Re: Bad Subbing Day

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Home : 2003 : October : 25

Re: Bad Subbing Day
By primroselass

I've been subbing for the last two years since I've graduated. I spent six years in university. I did a B.A. and then a 2 year B.Ed. here in Canada. In my last year of practice teaching I got everything rated exemplary
in all aspects of my teaching. Then, I hit a brick wall subbing. I tried to use all the strategies and devices I learned and have used, but the experience I've had subbing is just too overwhelming.
There were no lesson plans the other day. It was silent reading (which was fine, but it was far far from silent), reader journal, spelling, recess, math, lunch, read a story, fill in homework

agenda. That's the way her plan book read! UGGGGGGGGH!!! No other info! What do I do for reader journal, where are they in spelling, what do I do for MATH! And especially, what is the homework!? We didn't get anything accomplished, so at the end of the day I wrote my note to the teacher explaining everything that went on.

You might ask why I didn't call the principal down. I was in the same situation last year in the same grade and school, but a different teacher. It was a day very similar. Had this child who I didn't realize had "problems." No info on her. She seemed violent (she'd hit others) and hyperactive. Another teacher found her in the boys washroom so she brought her down to me and got the principal. The principal explained that she has something for boys and hugs them and goes in their washroom. I told the principal I didn't know and that she's been defiant in class and disruptive. He said, oh, let her run it off at lunch and he left.

This whole subbing experience has made me lose faith in the public school system.