All yesterday afternoon I was ticked off at my sub from Wednesday because she gave the kids the wrong book for reading groups and messed up my plans for the whole next week. (They were supposed to read the vocab reader, but she gave them the levelled readers, and they speed-read the whole thing instead of taking three days of guided reading group discussions *like we always do*.) I was so annoyed because I was like, “The books were right here! They even had a Post-It note on them with directions to give them to Mrs. Inclusion-Specialist! The schedule was already on the board!” I just could not understand what happened.
Driving home I realized I was upset at the wrong person(s). I had put the vocab readers (the same book for every group) in the materials folder with the lesson plans. The levelled readers were in the reading group folders in a magazine file box on a desk behind the front table. As in, the sub didn’t/wouldn’t know about the levelled readers UNLESS THE KIDS TOLD HER.
Shame on her for listening to them, but they are worse for butting in where they don’t belong!
I worked as a sub for three years before earning my credential. Oh, the stories I could tell you. I always knew that it was a really well run class I could count on certain kids to tell me how they did things. But, sometimes the kids weren’t as helpful as I’d hoped.
I keep thinking (hoping?) I’ll come down with H1N1. With all of those kids sneezing and coughing on me, you’d think I’d have caught it by now. I’m looking at it as a weight-loss opportunity. In preparation, I’ve taught kids how to operate the timer that works on the overhead, and where I keep everything.
A friend who taught first grade told me one year her sub didn’t show up. The kids didn’t tell anyone. It was only after one of the kids went down the hall to ask how to turn on the VCR that the gig was up.
Jan, that is hysterical! I’ve heard of that happening, but never knew anyone it really happened to!!
So I found out it was MiniMe who told her where the levelled reading books were. Though I think maybe the sub did not understand my chart for reading groups and didn’t get that Mrs. Inclusion-Specialist was supposed to read the same book with all three groups, or that she had to cycle through the centers. (But Mrs. Inclusion-Specialist knew this!!! Whatever.)
Now that one of my students actually has the swine flu, I still don’t want to get sick.
I haven’t had the flu since I was like seven, and I’d like to keep it that way!
Jan- are you saying the sub didn’t show up and no one noticed?
My experience with subs, is that the few that are very, very good, don’t last long…and those that are less than…umm….good are regarded as the good ole’ standbys. So even when I am next to death’s door, I contemplate coming in b/c it takes more time and effort to fix what is done when you are gone, than it is to push through a day with a fever.
My problem? …..infecting the rest of the class….but where did I get it from in the first place?
Exactly! They get us sick, so what’s a little sharing among friends?