For my subbing job, I regularly sub for this SLP on Fridays & she had to switch classrooms this week. I'm so glad I missed ALL that moving! When I arrived today, it was all done! For my SLPA job, it's going well. The boss is pretty easygoing. The drive's 40 min away, so I'll be glad when it's over on Dec. 1st.
Got called at 5:45a today to sub at a school I haven't been at since 2006 according to my records. Today was pretty good. I'd sub for that class again. It was an RSP class. So far, the only day I have off this wk is tomorrow (Tues). Hope everyone has a good wk!
My current work days are for the mid-Dec payday (PD), which is the last PD before Christmas, so I'm going to try my best to sub as much as possible to have some extra Chistmas money! Is anyone else trying to get in as much work as possible in time for Christmas?
Woah, I'd be furious. When I was a special ed teacher a few yrs ago, I was a juror on a 2 month long case. Yes, I had to turn over the pay the court gave us for gas & mileage, but I got to keep my full teacher paycheck.
I did fourth grade yesterday. I was in a class I had never been in, but the kids were good. They were allowed to have a snack on their desk after morning recess. A boy pulled a brown bag that a parent wrote "snack" on. He pulled out a CHIPOTLE STEAK BURRITO!!! The whole thing. SOme kids had fruit snacks, and nuts, and crackers. He had Mexican! LOL. I let him eat a little and made him put it away. It made the room aromatic. LOL!
First day as a sub teacher Today was my first day ever and i was in kindergarten. It was a good day and some of my classroom management skills came to use. Kids were adorable and caused very little trouble. I did have only 30 minutes to prep and was surprised that kinders have sooo much to do and got lost in the curriculum. I forgot to give one hw assignment but the other kinder teachers said that was okay because the teacher gave me more than regularly scheduled. I love elementary school. Tomorrow, i am heading to high school and have to wake up early before the traffic hits. Good night!
This morning, I agreed to sub for a 5th grade class who made the last substitute cry. According to fellow insiders, there was a particular student who taunted and harassed her all day, and in general, the class wouldn't follow directions and laughed when she was heckled. Needless to say, this sub refuses to go back to this classroom. Nonetheless, I know the teacher, and she's had classes in the past who were difficult towards subs. Somehow, I would get them to at least follow along and be cordial with me. So I accepted. The entire time I got ready this morning, I kept trying to come up with reasons to cancel last minute! Shortly after I arrived, however, the principal came into the room and informed me that she'd be having a particular student spend the day with her. As more students filed in, she also reminded them that any students sent to the office today would receive double punishment. A fellow insider informed me a bit later that there was a "crackdown" following the last sub. I have to say, I was really impressed with the school's action on student behavior towards subs. I definitely hope that the student is in the classroom the next time a sub is in, so that he may learn *how* to act; however, this also teaches him that the school means business. I'm sure there are other consequences I am not aware of. All in all, other than being chatty and being typical 5th graders, they're a decent group of kids. The day is going SO much better than I had imagined it would be!
Today was very frustrating w/ students I've worked w/ 1-2 days/wk for a couple yrs! I don't know what's wrong w/ everyone lately, but they're harder to control, goofing off more, & just have no respect...& this is a small group, pull-out setting for speech, so there shouldn't be much ill behavior. One new 3rd or 4th gr student said a word that I couldn't understand what she said & she laughed because I thought she said something else. Well, I really let her have it & said very firmly, "Are you laughing at me? That is very, very disrespectful!" Kids these days don't have that innocence they used to have. I see so many smart ass facial smirks & actions quite often, even w/ kindergarteners. It's a real shame.
Today, I'm working at the speech clinic & I have a long day ahead! There's times, I don't get off until 5. (I arrive at 8 or 8:30). Then, w/ the 40 min drive, I don't get home until about 6p. Then, the night goes so fast! (I know, I'm sure a lot of permanent teachers don't get home until 6.)
I got underpaid today by at least $25. I got a late call at 9:50 for a job that technically started at 9:30. I left my parents alone at IHOP in order to race to school as soon as possible, as is my obligation. I arrived at 10:30 to help out in AM Kinder, and then began my class at 11.40. Classes that are PM Kinder and begin at 11.40 are supposed to pay 60%. However, the subfinder said my assignment began at 9:30, so I got there as quick as possible. I actually did not leave until 4:00. Regardless, I only got a 60% day. I didn't notice the 60% because at a glance 60 looked like 100 and I did not catch it untill I had left. Most schools pay 100% under these conditions, but I feel that even 75% would have been fair. Is there anything I can do if the district turns down my request for at least 75% ? Of course not, I am only a sub with no representation or recourse.
Yay, I got myself to be another teacher's regular sub EVERY THURSDAY for the rest of the year! I'm already an SLP's sub on Fridays, now I have to get work for Mons, Tues, & Weds.
Special Ed Kindergarten Really good day today...I am getting my classroom management thing down. My strategy is make a class list and know as many students names as possible. That helps build a trust. Today, I did a half-day stint that involved a lot of reading stories and playing with toys. What fun!
Today's going great! It's my LAST day at this speech clinic, not to mention driving 40 min 1-way. Plus, my SLPA program's over & I'll have my license! I sub the rest of this week, then next week, I'm off to Reno for Thanksgiving week!
What a frustrating day today was! To make a long story short, 2 wks ago, I got the OK to become this one teacher's regular sub EVERY Thurs...or so I thought. When I showed up at the school today (Thurs), the secretary wondered why I was there. The ditzy teacher doesn't have the guts (or smarts) to straight out tell me that the office has another sub that they like to request. I had him go straighten it out w/ the office & he still doesn't tell me the truth & neither him nor the secretary tell me whether to return. I ended up calling the school when I got home to see if I return or not, which is a NOT. They allowed me to stay a 1/2 day today since I already showed up. The teacher admits to being unprepared, etc. He ended up using a worksheet I happened to bring to use w/ the class because I'm prepared & he's not. And people like this have permanent jobs & I don't! Thank you! The program at my particular university was 3 months, but from what I notice, the program's usually 2 yrs at many other schools.
Days like today are really disheartening... Subbing for a teacher who you know you are better then, but they are protected by the years they've put in and the fact that they are untouchable. I'm completely wiped working her classroom, constantly having to discipline the class... I can't see how she gets anywhere near the amount of work done that she's expected to...
Had today off but am booked to work tomorrow full day in a class I had last week for 2hrs (and that was enough for me lol). I am dreading spending a whole day with them (I know that's bad) but it is a very challenging class, when I walked in the door last week the teacher gave me a list of children to watch and a 'warning' about the class in general Ms. I that is really bad on the teacher's behalf to do that to you
Thanks Miss Snix. On top of that, the district subcaller knows about the whole fiasco & I hope she doesn't think there was any fault on my part & give me less jobs in the future! Well, today, I'm heading home from being on vacation in Reno since Tues. It will be nice to be back home!
On Tuesday I had a rare dream job. I had the same job Monday as well, but had to cover afternoon Kinder for an emergency. I worked in Special Ed RSP where there were no students from 11:05 until 2:25. I spent two hours just helping out the sub who came to this same Kinder class the next day.
Flying high to crashing and burning Yesterday I had third grade and I thought it would be chock full of problems the day after a long holiday. I was wrong. They were actually quite great! Probably one of the best classes I've had this year. Today, I had kindergaren, which is usually my favorite. Unfortunately, today I seemed to be channelling Arnold Shwartzanager (sp?) in Kindergarten Cop. The kids were all into shouting out random usless information during carpet time, everyone had to go to the bathroom continuiously, they chatted all day. They argued, they tattled, all regular kinder stuff, but it doesn't usually all happen on the same day in the same room like today. I stopped several times to remind them that the same rules are in effect no matter who the teacher is...oh, and a bird flew into the room which just stopped everything. I don't usually mind such things. I can just use them, but this particular class was so easily distracted, it was just one more thing. Then at the end of the day, they were supposed to get their backpacks and line up to walk out to the front of the school. They opted to grab their stuff and run like the wind for the front gate. (In front of a parent volunteer, of course). When I caught up with them, one kid had wedged himself in the fence between the wall and the gate, trying to get out underneath the chain and lock that were holding it shut. The principal had to come unlock the gate so he could get loose. Since he was standing there, I gave them all a lecture about listening to the voice inside their head telling them to do the right thing even if a classmate tells them to do something different. I'm sure it didn't change anything. I still looked wildly incompetent. Just when I start to feel skilled, I have a day that brings me down. So...yeah. If I ever get invited back to that school, it will be a minor miracle.
Oh, and completely off topic, but just to show what kind of day it was, I checked my phone at lunchtime to find a text from a guy I used to go out saying he just broke up with his girlfriend (the chick he dumped me for) and that he was bummed about it, and would I like to meet him for a drink. Yeesh!
So you're saying there's a silver lining on every cloud, and that guy calling you is the silver lining, correct?
Hahaha. More like managed to get caught in a storm of my professional and personal problems all in one day.
I'm feeling frustrated these days! I'm only getting 1 day of work a wk & am searching for employment at other places. I never dreamed I'd have to apply at places that are a 40 min drive away for substitute teaching. But I'm thankful that there are even a couple places that are hiring for subs at all these days. Sigh! I wouldn't even give him the time of day to respond...better yet, tell him to lose your # permanently! :thumb:
It's Like a Fight to the Death at Times! What a frustrating ordeal I had this morning! 1st, I get a call at 7:20am to sub 1st gr at 7:30am. Meanwhile as I'm getting ready, I check my district email to find out that one of the SLPs requested me back on Fri for today & tomorrow, but for some reason, I wasn't listed. I was upset that as badly as I try to get jobs, that some kind of unknown error is causing me to miss out, so I get to the bottom of it ASAP & call the speech dept office manager (who happens to be a friend of my mom's) & the sub technician to see what happened. The sub tech gives me a stupid reply saying, "I have you for Fridays to sub, is that not happening anymore?" Uh duh, that has NOTHING to do w/ Mon & Tues! Why does she think I'll buy her reply that just because someone simply requests me ON a day that I'm busy FOR a different day when I'm free that I still won't get the job?! Anyway, my mom's friend in the speech dept gets it all straightened out for me. I still had to do 1st gr today, but I'm doing the speech job for the 2nd day tomorrow. I was told the SLP typed in an incorrect #.
I'm in between student teaching assignments so I can sub for a bit again. I'm realizing how much I prefer going to the same class with the same kids, knowing what's going to be taught.
kentan Even though my LTS assignment turned into a short-term, I have been blessed with daily sub assignments.... *For a high school English class, I played a movie over and over and over again. I think I'm able to say the lines now. I did a lot of walking around and classroom management to extinguish potential movie theater misbehaviors. *I also subbed for a third-grade elementary school class with 25 students. I taught math, English and an ESL class. The children were wonderful to be with. The teacher was very organized and there were so many activities to work on. Fortunately, the teacher loved me so she invited me back to sub this week! I'm so excited to be back at a site for the second-time in the same class! *I had my first middle school assigsnment yesterday and I was a roving sub. I traveled around two classrooms. In both classes, I administered tests. So, I was the most favorite sub in the world in those classes. I did a lot of walking around. Also, middle school kids are REALLY, REALLY good with word searches so I am going to have to bring more than one next time! I'm going back to that elementary school in a few minutes. And then, hoping that SubFinder will have mercy on me so I will have work for the next week before my much-needed vacation back to the Bay Area.
uncleal you will be heading to the Bay Area? I'm in that area as well. I hope you have a wonderful vacation here. Happy Holidays!
Thank you! Yes, my family is up there and, with all that is going on, I am really looking forward to spending time with them and detoxing from this entire year of craziness.
Hi--I'm a brand new sub. I had my 4th-ever assignment today. It was a 1/2 day with 5th graders. They were angels for their teacher & when she left, they turned into demon monkey children. Kids don't usually get to me, but these guys really did today. Felt so discouraged & hoping that I will QUICKLY learn how to manage better.
QueeTheBean, hello & welcome! Things will get better. I've been a sub for quite a while & I don't do any grade level over 3rd, unless it's a smaller group setting like for special ed or speech.
It being your 2nd day, may I suggest a little journal to write thoughts? I never did it myself, but I think that reflecting on your days with a few comments about your day... if you stick with it 'til the end of the year, will really bring a lot of growth. Just maybe write about what you did right, what you did wrong, what you saw (that you liked), what you didn't like, and how you might do it next time. Just a thought. (Oh, and my day today: I did a preschool gig today... my back almost went out on me, bending down so much. )
QueeTheBean, 5th graders are like that. I had a similar situation recently with a teacher in and out of the room. The previous day they'd also had a sub who sent a student to the office. The teacher's reaction to it was that it was the sub's fault. 5th grade is my least favorite to sub. I avoid it when possible. I also student taught in that grade and I honestly don't think I've ever had what I would call a good day. The students are aware that as a sub you don't have much power, and they consider a sub day to be a day off from all rules they generally follow. All I can suggest is to try a combination of positive reinforcement and punishment. Give them ten points on the board and tell them if any are left after lunch, they can play a game (heads up 7-up or something) in the last ten minutes before they go home. Then liberally erase points all day if they are too loud, disruptive, aggressive, etc. Also, in the first five minutes of class when the first student challenges you--and one ALWAYS does--ask him if he wants to spend the day in the office. That will usually calm down a few of the kids for a little while. But, you have to be willing to follow through when the kid decides to test you to see if you'll really send him out. Subbing is hard. Nobody on this board will tell you any different, but after a while, you do figure out how to be more strict. You'll always have to deal with the occasional really difficult class, but each time you'll get a little better at it. Good luck! And...your screen name wouldn't be a shout-out to the Muppets Frog Prince, would it? :thumb:
I actually worked 4 days last week, thank God, but this week, before Christma vacation, there was nothing yesterday (Mon) or today.
yup--"I want to quee the bean"-- Thanks for all the great thoughts, everyone. Glad to know I am not alone. I had 6th grade today & never again! A kid cut himself with a razor blade & the office didn't even send anyone to clean up the trail of blood or retrieve the razor blade for about 15 minutes! And the child returned to class with a bandaid & that was that. I am doing another 5th grade tomorrow, but this is at the school where my children attend(ed), so I am known there--could be better, could be worse:huh: I love the journal idea--I think I will even backtrack as much as I can. And, until I get more experience, I think I will stick to K-3. I haven't yet tried the points-on-the-chalkboard system. I will give it a go tomorrow. Does anyone else find that a lot of classes don't have chalkboards anymore? Only overheads?
Yesterday I gambled a lost, and therefore sat home. I can only blame myself. I became overconfident because I have had work available every day since September 23. The last day before winter break is often the 2nd most fun day of the year. The days sometimes are shorter, the lesson plans are easy, and everyone is in a great mood and has fun. With this in mind, I turned down a couple of early openings that I would normaly accept because I knew they would be "business as usual" assignments. I held out for a more fun assignment that I was confident would present itself, but it never came. I almost got an easy 9-1 job with full pay, but I just got locked out. Too bad I was in the shower. I learned my lesson, as my streak of 52 straight came to end.
Lesson learned--subs can't shower! I've lost jobs that way too. I worked yesterday. Unfortunately, I woke up with a cold, and you know the first day is always the one that knocks you down hardest, but I needed the money, so I didn't cancel the job. To top it off, it rained all day long, so the kids were inside for the whole day and my lunch was only 30 minutes. On the upside, it was a relatively good group of kids and there was a tv with a vcr and a large supply of movies to show them during the recess times. AND it was a short day.
The only day I worked this week was Friday. It would have been great to end this last wk before the break w/ all 5 days of work, but I guess not!
