Subbing - Single Sized Serving or 1/2 of a Pie

I'm midway through my 6 week long term sub assignment.  There is a WORLD of difference.  With my single sized serving one day assignments, I come in and leave at the end of the day after writing a little note to the teacher.

With my long term half pie assignment, I go home with homework in the evenings and on the weekends.  Class instruction is only 50% of the job.  The other half is devoted to parent/student issues and administration.  I'm starting a volunteer corp and boy that sucks up time.  Building relationships with parents is important but requires serious attention.  Administration (health forms, permission slips, scholastic, staff meetings, nominations) is a serious time vampire.  I am doing the work of a full time teacher but with half the pay and no benefits, or is it even less? 

On the other hand, I admit to great joy at being able to love my own group of kids.  Knowing their personalities and having a relationship with their parents is lovely.  I have a wall plastered with notes fromm my Kindergarteners.   ...I just wish I'm paid more.

You Should Let Them Pee in the Toilet

After carpet time, a kindergartener stood up and lo, there was a wet spot where he was sitting.  It was time to lead the kids to lunch and he was scared of going to the office.  I was able to persuade him to go by promising I'll be there.  So, I took the whole class to the cafeteria and settle them in.  By that time, he was already eating so I told him I would come back for him.  I warned the secretary and managed to grab a bite of my lunch before going back to pick him up.  He was in tears, "What took you so long?", he said breaking my heart.  He held my hand all the way scared of the office where the "bad" kids were sent.  Once there, he was so flustered he couldn't change his clothing without help.  We had to prop the bathroom door open and each time I wander out of his sight, he would cry.  By the time he was finished, lunch was over and I never ate more than that bite.

Later, I was able to drop the class off at the computer lab and excuse myself.  I met up with the custodian who said, "You should have had them pee in the toilet, not carpet!"

A Tale of Two Principals

...and two cultures.  I just subbed for 5 days in a quaint neighborhood school.  The principal is very strict with discipline.  Kids who misbehave get sent to line up at the gym during recess.  There they recite their sins to the principal or an admistrator and then sit out their break.  I see a line there every recess.  If a kid is extra recalcitrant, they get sent to the "blue" chairs in front of the office to await a one on one talk.  A kid asked me a good question I was not able to answer so I referred him to the principal.  He recoiled in horror because he associated her with the "blue" chair.  The kids are generally well behaved and very respectful at this school.

I taught at another school where some kids had a disagreement and asked me if I could release them to the principal because they trust him to be a just and compassionate arbitrator.  Kids in the playground K-5 would ask him to come play with them during recess.  He is a skilled jump rope holder.  The kids are generally well behaved and respectful in this school.

Most school cultures fall in between; however, these two extremes provoked much thought.  The disciplined school tempted me to be a lazier teacher as I can pass off disciplining kids to the system.  I was able to enjoy the few short breaks I have instead of addressing behavior issues during those times.  Tough tradeoffs.  Here's some other information.  The disciplined school has over 70% free and reduced lunch with significant minority population; they have trouble starting a PTA.  The school with the kid friendly principal has 9% on free and reduced lunch with a population of 80% caucasion students; they have a very active PTA and many parents who are educators themselves.  I wonder if the principals' styles would be effective if they traded schools.

Shawn Achor, Part 2: The Science of Happiness and Potential

This was an inspiring video.  I've been trying to bring this philosophy into my practice, espeically the meditation.  It is working...

The First Few Weeks of Stress

I'm Stressed. 

I'm stressed about taking time to apply for permanent jobs while subbing.  I'm stressed that I haven't taught all summer and what if my classroom management deteriorated? I'm nervous about entering the classroom to actually teach a full day class tomorrow. I'm stressed about stepping into the unknown again as a substitute.  I'm stressed about juggling my long term sub job with the start date of a year long contract job.  Never mind that I don't even have an interview for contract job yet but there is the possibility, don't you know. 

I have a long term sub job lined up late September through November so I actually SHOULD have less to stress.  So, I'm stressing about why I'm stressing so much.

Aaaaargh!  I didn't find a sub job last week so I spent the time brooding instead of enjoying the week.  Yoga, hot baths, and telling myself not to stress have very limited effects on mitigating the stress level.  I'm very curious now - what do other people do to combat stress and re-entry trepidations?  I would love to hear your comments.

Silver linings, cups half full, and other cliches

In the same week, I received another (the 37th, 38th one?  I lost count by now) rejection e-mail telling me I didn't get the job and a sub job request.  While my ego took another hit, it was also soothed by the teacher who requested me for to be her sub the third day of school. 

I feel differently this year.  While I made it a goal to be determinely upbeat and Pollyanna-ishly positive last year, I feel more naturally content with my situation this year.  When I received noticed I didn't get the job, I was dissapointed but I also feel a sense of strong relief.  I had a six week long term sub assignment lined up at a school I really love to work in, several teachers sent me nice notes welcoming me back into the sub fold, and I was dreading a bit about the non-existent classroom set up/planning time if I got hired a few days before school started.  I honestly feel like I would win either way.

Subbing is a nice gig, especially now that I've established myself with a few schools and some favorite teachers.  I love going into different classrooms and being able to teach all grade levels.  I enjoy the different styles of teaching and different ambiances at schools. Lastly, I enjoy having down time during the week when I need to do personal things.  I recognize I am VERY fortunate in that my husband is employed lucratively so I am not in financial need to work regularly.  Silver linings and cups half full are cliche, but it sure feels good when they are true.

It Pays to Check In - Finding Sub Jobs BEFORE School Starts

Just for grins, I checked in my subbing account a week before school start in Shoreline.  To my surprise, a very organized teacher submitted a sub job for a few weeks in after school begins!  I couldn't take the job 'cause the day didn't work for me; however, another job cropped up the next day. I guess it just proves the very early bird does get the worm.