Do you have students tell you that they hate you? It seems like I've hit a little bump where I am getting told this a couple times a week. One minute I think I am too easy, then the next minute I feel like a big meany. Just wondering...
If they hate me then I'm making them follow the rules. Which usually means I'm taking there phone. I don't care. They hate the situation. They hate that they're getting in trouble. They hate me as the person who they can blame for getting in trouble, not me the person.
I don't recall ever having a student say they hated me during a sub assignment. In fact, most kids tell me I'm a "cool sub", not because I don't make them work (I do), but because of my personality and efforts I make to really get to know the kids in a short time. I did have one group of students tell the teacher they didn't want me to sub for her again. When she asked why, they told her it was because "I watched them like a hawk and made them show me the work they had done". Needless to say, the teacher has called me back several times.
A couple of times a week seems like a lot - if it's different classes and different students. Perhaps you are being super lenient and letting a lot of things slide, then suddenly (when things get out of control) come down hard. The kids might interpret that as being mean. They don't think abstractly enough to understand the underlying reason of why your mood has changed.
When I was a sub, I did have students tell me I was "mean." Basically, they thought having a sub= free for all and when they realized that was not the case, I was mean Like Cerek, the teachers from those classrooms made a point to request me :lol: BubblySub, As long as you are fair, firm, and consistent, don't beat yourself up about it! In fact, in your note to the teacher, let her know that some of the students reacted disrespectfully when you expected them to do their work. Also, where subbing is concerned, I always found it was better to pull a classroom together first thing in the am, introduce yourself, and tell them that your expectations for them are high and you expect to give the teacher a glowing report about the students behavior. Good luck!
Interesting. If they hate you, I tend to think that you are actually doing your job. I have kids occasionally tell me that they "hate" their teacher, and I explain to them why that can be a good thing. And so, being that you are their teacher for the day--I don't think it's a bad thing. However, I do think it's a problem, that they are expressing their "hatred" direct to you. In that case, the hatred seems to override the respectful and peaceful environment that you want in a classroom... and so, maybe you might want to think back to those specific situations and think if you could do something better for the next time?
I didn't every really have any students say that about me, but I had students tell me the didn't like (I don't ever remember any saying Hate) sub so & so. I was requested by many teachers as well. The kids really liked me too, even when I'd see them in the hall they would give me a hug (elementary). I was impressed when I would have some of the tougher boys say they were glad I was their sub. I made them do their work, but I would give them a little space to do it. I would have a few that would get upset that they had to get their work or they thougt I was "mean" for keeping them on task. I would say don't beat youself up, especially if the teacher likes you... you are doing what you are suppose to. You are not there to befriend all the students. Just like in life there will be those that you get along with better than others....don't take it personally!!!
I've been subbing for several yrs & I've never once had a student tell me he HATES me. Now, whether it was said behind my back, I wouldn't know. But, I wouldn't take it personally. Kids tend to think any teacher's mean just because they're a little strict, which is how a teacher should be.
I can't recall anyone saying it to my face, but often I've heard kids say to each other upon seeing me in the room, "Oh! I hate that sub." I've had kids say, "Why are you so mean?" or "You don't like kids, do you?" My reply is, "I like kids who know how to behave." I let these comments roll off my back, because many teachers have told these kids "If you think a sub is mean, then she's doing her job," and I have a sub job every day, so I must be doing something right.
I have never had a student say that they hate me. I have had students accuse me of 'not caring' about them. I have had one student go so far as to say that I didn't like him. Truth is, when kids express themselves like this it could easily mean that they FEAR that you don't love them or care about them the way that they really want you to. When a child says "I hate you!" It could easily be code for "how can I show you that I am not a bad kid?" Behavior is not representative of the child. And yes, I believe that if I am not being the authority in the class I am not doing my job and I am denying my students of their education.
No, I've been told I'm mean though. Usually what happens is there is a class that gives me a little bit of a problem so I enforce something they don't like (ie Once I moved a student to another table because the girl sitting with her wasn't working, was talking nonstop etc - and she was an ES student so I couldn't be too firm with her). Well somehow the girl I moved got it into her head that she was being punished for being "distracted." So when that class left they told the incoming class how mean I was and the story of my moving her was repeated quite a bit. The new class entered and told me, "We heard all kinds of things about you." I responded by telling them I was glad to hear that I was mean because that meant I was doing my job (they were shocked that I knew what they were referring to). And I didn't hae any trouble with them - all of us had fun
