I'm well-liked
I have been substitute teaching ever since I realized that I could do so and still collect unemployment. Because I didn't actually major in education in college, I never took the courses, and I never had the practicum, so I thought that substitute teaching would be a good way to work on those skills that I am weak on in classroom management.
Today, I was subbing in a classroom with fewer students and two adults. Assign what labels you will to such a classroom, but you know what it means when they need a higher faculty to student ratio in a particular classroom.
That meant that I had a paraprofessional in the room, which is always a struggle for a sub. The paras are in the classroom every day, and know the kids. They have a decent idea of how the teacher runs the classroom normally, and they generally advocate that style of running the classroom. Some paras try to take over, some merely try to undermine the sub, but in general it is just never a good situation.
Today, however, the para was actually very professional. She let me take the lead, and assumed her normal assisting role. She never told the students the opposite of what I had said. She kept communication open with me, so that we could discuss what should happen next. This is optimal, because then I have someone to help me, who knows what I'm trying to do.
But eighth period, last period of the day, the para had a startling moment. In this particular classroom, most students come back two or three times per day, so it didn't bother her that most of the day, the kids knew my name. I had told them my name first period, and my name was spoken at least once by someone who had been there before. Whatever.
As soon as this one boy walked into the room, he called me by name, and asked me about something that had happened first period. Apparently, everyone was talking about me at lunch. This isn't news to me. The para, however, was aghast that the kids would be talking about a sub at lunch. How silly!
(I feel loved. :-)
Oh yeah... And a kid challenged me to a bike race today after school too. I spent about two minutes trying to think of a good track on which to race. The track next to the school did not allow bikes, and most of the paths and roadways were flooded with people because school had just gotten out. Therefore, I picked about a 100 yard track to race him on, despite my desire for a longer race than that.
He won. He accellerated faster than I did. I had a higher top speed than he did, but by the time I got up to speed, the race was almost over. Another hundred yards, and I would have beaten him by five whole seconds, but as it happened, he beat me by a hair.
The kids watching weren't sure who had won, until I told them that I had lost, with a big smile on my face. I then gave my opponent a high-five and rode home.
Today, I was subbing in a classroom with fewer students and two adults. Assign what labels you will to such a classroom, but you know what it means when they need a higher faculty to student ratio in a particular classroom.
That meant that I had a paraprofessional in the room, which is always a struggle for a sub. The paras are in the classroom every day, and know the kids. They have a decent idea of how the teacher runs the classroom normally, and they generally advocate that style of running the classroom. Some paras try to take over, some merely try to undermine the sub, but in general it is just never a good situation.
Today, however, the para was actually very professional. She let me take the lead, and assumed her normal assisting role. She never told the students the opposite of what I had said. She kept communication open with me, so that we could discuss what should happen next. This is optimal, because then I have someone to help me, who knows what I'm trying to do.
But eighth period, last period of the day, the para had a startling moment. In this particular classroom, most students come back two or three times per day, so it didn't bother her that most of the day, the kids knew my name. I had told them my name first period, and my name was spoken at least once by someone who had been there before. Whatever.
As soon as this one boy walked into the room, he called me by name, and asked me about something that had happened first period. Apparently, everyone was talking about me at lunch. This isn't news to me. The para, however, was aghast that the kids would be talking about a sub at lunch. How silly!
(I feel loved. :-)
Oh yeah... And a kid challenged me to a bike race today after school too. I spent about two minutes trying to think of a good track on which to race. The track next to the school did not allow bikes, and most of the paths and roadways were flooded with people because school had just gotten out. Therefore, I picked about a 100 yard track to race him on, despite my desire for a longer race than that.
He won. He accellerated faster than I did. I had a higher top speed than he did, but by the time I got up to speed, the race was almost over. Another hundred yards, and I would have beaten him by five whole seconds, but as it happened, he beat me by a hair.
The kids watching weren't sure who had won, until I told them that I had lost, with a big smile on my face. I then gave my opponent a high-five and rode home.