I see that my boss has come in for the day, so with a big smile on my face, I sidle into the Service office, where he’s sitting at his desk. In my best Perky McCheerful voice, I ask, “Would you like to know how my morning has gone ( Read more... )

Whatever it takes to keep smiling, right? That’s what I say ( Read more... )

“Oh, I don’t usually do this ( Read more... )

Help me serve you better!

You can start by not helping me. No, really, I neither need nor want you to hand me things or push them toward me as I scan your items. I am constantly making decisions about what to grab based on what’s coming up and what I already have sitting in a bag, and I’m always planning a bag or two ahead. If I’m picking, say, ( Read more... )

I didn't plant a gosh darn thing today. Nor did I pull any weeds. I ended up working, only a half day, but then I remembered that I had to go grocery shopping, and then my stepdad and I got caught up in discussing an idea we had, and yard work didn't get done. I probably could have gotten in an hour or so before dinnertime, but I didn't ( Read more... )

I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love children. I love ( Read more... )

Got news for you, Jack. (No, of course the student's name wasn't actually Jack. Privacy and whatnot, you know.) Maybe most subs don't pay much attention to whose gone the bathroom and when, but this one does. Especially when I'm down to one pass for the rest of the day, and I have to reuse it for every student, and I'm waiting for you to come back ( Read more... )

You'll all be happy* to know that cultural bias is still alive and well in America's elementary schools. I am perhaps making a gross generalization, but despite the multicultural elements I see incorporated into the curriculum, yesterday I came across a blatant, if small, instance of cultural bias, and it was a real stumbling block for the student ( Read more... )

I had a pretty good morning with a spirited but generally well-behaved fourth grade class. I escorted them to lunch. I ate my own lunch. I returned to the classroom to find that my generally well-behaved children had been replaced with some kind of demon-spawn changelings. I don't know what happened. Something in the cafeteria food? I lacked the ( Read more... )

Note that this applies mostly to the middle school and high school level. In elementary classrooms, you nearly always have to follow a detailed lesson plan. Also, this from the perspective of someone who is not a trained teacher. Actual certified teachers working as substitutes may have entirely different opinions.

1. Video: Nine times out of ten ( Read more... )