One learns a lot in this job just looking at the teachers' walls.

They have been very entertaining so far. Student work, educational posters, behavioral bumper stickers (evidently often in vain), all provide nice grist for the ol' mill. Some grizzled old science teachers have very informative ones, especially on astronomical and biological subjects, way more involved than "back in my day." Of course now I'm not only having fun brushing up, but trying to think about how to explain this stuff to the kids (although my opportunities to really teach are few and far between, I like to at least take the opportunity to think about how I might.) I did get to explain what the problem was to a girl who asked me why Australia "is a continent but is not an island". (We just call them that) Sometimes I try to shout over the rowdy kids and talk about the material to the quiet ones who are doing the work, which appears to be better than nothing in some sense, but even they don't seem to get much involved with it. Unfortunately as a temporary visitor I'm not all that much involved in whether they're listening. It's too bad that few people see the substitute being there as an opportunity for different kinds of learning spaces, rather than just an empty space where you "try to fill time productively" with programmed classwork (usually dittos or copying).
I guess they don't think it likely that every substitute will be able to hold forth on any random topic, but I have never taught a class where I wasn't able to look at what they are reading without fully understanding exactly what was going on. There are many ways I could be of service, but it's just not being asked of me. It's too bad full-time credentialed teaching is the only way to get past that. The result I'm seeing is kids wind up taking the substitute being there as an opportunity to do whatever they want, which does occasionally involve some creative social activity in the form of outburst, but seems like such a waste considering how much they could be learning, especially given the possibilities with modern (and even decades-old) tech. Factory workers have always complained that there's no way to "do the job well."

recent exchange

"Mr. Hand, are you a hippie?" (I have long hair and a magnificent beard)
"No. The Sixties were forty years ago. I wasn't even born yet."

Teacher absences are hurting learning

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080116/ap_on_re_us/teacher_absences

shorts -kinda rambly

While Christmas shopping in orange sweatpants and a Simpons t-shirt, I had 4 kids recognize me and say "Hi Mr. Hand." My fiancee told me I'm not allowed to go out in public dressed like that anymore. It still strikes me as funny how often kids say hello to me by name (and of course admonishes me in my role as public authority figure, a model of dignity and respect, cool under fire and all that--must... take... seriously...). [/Kirk mode off]

Kids ask me interesting and unexpected questions sometimes. Recent favorite: "Mr Hand do you know much about electronics? ... Were you on the TV show Mythbusters?"
Two different times a middle schooler has asked if I was Mexican (... "then what are you?" was the next question in the first case). Thought I was as balding-anglo as one can look but I have a beard, which complicates things I guess.

Sometimes I get really cool teaching situations like a music class or a computer lab, but even in such ideal enviroments its disappointed to see how many kids just don't seem to care about the opportunity. Watching the theatrics of kids "going crazy" acting rowdy is disruptive to my work, but less depressing than the apathy and cold distance.

Recently been pulling a good deal of "overtime" which I'm very happy about (doing extra classes during a prep period)--it's interesting doing one-period "tours" of a subject, often elective, and meeting more students. I can tell why it counts of overtime and why teachers are by the rules allowed to have that prep period, not just because there's so much to do but because you need a break from the babysitting duties, which can take a lot out of you!

When I have a chance (most of high school jobs involves reading role and confiscating tech) I leaf through the current teacher's edition of the textbook, occasionally looking over and reiterating instructions about what I don't want to see/hear. It's good experience reading this stuff at the same time that I'm having all kinds of behavioral and even teaching situations going on around me.

Working my holidy extra job to make ends meet at a bookseller, I have been very amused to see what kinds of books people are buying for gifts and school, just as it has been interesting to scan the shelves in different teachers rooms and school libraries. I like the book job not because there are opportunities for reading (there aren't) but it's kinda fun just to be exposed to several titles while getting paid--gaining the experience of seeing what's out there, soaking up an intuitive sense of what's being put in front of people as reading options.

I have very much enjoyed the elementary school jobs I've done. The kids are much nicer and more enthusiastic about learning (when they can settle down) than older kids and are rarely nasty or disrespectful. I especially like 4th graders--abstract thought is beginning to become available but before the full discovery of the complications of "coolness." Unfortunately despite my amusement and instruction in these jobs they are more labor-intensive and anxiety-producing, so I will probably take more high school and middle school jobs. I'm also going to be more selective of which jobs I take--now that I have a second flexible job I can focus on the more lucrative and higher-quality teaching opportunities. Of course, any job is really a toss-up, but I've learned enough at this point to spare myself those jobs that are more likely to be "in the trenches" type experiences, at least until I'm more experienced, disciplined, unflappable.

Scary stuff

So far in a month of subteaching I have been in one lockdown (because of a bank robbery that had nothing to do with the school), and had to breakup one junior high fight. I sometimes wish there was a little more training concerning these kinds of things. When kids don't listen to you under ordinary circumstances, it's part of the territory, but when kids don't listen during an emergency... I guess that's what we get paid the big bucks for.

Something funny a student asked

"Do you know much about electronics?" (well, sorta)
"Were you on the show mythbusters?" Kid was serious.
I have long hair and a beard, maybe I look like one of those hippies.

Studies: Cyberbullying is on the rise

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071127/ap_on_he_me/cyberbullies;_ylt=AnbvqIr8USShxol62Ox1Or9a24cA

"As many as one in three U.S. children have been ridiculed or threatened through computer messages, according to one estimate of the emerging problem of cyberbullying. Another new study found the problem is less common, with one in 10 kids reporting online harassment. But health experts said even the lower estimate signals a growing and concerning public health issue. "I wouldn't consider something that 10 percent of kids report as low," said Janis Wolak, a University of New Hampshire researcher who co-authored the second study."