Substitute teaching...

... I started subbing about 2 weeks ago, and there is something weird afoot...

... I love it.

I registered with two school districts to get my name out when I come around asking them for a full time job, but only one school district has been calling me, they are relatively very large, with one of the biggest high schools in the state of Ohio, There's always a teacher that needs a day off. I found out some special ed teachers there are getting close to retiring, so that's wonderful news for me!

I've heard stories about students running rampant over subs, but that hasn't been the case for me. It helps that I'm linebacker sized and say good morning to the teeming throngs in my Army sergeant's voice, and pretty much everything else that I announce to the classroom as well, but I've been able to handle a classroom just fine so far. I have let it slip that I am a combat veteran, and the kids look at me a little differently than I think they would otherwise do so.

I also enjoyed the assignments. I got to learn about the magnetic fields of the sun, the compressed atmosphere of the planet Jupiter, the Iliad (that was a tough one), Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea (that was greatly enjoyable, I really liked the book and was able to lead a discussion on it) and some environmental science courses that didn't do much for me. I got to further develop my rusty Spanish for two days. I also got to listen to a pretty talented high school band blow through the Christmas music they are starting, and it sounded great to me. However, the student conductor did not agree, and she had them pick it up about halfway through their main piece and "let's get it right this time!!" I really liked her -- any 17-18 year old kid with poise well beyond his or her years will always be aces in my book.

My current semester is nearing an end at Cleve St U, thankfully, and I should be able to student teach next fall. So, I will keep on hoping for the best, thanking the Good Lord that I am not in sales anymore, which I hated, and will continue to influence young kids (hopefully) and make sure they don't burn the building down or place the kid next to them in the microwave (hopefully!)

Cheers!

 

Steve, I am sure, with what little I know of you, you are doing an excellent job and the kids are all better for it. Glad to hear you are enjoying it, since that is sort of the direction you are heading. I admire your choice to move into teaching.

 

Isnt it funny how much we enjoy the assignments when we're adults trying to get others to learn it. Too bad it wasnt so much fun as kids.

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the teaching, and I would love it if you end up teaching in our district. They have the best pay around from what I've read.

Also, just thought that I'd let you know my new job has me working on a design for a state-of-the-art prosthetic for above-knee amputee soldiers. We are trying to develop an artificial knee that can store energy (easy) and then release the energy at the proper stage in the human gait cycle (not so easy) so that the soldiers can walk and function as normally as possible, as soon as possible. Paid for with Ohio tax dollars; let's hope we can make it work! If we do it will help our amputee soldiers but it will make money for Ohio due to the market created by all the amputee diabetics.

 

RE: Re: Substitute teaching...

Good for you. I am a teacher - 6th grade science.

I love teaching, I love the kids, I love coaching, and I love getting to go to school for the rest of my life.

I dont like administrators (most are great actually), I dont like meetings where you have to listen to other teachers and administrators talking bubbles, I dont like all the 'No Child Left Behind' BS. Hopefully things will get better by the time you get a full time job and you can keep all the idealism you have expressed.

 

Re: RE: Re: Substitute teaching...

Amen. That will be one of the happiest days in my life when they finally get rid of that nonsense.

 

That's great Mo! I guess I am fortunate enough to not know anyone who needs those services directly. I am glad to hear of what you're company is doing. Glad to see tax dollars going for something useful.

Today was the first day I subbed for a middle school class. That was challenging. Teaching 25 or so 6th graders how to divide fractions requires a lot of patience. Just trying to keep the little pubescent fiends on track is a challenge! My head hurts. Jensers, even if you are a Spurz fan, I salute you.

Ian, sad to say, NCLB ain't going away anytime soon. Bureaucracies do not shrink in size. By nature they only expand. As an example, I forget the exact length, but the Army used about 700 pages of regulations to comply with the Federal Paperwork Reduction act. (I don't have an exact figure on the number, and I'm too pooped to research it.)

I look at it this way -- I worked for the Feds for a long time, and am sort of used to a ridiculous bureaucracy. I'll try to avoid the big minefields, which aside from failing to report suspected abuse or blowing a child off if they mention something to you about being bullied/ abuse/ homosexuality/ etc., or being a moron like those teechurs that send stripteases of themselves to their students, that is pretty much it for the big minefields where you will get the boot in a hurry.

See, I'm 39 and don't have youthful idealism Instead, I have the knowledge and the wiles to prove the adage that youth and skill are no match for old age and treachery. Think of me like Paolo Maldini. He's too old to do the things that young punks like Ibrahimovic do. He has many other means, other tricks, other smarts to ensure they stay in their place. I aim to be Paolo Maldini. Not Ronaldo the show pony. I'm too old.