Oh the places I will go

Today I did not get called in. So I have had a very productive day off. I have applied to be a volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club, sent an e-mail in an attempt to finalize my summer plans, visited the doctor and went SHOPPING! Despite my awful veins I bought a CUTE skirt! (I totally negotiated with myself while trying it on. "I can just wear pantie hose." "If I lose more weight, maybe my veins will get better. They have already started receding.") The internal voice won. I also bought a new pair of khaki's and a jacket that normally I would point out to my friends Tracy or Biz. (They pull these kinds of jackets off soo well. Maybe it is because they have cute taste and amazing outfits.) But again the voice in my head talked me into it. "Come on. You can pull this off. It will look so great with your new pants. This out fit screams trendy teacher!" So the voice won, again. Finally I purchased a shiny dangly necklace and a fun beaded necklace. Oh and did I mention I got all of this for $58! That's right, super savy!

I have defiantly needed some new clothing. It is very awkward to get called in and not to know if you have pants to wear! Also getting called into district 1 has been very interesting. First day, I was called in at 9:00am to work in the Therapeutic Learning Center (TLC). This is a classroom for students who have a hard time with emotions or focusing on their work because of medical issues. My heart really goes out to these kids. They have so much that they have to deal with but they are such fantastic kids. The staff does a great job helping these students work through what they are dealing with. These kids were so fun to work with. The teachers let me do a read aloud with the students and I could have just taken them home with me. They hung on my every word, made predictions, and discussed the book so well! I LOOOOVED these kids. Working in this classroom was such a great experience.

Another fun experience came the next day when I was called in 10 minutes before the school bell rang. I showed up ready to teach a third grade class only a few minutes after the bell rang. Found out that the sub plans where thrown together in the last minute by the teacher's colleges but only up to lunch. Those poor colleges were soo worried for me. They informed me that the class was not always the best behaved and that their teacher got sick on her drive to work (hence the lack of plans).

When I sent my students off to their specialists, I sat down with the other teachers. They told me what they thought I should for the afternoon. So I wrote down my sub plans. That afternoon I pretty much threw those plans out. Found out one of my kids didn't have a copy of the packet we had planned to work on, so I read them some Shel Silverstein and we spent writing time making poems. The kids were so into the poems that several of them spent their indoor recess writing more. (That's right we also had indoor recess that day. Murphy's law was in full affect that day.) Then, as I was settling the kids down and digging into a math lesson one of the teachers popped her head into the room. Turns out we had an assembly. (Have I mentioned that I hate assemblies?) These kids however were wonderful. I had no problems with them. So as a reward we spent the last part of the day playing the "get to know you" game. They loved it.

The kids were great and the staff said that I was very impressive. They told me they loved how calm I was and how impressive I was when things fell through. They also told me that they hope to see me again. (I love leaving schools with this impression!)

Just when I thought I was done...

Just when I thought I was done with subbing, I got a phone call. It was the person in charge of the sub office for the town I live in. For those of you who don't know, I work for a school district outside the town I live in. The district I live in (district 1) is very competitive. VERY. So when my collage did not let me sign up to be a sub while I was student teaching, I missed out. When I submitted my application to be a sub after I graduated, I was informed that they were not hiring any more subs until someone quits. So you can imagine my surprise when they called me to ask if I wanted to be a sub for them. (Insert jaw drop.)

So my afternoon was spent signing up to be a sub for the school district that I actually live in!! It was so different from the district I currently sub for(district 2.) Here are some of them: 1.) The way I found out I was a sub. With district 2, I did not find out I was a sub for them until I called them to ask if they got my application. 2.) District 1 sat me down and gave me a manual, told me where to get my on-line training, and talked me through everything. District 2 had me sign some forms and wished me good luck. 3.) District 1 offers me actual training. District 2 does have some great websites but I'm not really welcomed to any training. 4.) I get called in by secretaries in district 2. District 1 calls me in using a tella service. (Meaning a computer is going to call me.)

Now don't go thinking that I favor one district over the other. I don't. They are just so different and I am so excited to have the opportunity to work in both. Both districts have different obstacles to over come and they both do amazing jobs over coming them. I am so excited to learn from this new opportunity. I can't wait to see how I will grow in my own profession. :D

I blog a lot

This morning, I subbed for a PE teacher. I like subbing for him. He is usually very well prepared and his kids have their routine down so they practically run themselves. (These two things are signs of a great teacher my friends.)

When I reported for duty, the secretary mentioned that I was not going to be in the gym that day because it was set up for a concert. Neither of us were worried because this teacher is usually so well prepared. I started reading my lesson plans. They involved using the gym. (Hmmm... this might be a problem.) So I stepped into the gym just to get my barrings. The music teacher walks up to me. The conversation was as follows.

Music Teacher (MT): You are not going to be able to use the gym today.
Me: Were there any mats on the floor before you started setting up?
MT: WHAT?! You are not allowed to use the gym! I will have students in here through out the day practicing for tonight. You are not allowed to use the gym!
Me: I wasn't planning on using the gym. I am just trying to figure out what my plans mean. I need to go. (I have just realized that he really does mean for me to use the gym. I now have 10 minutes to create a new PE lesson and figure out where I will be taking my students since it is raining and the playground is a puddle of mud.)

I head to the poor secretary and ask her advice. She informed me that he usually watches movies with the kids in the music room. (Ok! Now to find a TV/VCR and a movie to watch. Let's hope the music teacher will not yell at me any more.) Making it back to his office, I begin to rummage through his things. The only movie I found was "How to Run Faster in All Sports." (No thank you!) Then as I have 5 minutes before the kids enter the school, I noticed a box with the words "Healthy Bingo." I peak in and found a PE Bingo game! GOOOOOAAAALLL!! I check in with the secretary. Not only is she down with my plan but she gives me the idea to have the kids play in the lunch room so they can have their healthy PE snack while playing. (I would have had to bring them over from whatever room I was in for the last 10 minutes of class. This woman is a genius!) I ran to the 1st grade classroom to barrow some markers (I didn't see any in the box.) Best of all, my sub kit is always supplied with prizes for situations just like this. Can you say Bingo?! I have made it with enough time to fill up my water bottle as the kids file into the lunch room.

After my morning rush, I had a wonderful day. (Even if I had to have a little talk with the sixth graders about why they might have to write an apology letter to their regular PE teacher. They sobered up quick. Guess they didn't know PE teachers can assign homework as well.)

Now off to some much earned coffee. Fair well dear followers!

"Just make sure the kid doesn't run away."

You know you will have a rough day when you sub in a special education classroom and you hear the words "just make sure the kid doesn't run away." Yup! I have had individuals say this to me before and that's all the instruction I get. I hate subbing in these situations. Now don't go thinking that I have a thing against students in the special education classroom. Because I love those kids. Some of them show more gumption then a lot of adults I know. I hate days like that not just because it's exhausting but you know that the kid is not getting the help they need.

So you can imagine why I was a little nervous when I was called in to sub for a para in a special education classroom. I have never subbed in this classroom. Before I walked into this building I do a little dance to please the education gods. When I reported for duty, I found out that we are doing a field day. (This means we get on a bus and drive to the town 7 miles away so we can do activities you would do in track. FYI: I'm dressed professionally. Greeeaaaatt.) At this point I am thinking that I have done the dance for a rough day. Then I get into the classroom. May I say the SpEd teaching in that classroom is soooo awesome.

I spent the first hour of the day talking with this teacher about great instructional strategies and putting those strategies into practice with the kids. On top of the super star teacher, the kids were amazing. They were very helpful in showing me what they normally do and they were so well behaved.

After writing in our journals, we headed off to field day. We had two kids. There was two of us. How perfect is that? I took the girl and the SpEd teacher took the boy. We settled ourselves and waited for our kids to have events. Turns out my student could only do two events (there was like 15 or 20.) I felt very disappointed for my student. She wanted to do so much more. (I don't blame her! They dumped us off and didn't leave us anything to do while you wait. Can you say boooooring!) So needless to say my student was restless. I found that she loved to race me. (Remember I'm wearing dress shoes.) I felt like we were having a good time. My student also got to enjoy hanging out with some of her friends in her own grade. Then came time for my student to run her 50 meter dash. The SpEd teacher asked my student if she wanted the SpEd teacher to run along the side while my student ran. The student shook her head and pointed at me. How could I say no?!?! So I ran the 50 meter dash in dress shoes and cheered on my student all at once.

The SpEd teacher said she thought I was very impressive with the students. I think the real impressive person is her. SpEd teachers are truly amazing. I don't know how they do it! I think I would spend most of my time crying. Not that I would cry because I would be depressed but these kids can really bring out the emotions in you. I would cry because I would be proud, frustrated with the world, sadden by how unfair things can be but most of all I would cry because of how wonderful those kids truly are. SpEd teachers you are amazing people and a true contribution to society.

I don't know if I will go outside today.

I have been in a funk my friends. It started out with the craziness at the high school. After subbing there for two days, I had a student come to my classroom and ask if I was going to sub again tomorrow. I informed her that they had another sub coming tomorrow. She responded by saying it was too bad. She said she really liked having me as a sub and that I was very good at what I do.

That night I went home and I was grumpy and I cried for a full hour. I know, who responds like that when someone says somethings so sweet to you? I think I was just mad that I was a sub and not a full time teacher. It sounds very self centered of me, I know, but this girl had really had such a hard time in life. The past two days she spent time just talking to me about her problems and just venting. Even though we really weren't on topic, I think she just needed to vent. When I went home, I was mad that I am only a sub. I wished I could be there everyday. Would I be able to help this girl if I was there everyday? I don't know. But at least I would have a better shot at it. Being a sub sometimes leaves a bad taste in my mouth. You walk into situations that you want to fix but you know you can't because you are only there for a few hours.

My funk has been added to thanks to my grandma's assisted living center. For those of you who don't know my grandma is recovering from a broken hip (again.) After returning home from rehab my grandma slumped over and was unresponsive. They had to give her CPR and admit her into the hospital. Turns out grandma was dehydrated. Well the director of the assisted living center complained to my mom about how they had to give grandma CPR since she didn't have a living will. Translation: If you have a living will for your mother, we will let her die of dehydration. Why would we want to get her a living will?! Then to put the cherry on top, the director said she was kicking my grandma out. (Oh! We found out her room has been rented out to someone already and they are just waiting for us to move grandma's things. Isn't that interesting?) When my grandma found out she cried.

Top this off, my mom is dealing with this horrible director while having to go to the hospital twice a day to receive an IV for her leg issues. Not a good week for my mom.

Finally I have this nagging feeling like I did last year. I feel as though getting hired here is going to be impossible. No idea why I've been feeling this way. I'm told by other teachers, principals, and students that they think I'm a great teacher. It's just a feeling deep in my stomach that says, "If your so great, why don't you have a full time job?" Then I catch myself arguing with the voice (I must be losing it!) Me: "Voice, I just have to network. Show people what I'm made of!" Voice: "Haven't we been doing that? You have amazing references and a great resume. Shouldn't you have been hired by now?" Me: "No. It's a really competitive area. People have been waiting longer than me and aren't you just a voice. What would you know?" Voice: "I might be a voice but at least I'm gainfully employed as a voice. Now take the ring from Frodo Baggins!" Me: "Wait. What?" Voice: "I mean get a job as a nursing home cook!" Me: "NOOOO!!!"

Yeah. I'm losing it. Sigh. I think I'll drink some more coffee, clean something, and then read more Terry Pratchett. I love his books. Hope all is well with you dear readers! Oh and don't worry about me. I'll pluck myself up. The voice will not win and my grandma will feel safer in her new home (no one there will pray she dies!) Later!

Nice Guys Don't Always Finish Last

I am a firm believer that nice guys don't always finish last. In fact I like to believe that they more often finish first. Maybe it's because I'm naive or childish or an elementary teacher but it is what I believe. Today just confirmed it.

To tell you of my confirmation I must start with yesterday. I was called in to be a substitute Spanish teacher for the high school. When I reported for duty, I was handed a folder with my sub plans. Looking through my sub plans my first thoughts are as follow: 1) "Where are the worksheets we are suppose to do." 2) "Oh. She only left me one worksheet for every class today. That means she expects me to make the copies." 3) This thought has been removed due to explicit material.

Never mind the fact that every level of Spanish is doing the same worksheet. I'll wrap my mind around that one later. I'm focusing on the fact that she expects me to make enough copies for my classes in the 15 minutes I have before class. This might not be a problem for regular classroom teachers, but I'm a sub. Here is what is wrong: 1) I'm a sub. I don't know how many people are in all your classes. At least have the courtesy to tell me how many copies to make! 2) I'm a sub. I don't know where your copier is. When I locate it, I now have to become familiar with it. Also some schools require codes to use their copiers and some schools only let faculty use their copiers. Is your school one? 3) Did I mention I'm a sub! Sub means someone who "wings it" all day long and they do this at the drop of a hat. Please take it easy on us. There are many heart conditions that we develop.

So off I go to ask someone who to make copies. By the time the second bell rings (meaning my students are now waiting on me) I am waltzing into the classroom with only half the amount copied. Thanks a lot Miss "Teacher students wish didn't have tenure" (seriously I had students say this!)

Well today I showed up at the high school to be her sub again. I feel older. The secretary saw me a little earlier than usual. First thing I did was look at what I had to do to prep. Sigh. I must find a TV with a VCR. Shoot me. Asking around, lead me to the library. Success! I roll the TV back to my classroom as students are filling up their seats. Oh, did I say success lets replace that with failure. The minute I pushed the tape into the VCR, I knew it was stuck. So my students are now watching me fight with and yell at a VCR. Three kind gentlemen come to may aid. While they are working I hop on the phone. I ask the secretary if she knew what to do. She told me she would call around. So there I sit. Room full of high schoolers, three students banging on a VCR, and no coffee or back up plan. Right as I see a fellow teacher walk into the door, I hear a the sound of plastic hitting the ground. The three students did it!

Fellow teacher heads back to his classroom after I say "I'm sure the other VCR will work!" I pop in the tape.... nothing. Oh no. After ten minutes of the three gentlemen and me working on VCR, a suggestion for a possible different TV arises. Off one of the gent goes! There I sit. Room full of high schoolers, no TV, and no coffee or back up plan.

The gent is back with a TV/VCR! Poor kid had to travel to three different classrooms to find on that was not in use. Ten more minutes gone. So there we sit. Room full of high schoolers, three students and I frantically rigging a TV, and no coffee or back up plan. After 20 minutes and a near break down they TV decides to work for me! IT'S ALIVE! Oh but wait their is only 20 minutes left. The students were delighted when I told them that they will not have to do the 1 page report over the film since they won't see enough. Oooookay. Well at least I have a working TV for the next class.

Next was my planning period. Being a sub, I really have nothing to do. So I checked the next day's lesson plans (even though I might not be the sub, I thought I would make sure that person would not have a day like mine.) Yup! The teacher expects the sub to make copies again. Off I go to make copies. As I am stapling said copies (learned a little to late that copier can do this for you,) another sub walks back into the room. She is asking for the TV back. She needs it for her next class. Well it was hers to begin with. Off I go in my last 10 minutes to find a TV. I looked everywhere! The TVs were either in use, not portable, or broken. Then the bell rang while I was in the office asking the secretary if she knew of anywhere I could get a TV. Ok. So those who are following along know that even if I find one, I push it to my room (through the mob in the halls) AND set it up all in 3 minutes. Thanks Miss Tenure!

All I could think about was how I hope the next sub had it easier...or do I? Being nice does pay off. I asked the secretary if the teacher with the working TV had a sub tomorrow. She informed me that he did not. Then I asked if it would be alright for me to switch today's sub plans for tomorrows. (Since the only class I had had that day was not able to watch much of the film, it really didn't seem to hurt anything.) The secretary was on board with my plan. I made a mad dash and walked in the door as the late bell rang.

Moral of the story. You should always try to make other peoples' lives easier because it can ease your own. ;)