justplainbil

Just Plain Bill

One Substitute’s Pet Peeve

The life of a substitute teacher can be rewarding, as well as frustrating – and not for many of the reasons you might think. I’ve been subbing for about six weeks now, working 24 of 27 possible days, in seven different schools, with pre-kindergarten through high school senior students, in schools that range from those quite “well off” to those that might be described as “worse for wear”. All in all, it’s been most rewarding because of the great kids with whom I get to work.

But it’s been most frustrating because far too many teachers are not doing an adequate job in leaving quality directions for their sub (me) to use. I’m often left to my own devices to deliver quality instruction. Although I have several learning activities that will involve and engage the students, their time with me as their sub has not been providing a meaningful learning experience for them, i.e. it wastes their time. I’ve been asking myself this question: “Is this the case due to an image that the sub is just providing ‘babysitting’ while the teacher is away?”

I know how to teach. I know how to engage students. I know to look them in the eye and ask them how they’re doing. I know to ask before I tell. I know how to make students sense that I actually care about what they are feeling, what they already know, and what they’d like to do with the time that we’re together

I know many of them will “test” me. Some will be curious to see what it might take to push my buttons. Others may accept an imaginary or very real dare to challenge what little authority I may have. I suppose either of these off-task behaviors is probably because I’m old enough to be their grandfather…or even their great grandfather! And, I’m only taller than most until I get eighth graders and above. I also realize that in no way will I replace their regular teacher, yet I can teach. I think many adults can too.

During my entire ten years as a classroom teacher many years ago, I had the need for a sub fewer than six times. Each year, I prepared and updated a substitute’s enrichment guide, one that contained learning activities for which the students were prepared – and often looked forward to doing if I’d only been absent.

The tragedy is the monumental waste of students’ time each day a substitute teacher “babysits” or muddles through. Each and every day in the life of my “substitutestudents”- if there is such a word - is precious and needs to be something of value in their lives and mine.

With the focus and attention on learning through massive federally funded programs and legislation like Common Core and No Child Left Behind, I’m dumbfounded the lost learning time spent with a “babysitter” does not seem to have received its own share of attention for improvement