for the AG church). I would study for my honor start testing in class when I was bored. I would read the Bible for fun in class. I stood there for fifteen seconds debating what I should do, and I tool the Bible from her hands. Then again, she knew nothing about the Bible. She was being disruptive. She was not doing what she was supposed to be doing. She did not care about the reading of the Jews in the Holocaust, so why should she care about the Bible? I felt pity and anger at the same time. I wanted to be a good Christian witness (as good as I can be, because I really am not a fan of “organized religion” at this current juncture of my life), but at the same time I am a teacher that is not allowed share faith but only in a historical context. I hope that one day this girl can come to terms if she believes or not.

I guess I am just overall shocked about who they pre-teens and teenagers who are ten years younger than me seem to be more out of touch with the world, knowledge and other people’s perspectives. I am fully aware that is sixth grade and my own childhood experience are not like typical sixth graders (I was a mini-adult, who was well read by this time). Perhaps it as just my upbringing: going to public elementary school, being extremely involved in my home church until I realized they were all about answers but not questions (like the poster with the duck tape over the man’s mouth). I went to private middle school and then back to public high school with teachers that made sure we knew there were other viewpoints. I guess this next, younger generation is slacking. They are less parented then the children of the late seventies and eighties. They connect to electronics quicker than my age group was. They do not know respect because their parents are never home to teach them.

I guess my reaction from taking the Bible away from the student is just a summation of how I feel about the general population of students I have been subbing. I have been out of high school for eight years, and so much of the world has changed. I do not know if growing up in the Midwest is the reason (those traditional conservative family values), or just the way society has shifted in the last ten years. I had to give a lecture about when reading aloud as a class, we need to respect the student respect and I even said, “Respect your classmates more than how you have been treating me.” Students today do not get respect, rules or discipline. Today parents are letting the schools, Principals and Teachers train and discipline their kids when it should be the other way around. I do not have time every time I sub to list extremely basic rules. The golden rule been tossed out the window. I am not saying that my generation was perfect, but I feel there was more respect towards adults, when we were elementary and middle school.

I took away a Bible from a student today, and wondering the decline to civil decency of human beings in a world that strives to be on the top regardless of those they trample on in the process.

It is only Monday. Thank goodness, Spring Break for the school district is a week away.

Christen

Full Disclosure: I also realize that I am subbing in a wealthy school district. At times, I hope that is not the reason that students are behaving the way they are. 

2nd Year is Going...

I am fully aware that I have been lacking greatly in stories of my 2nd year of being a substitute teacher. The main reason is that nothing really shocks, surprises and has not already happened the year before. I was threatened last year. I was asked to prom last year. I sat through a lockdown last year. Experienced my first REAL fire evacuation last year. This year, feels like I am just going to through the motions. I know how everything/almost works or what to fake until you do know. Office managers know me and like me, a handful of teachers request me first when they need a substitute teacher for their classroom. My subbing life right now is good. I work about 4 to 5 days a week (this week it is 5, and I have 3 jobs lined up for next week as this current moment in time).


Subbing is a great job, but unreliable. My job doesn’t last through the summer. But, I do not have to take home papers to grade, give grades or deal with parents. I can smile and say I do not know, ask when your teacher comes back on really random questions about his/her classroom. I try to learn names but seeing 150 students for five out of seven periods is hard.

For some reason, I mostly sub special education: resource room. This is part of my own doing because I was willing to pick up these jobs when other substitutes would not, last year. I am willing to walk into the unknown and manage to survive EBDs, IEPs and LDs all at once. Granted, some of the time, nothing gets done and the teacher will know that, but the fact that the classroom does not become trench warfare while she/he is gone makes it a good day for both the teacher and I. I am not the type of substitute teacher that is going to “make” an behavioral issue driven student work on a worksheet he/she does not want to, I will encourage for a few minutes but then leave the student do one of three things: 1) other homework, 2) listening to their iPod and 3) take a nap (however I do not wake up the students if the bell rings and they are still sleeping). I choose my battles carefully. Most of the teachers in this category even write in their notes do not push the students, if they do not want to work, they won’t work. This is really true for High School Special Education Resource Rooms. Middle School SE: RR I get a little bit more help and they are more likely to attempt to look they are working and on task.

I just wish that I would get hired and I would be able to have my own classroom. There is something comforting in knowing that I will be with the same school, same room and same students for a quarter, semester or a year. I like routine, so subbing make me a little stress because is not the unknown, last minutes jobs that I dread. I want to get students excited about learning about History and Government. I just want to have a job that provides me with the right amount of income, health benefits and a community of support that I do not get when I am a substitute teacher.

However, the outlook is still bleak. There are talks about more layoffs of teachers in the districts that I am looking to apply or reapply for jobs. The job market for education is getting to the point that I am wondering if it is worth pursuing anymore. I am sure I can find somewhere else where teaching the things that I love and get paid. I just do not know. I am unsure about what I can do, because I have not had a chance to prove it.

At times I feel that getting a degree in Education actually hinders you. I felt that I learned nothing during my two years in the program, nothing that I can actually use. I have learned so much more in my year and a half of subbing. I know what works, and what does not. Knowing theory and actually experiencing a classroom on the verge of chaos is two very different things. Sometimes theories/procedures do not work. It also depends on the classroom. I walk into so many different classrooms, that I must be able to change my personality in matter of seconds when the bells rings depending on the class. I can read a temperament of a class within 10 seconds of the bell ringing. I know within 10 seconds if it is going to be a good period or a bad one.

Subbing is going well. Nothing majorly funny has happened. Nothing shocking has happened. This year is just a year of subbing. I get up in the morning, go to the particular school, survive and come home. Then Repeat.

“Ms.G” (that is what the Middle School Students call me, but pronunciation is more gangster-like)

Year Two Begins

Controlled chaos, the phrase I use to explain my subbing days during my first year. I definitely use this word without hesitation during my first four weeks of the 2009-2010 school year.

Friday to Friday, September 4 to September 11

I do not ask much from the teacher that I am guest teaching for, except for a good lesson plan or basic idea of what happens in the classroom and good classroom management already enforced. However, when I walk into rooms with no lesson plan and do not have any classroom management from their teacher, I learned quickly that it would be either a great day or a very bad day. I can tell what a classroom will be like within 10 seconds after the bell rings, if they are going to respect or at least listen to me, or they could care less.

Subbing for the first day was easy, shortened class periods due to an assembly and it was Friday. I had a somewhat useful lesson plan from the previous sub. This teacher has been out since Wednesday, and the students have seen more subs than their actual teacher, not a good sign. Friday was okay, one government and four world history classes. Nevertheless, Friday afternoon, a few hours after school was over, I get a call asking to come to the following Tuesday and Wednesday.

Make a very stressful week story short. I found out Tuesday I will going to be there the whole week. By Wednesday morning, I found out I would staying for the following two weeks and canceled my few already acquired subbing jobs. Someone from the District came in to help me plan lessons for the 2.5 weeks I was planning to be here Wednesday afternoon. I started filling out paperwork to get log in and an email address. I was really stress, I would come home stare at the lesson plans and just sleep. No matter how much information I read on Chinese Dynasties I could not comprehend what I should be teaching.

To be honest, I was not getting very good support from the school I was subbing at because of just the uncertainty of the situation. Granted the Principal and the school did not know what was going on and it changed day by day. I still needed textbooks from two of my world histories classrooms. By Thursday night, I get a call that I was no longer needed after the next day. The school decided to hire a different long-term sub who has worked in the social studies. I chatted with her and at least she is getting a classroom with better understanding than how I received it. I was disappointed because I was just starting to get my footing in this hole I was getting out of mess, and I wanted to prove myself. I was also grateful, because I was exhausted from the week.

All I want is to prove that I can teach. All I want to do is prove that I am a capable teacher.

Tuesday to Friday, September 15 to September 18

The school district I work for claimed that they did not lay anyone off but they did not renew many of the first year contracts. For some reason this district also had more students then they realized. Therefore, this week I subbed for classes that currently did not have teachers, because they just reshuffled students and classes and were in the process in looking for long-term or new teacher to cover the newly formed classes.

I covered Computer Skills and 6^th grade Science.

Computer Skills, it was easy. The students worked on typing skills the whole week.

6^th Grade Science was another story. One thing I forgot from student teaching 6^th graders in the Fall is that they still think like elementary school students, not middle school students. I dislike elementary school students. Another thing was this class was ahead of all the other 6^th students and they did not want to start science experiments with them, so it was really babysitting. We watched a Nova movie and discussed categories of life.

I survived but I never want to do four days in the science classroom.

Monday, September 21

Alternative High School, Spanish.

I like subbing at the alternative or the last chance middle and high school. They have smaller classes and half the time half the class decides not to show up. Once I had no showed up until ten minutes into class once. I also get more respect from the students.

I subbed for a teacher I have subbed before. Granted she had more Spanish classes than history this time around. However, she wanted me to sub because I subbed for her before. It was easy. Granted not much Spanish actually happened. But you can only do so much Spanish in 90 minutes before the brain shuts down on the subject. I left a note telling her what happened. She will understand that half the classes ended up being a study hall.

I also chatted with another teacher I usually sub for to let her know I was still a sub. She was happy and sad because she can use me as a sub, but sad because I should have my own classroom.

It was good day.

Tuesday, September 22

Middle School, Resource Room

Special Education Resource Room – is a catchall phrase. Usually it means teaching practical foundation classes on all subjects like math, English and social studies or study hall like support classes to help students catch up or understand. The students are all over the place in terms of issues, behavioral, emotional, physical, mental or just lazy (in some cases – yes).

It was one of those days when you are subbing and the only thing you can really do is sit there and watch the chaos play out. Let me just say, I never seen so many middle school kids in one class that actually verbally displayed dislike to their classmates. I am seeing detentions in their future, based on the note I left the teacher.