My Super AWESOME class!

      Near the beginning of the year I had a 2 day job for a fourth grade class.  They were so AMAZING.  They came into class quietly and go right to work on what I had written on the board.  There was some quiet chatting and whispering, but school had not started yet.  When the bell rang they got silent and all looked at me for directions.  I mean ALL.  There wasn't one student being distracting, or starring off into space.  No pair of girls were chatting and giggling.  It was like they were waiting for me to say the most interesting thing they were ever going to hear.  I figured it was just a fluke and it wouldn't me like that the rest of the day, but it was.  Every time I quietly asked for their attention, they went silent.  They followed all of my directions and did each and everything that I asked them to.  Both days were completely amazing and I had had some VERY BAD days previous to this class so I was SUPER thankful for these guys.  I bought them Frostys from Wendy's for a thank you at the end of the second day.  They totally deserved it!

       I got a call to work in that class again about two weeks later.  I was concerned that they would be expecting Frostys again.  But I should have known they were too polite to expect that.  In the morning, after roll call, I said, "Wow!  Everyone is here today and on time, that's great!"  As in most schools there was a reward chart if that happened.  One of the boys raised his hand and said, "Ms. Day, we all knew you were coming today and no one wanted to miss it!"  Another student raised her hand and said, "Don't worry Ms. Day we know that teacher's can't afford to bring us Ice Cream everyday.  But it was a nice treat."  This was followed by a chorus of "Thank Yous".

 

     I have now been back to that class 10 days.  The teacher goes to several meetings.  I feel like they are my class.  Maybe I will get super lucky and get a job as a fifth grade teacher at that school next year! 

If you were brave enough to work today, I applaud you!

I have only been subbing for a year and a half, but I worked in Elementary Schools for 15 years before that, and I know that the day, week, even month before Christmas Break can be a little crazy.  I got calls for working today, the Friday before Christmas Break, but I'm not CRAZY!  I didn't answer the phone this morning.  I actually put it on silent last night!  As I told my mom.  I don't need the money that bad.  ;-)

One of my favorite Teacher Blogs, Clutter Free Classroom, posted this little ditty today that I thought you might enjoy it.  It's about 10 fold for a sub!

Christmas in an Elementary School
( Sung to the tune of Winter Wonderland)

Children scream, they're not listnen'
When they go, we won't miss em',
In all of this pain, we try to stay sane,
Workin' in an elementary school.

Christmas comes they're excited,
Though our nerves they've ignited,
They're off of the walls; they run in the halls,
Workin' in an elementary school.

In the lunchroom we can hear them yellin'
And we know that they are really wound.
Someone hits, the other says, "I'm tellin'!"
And that is when our heads begin to pound.

Pretty soon we'll be restin'
Cause our nerves, they've been testin'
We're happy it's clear,
It just comes once a year
Christmas in an Elementary School!

Have a fantastic break.
-Jody

Middle School Math

Yesterday I taught Middle School Math.  7 periods of 7th graders!  Thank goodness they were all working on a project and I didn't have to have their attendtion for more than taking roll and quick directions. 

One student was done with his project and refused to sit down so I made him sweep the classroom.  Which looked like a tornado had hit it, by the way.  He was doing a half ....  hearted job at it, and one student said,

• "You are a terrible Broomer!  You have no future in the brooming industry!" 

I didn't realize there was an industry just for brooming.  I guess you learn something everyday!

I HAVE heard there is no future in hoe-ing.

A Humiliating Day

The classroom I was in yesterday was strange.  Half completely wild and the other half attentive, quiet, eager to participate and learn.  You could tell they were totally annoyed by the 15 wild ones!

Did you see what happened to that Sub today?!?! 

At the end of the day we had an assembly.  It took 10 minutes for them to get quiet enough to even think about leaving the room.  We were quite late for the assembly.  Two boys decided to start fighting in the hall.  While I stopped them the rest of the class went running and screaming into the middle of the assembly.  I took the other boys to the office and then I had to walk into the assembly and up to the front to sit with my class.  Yeah, that happened.  I stayed in the classroom about 20 minutes late and tried to sneak out of the school, but a meeting was just getting out so everyone had a good laugh at my expense, in front of me.  I don't think I'll be taking many more assignments at that school. 

"I'm the bestest substitute ever! ... or not ... ...

I went into a classroom the other day and I wasn't there for five minutes when a sweet little girl walked up to me and said.  "You are the bestest substitute ever!"  I smiled a big smile and told her "Thank you sweetheart.  That was a really nice thing to say."  A little boy standing next to her said, "You say that to all of the substitutes!"  She turned around and said, "I just want to raise their self confidence!"

"You are the bestest substitute ever!"