Subs

Substitute teachers (not the giant sandwiches, silly!) have a super tough life, IMO.  When I first completed my teaching degree, I was lucky enough to get hired into the district where I did my student teaching, hence, I never had to sub.  I felt blessed.  Not just to get the job, but that I dodged the subbing bullet.  3 years later, when I moved to a different state without actually getting my certification sorted out in time to start the school year, I had to do it.  I had to be A Sub!  

I didn't love my time as a sub, trolling the online absence site, figuring out directions to different schools, finding locked doors and lack of plans in a lot of cases.  One of my least favorite days included watching A Walk to Remember twice.  I'm not totally complaining about this since at least this was the plan as left by the teacher and really, little could have been easier, but...BOR-RING.

Today, my co-teacher was absent & there was a sub in the room with me.  Mr. B and I had pre-planned the lesson and I would lead it while the sub got a little break.  This was all fine and the class went well, content-wise.

Ego-wise, not so much!!  One student called the sub my boss.  Literally, "He's the boss of you!"  OK, this stung a bit because it sounds like he, at least, (maybe others??) sees Mr. B as my boss.  Not the message we want to convey.

Another kid said, "There are 2 subs today."  Also, not the image we're trying to put out there!  So, I took this moment to do a teensy bit of reteaching on the "I'm your regular teacher with Mr. B, we're both your teachers, I'm here everyday teaching, supporting you, grading, etc."  I know the message from earlier in the year was heard loud and clear - somehow! - because another student called out, "co-teachers!"  So, that was slightly redeeming.  

Lastly, the kids were a little rambunctious today which is not totally out of the norm.  Mr. B and I have started a couple management techniques to help keep them on track this week. One very well meaning kid who was trying to stay focused and doing the "shhhh" thing (which I actually don't love) asked, "Are you going to report us?"  I know he was wondering, "Is she going to tell on us to Mr. B?"  I told him, no, there's no one to report anything to.  I'm here, just like I'm here everyday.  Mr. B and I talk everyday so we're going to talk and plan together, just like always.  I don't know how clarifying that was for the student.

While the kids were ok in class, their comments confirmed some of the concerns I already had. In One of my earlier posts, I mentioned being a little stuck in the back feeling like a visitor. This is definitely the perception the students have of my role as co-teacher.  Knowing this, my partner teacher and I will need to work to alter their views and hopefully benefit more from their co-teaching experience.