Day Two

Is it seriously only Tuesday, y'all? I thought it was Thursday! Deep breaths...

The past couple of weeks have been a total whirlwind - we have had so much going on. I subbed Kindergarten last Monday then signed up for a fifth grade job at a new school for Tuesday and Wednesday. I'll just be honest - substituting has put some interesting thoughts into my head.

I have always known without a shadow of a doubt that I wanted to teach middle school. I love those hormone driven, dramatic, romantical, crazy fools. However, all the time I've spent in Elementary lately has really made me think. I haven't committed to taking the GACE yet, but I'm considering it. It's never a bad thing to broaden your horizons, right?

Moving on - last Wednesday I had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. I think I'm a pretty good sub - everything has went pretty smooth up until this day. It was one of those days when I booked it out of the school parking lot, grabbed a coke, took some head ache meds, and parked it on the couch for the night with no intention of moving. 

If my fantastic mentor teacher, Pierre, taught me anything it was to reflect every. single. day. As I was thinking back on what went well and what didn't my cell phone rang. I saw that it was the Elementary school I usually sub at so I answered it. The sub coordinator told me the principal had asked her to call me and offer me a long term job for the remainder of the school year. (sidebar - the principal knows who I am? What?) I adore this little school so I immediately said yes before I really even knew what I was getting into. 

I started yesterday and these past two days have been wild! I'm doing EIP for K-3. I have seven blocks of kids and go non stop all day to make sure I service them all. Right now I'm just focusing on getting my schedule straightened out and ironing out the kinks with the kiddos schedules. Each block is different and I'm loving it. The day absolutely flies by! I'm working with some fantastic teachers and know this is going to be a one of a kind learning experience for me. Keep me and the kids in your prayers as I try to figure out what the heck I'm doing!

An unusual compliment

"You look like a teacher."

Hmm... Is the glass half empty or half full? Did this imply I looked like a frumpy old biddy today or someone who loves and inspires kids? I'm totally going with the latter, y'all!

In case you didn't know I've been in a third grade classroom for over three weeks now. I was originally asked to sub two weeks for a teacher who was having surgery. She was super prepared and left me fantastic sub plans - which I was very thankful for seeing as I have no clue what I am doing in the world of third grade. I got some great advice from all my Elementary friends and have really enjoyed my time with the sweet kids.

Today I was lining the kids up outside the lunchroom - which of course included using my teacher voice, fussing, making the face, and counting to five. Another teacher came up to me and asked me if I was a teacher. I answered by saying, "Yes, I've been subbing in third grade for a couple of weeks." She then asked me if I was a certified teacher and I told her yes. She told me I looked like a teacher and said she had seen me around the school several times. She complimented me on the great job I've been doing. 

Today was a rough day so it really lifted my spirits! It was just what I needed to hear! Subbing isn't for the faint of heart, that's for sure. The kids can be wonderful and awful all at the same time. I hate to admit it, but teachers are the same way. I've had some great experiences and some not so great ones. I have learned so much already about myself and the type of teacher I want to be. Tomorrow is theoretically my last day (again) but we'll see if that's actually true!