A High School Spanish Teacher

I subbed for a high school spanish teacher today.
I got to watch the last half of Madagascar four times today.  In Spanish.

Also, reeking of marijuana is not going to help me believe the load of crap you're trying to feed me.

A 2nd Grade Teacher

I subbed today for a second grade teacher.

I had a great time.  It isn't every day that you get to draw giraffes (see below) and read about dinosaurs.

I even overheard a little boy whispering to the girl across from him, "I think he's the best sub we've had all year."

They laughed at me for drawing it in green.


A High School Biology Teacher

I subbed for a high school biology teacher today.

Does it make any sense for a teacher to call in sick, only to be replaced by a sub that is also really sick?
Probably not.
Lucky for me, today was probably the most boring and mediocre day I've had in a long time.

Second graders tomorrow.  Maybe they'll be more interesting.

A 4th Grade Teacher.

I subbed for a fourth grade teacher today.

I re-learned how to do long division today.  I think I'll stick to using a calculator. 

I was finally able to get my hands on a copy of Diary of a Whimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth today.  I've read the rest of the books, always having been able to pound them out in a day during any down time.  I only got through the first 150 or so pages today.  Who knows when I'll have another chance to finish it...

Every morning on my way to school I listen to NPR news on the local public radio station.  This afternoon, after school, I got back into my Jeep and the station was playing classical music.  I sat for a few minutes checking texts on my phone and listening to the music.  When I finally looked up, there was a tiny little girl marching across the parking lot (stomping rain puddles) in perfect rhythm to the march playing on the radio.  It may have been the most amazing/adorable thing ever.

A Band Director

I subbed today for a middle and high school band teacher.

The woman had a student teacher.  I've subbed in rooms with student teachers before, but this time she was really good and on the ball.  She ran all the classes, and I just sat to the side and collected the paycheck for being the "certified teacher in the room."  I feel bad for her.  I didn't need to be there, and she should have been able to get paid for subbing for her own Master Teacher.

A Middle School English/Science Teacher

Today I subbed for a middle school English/Science teacher.
Today was also the first day back from spring break.  Saying that the kids were wired would be an understatement.

While the relationship isn't one-to-one, there is a strong corelation between a teacher's level of classroom control and how those kids will act for a sub.  This becomes even more obvious after you've subbed in a school a few times and have worked with the same students many times, just with different teachers.  A group that might be angels in, say, History, might be total terrors in, for example, Science.

Also, when the lesson plan reads, "Have students reply to the prompt: 'What did you do over spring break?' and then have them share to the class," perhaps it is a good idea to preview what the kids are about to say, before you let them say it...

A Band/PE Teacher

I subbed for band/PE teacher today.  Am I the only one who thinks that is an odd combination?

The directions for my first two classes (high school band and choir) just said, "Free/study day.  They can work on other homework or talk amongst themselves.  They can also play on the Wii."  That's right, this guy had a Wii in his classroom. Sadly, though, he only had WiiSports and WiiMusic.  I tried out the latter on my prep.... and it was REALLY boring.

We also had "free play" during gym class.  I got to toss around a frisbee with a few middle schoolers.  Good times.