I subbed for a good long while before I got this job. I enjoyed it, especially in retrospect: I didn’t have to plan, I didn’t have to grade, I didn’t have to do testing. At the end of the day, I just got to leave. However, the downside was that I didn’t have my own classroom and I missed the relationships that a classroom teacher has with her students.
I DID learn though, what helps a sub. My favorite teachers were the ones who left complete plans AND seating charts. They made my life so much easier. I remember one time I went into the class and the only plan I had from the teacher was, “Have the kids write a rap.” REALLY? For the WHOLE day? Where’s the objective? Where’s the procedure? THAT day was NOT easy. But it helped me learn what NOT to do when I have a sub.
When I’m out, I try to leave really detailed plans. Sometimes I wonder if I do overkill. This time I left nine pages. Too much? (GRIN.) The sub left me a note that said, “Thank you for the thourough plans. It made the day go smoothly.” I gave him the choice of actually teaching something during Writer’s Workshop or just having the children write. He chose to teach. He did a good job too. The kids soaked up what he taught them. That’s good. I hope he comes back. (Or school has something of a tough reputation and it’s difficult for us to get subs…)
One of my colleagues came up to me after I got back and said “Your students were making so much ruckus I had to stick my head in the classroom and ask the sub if he was ok.” I said, Wow and left it at that. Later, as I was leaving for the day, she asked, “So, did you get after your students for being so loud yesterday?” I said, Nope. She looked at me askance. I shrugged and said, Hey, the day is over and done. *I* can control my class, if the sub can’t, that’s HIS problem, not mine. I wasn’t here, so oh well. We move on. As my oma would say, “Und zo it goes…”
