So much stuff!

So this year I have actually been keeping busy. I just finished working nine days straight (in the sub world that is crazy busy.) I even had a young man comment that I am practically at his school everyday. He ended that conversation by saying "hope you enjoy being here like ALL the time!" Well Mr. Man I do enjoy it.

Getting to sub this much is so great. I get to see a lot of teachers that I really enjoy talking with (because they are amazing!) I get to work with kids who make me have lots of hope for the future (because they are amazing as well!) Also subbing this much gets my teacher ju-ju flowing. (That is not as gross as it sounds.)

By teacher ju-ju, I mean I have been reflecting and learning so much this year. Going all over, helps me to see things from a different point of view. I get to interact with people I don't normally interact with. I also get to ponder problems that I normally don't face. Going to new schools and classrooms allows me to see the many different ways that education issues can be handled. It really is fascinating to see!

Even though working all over this much can be difficult (for example when I forget where I am and have to ask a student for directions back to my own classroom [embarrassing]), I am so grateful for the fantastic experience.

roller coaster

I have not blogged in quite some time because I have been on this crazy roller coaster ride. There have been downer days where I have just wanted to bawl my eyes out. (Like when a parent called to try to get me fired. Never met this person in my life and they set out to ruin my career. Reason for this: because their kid wouldn't stop talking so it took us too long to pass out papers and we were late leaving. Makes sense to anyone? Cuz I'm lost.) There have been upper days when I leave the job feeling like a super star. (Like when a writing guru tells you that you are a really amazing sub and she is going to recommend you to everyone she works with.) Usually these days have a tendency to alternate as well. Sometimes I am sure my husband believes he has married a crazy person. My days are just as unpredictable as a roller coaster. I never know where I am going to be from day to day. I could do art one day, kindergarten the next and sixth grade after that. These classes are not in the same school let alone the same town!

This crazy ride has left me feeling so tired lately.

So why do I do it? What am I gaining? I know that I will feel this way as a full time teacher. From everything I have read and everyone I've talked to, I have learned that I am not alone. It is good to know that. It is also good to know that even though I find being a sub very challenging, I still want to be the very best that I can be. I am still growing and I will never stop learning. I still take time to reflect and read professional literature. I am still working on myself and I still love what I'm doing. That's what I take away from this ride. No matter how crazy it gets, I still love teaching. I still want to teach.