T
twin2
Guest
Well, I hated to do it, but I declined a multi-day assignment. There is a second grade class that is just totally out of control and I just don't want to be there. I have subbed in that class a few times this year, including twice this March. The teacher is out a lot (if she isn't to blame for this class, I don't blame her for being out a lot!). They are even out of control for her. She is young and I believe this was her first real teaching assignment.
I talked with the behavior specialist about this class not long ago. She said she has been working with this class, but the teacher won't follow through with the behavior plan. I felt better after talking with her, because obviously, I'm not the only one that thinks this is a bad class. Sometimes though, I just feel like a bad sub after a bad day. Later, I know I did my best and shouldn't be so hard on myself.
I apologized to my husband. We need the money, but I don't want to set myself up for a bad day. Besides the stress of it all, I am afraid that something really bad could happen and ruin my reputation as a sub. I need to sub and I pride myself as being a good sub.
Friday, I had my "regular" kindergarten class. This is "my" class and I usually do okay in there, but classroom management has been a problem in this class for the regular teacher. There are some kids in that class that I am seriously worried about. Two children really have no fear of any consequences the school can give. One has been hitting other students and even the teacher and para. He tried to bite me one day months ago. I pulled my hand back and screamed at him if he bit me, I would bite him back. Needless to say, he has not tried since. Neither boys listen, ever. Academically, the first boy is so behind.
I actually had a good day with the first boy Friday. The class planted flowers on Thursday and when he started to get off task, I stopped him and asked him about planting the flowers. I asked him things like "Did you dig the hole yourself?" and "Did you plant a flower plant or a little seed?" "What kind of flower did you plant?" "What kind of container did you water it with?" I kept him busy talking about the flower planting adventure and he really enjoyed the attention. Usually I can't get him to respond positively to me at all, but yesterday, he was my little friend.
Anyway, the second boy I mentioned was off track all day, but nothing major. Then at the end of the day, the kids were to leave their small groups/centers and go to the "rug" to wait for dismissal activities. I was right there, but my back was turned. I was putting away work from our small groups. I turned to go to the "rug" to start dismissal activities just in time to see the boy spinning in a circle with a chair in his hands. Imagine yourself spinning a child around outside - that's what he was doing with this chair. Kids were sitting around him, probably as shocked as I was. I went up to him, put my arms around him from behind and took the chair out of his hands. I don't know how I did it without getting hurt, or causing him to hit one of the other kids with the chair. I took him by the hand and told him he was coming with me. I took him to the para that works with that class and told her he was going to stay with her. She was cleaning up her table from small groups. I told her what he did and left him sitting in a chair with her. I then went back to the kids and started their end of the day story.
I'm thankful that nobody got hurt. I'm sure we could have done something to supervise the kids better when they went back to the rug. The thing is, the boy couldn't have been on the rug more than 2-3 minutes and I was right there! We were still waiting for students to report to the rug. Once the whistle is blown, the kids clean up their center and go to the rug. I saw this one run past me, but I said nothing. It was the end of the day and my energy was spent. I should have stopped him when he ran past in the first place.
Some classes can be rough for substitutes. That's to be expected. I just can't believe how some of these little ones behave. What will these little monsters be like when they grow up if someone doesn't reach them soon? Of course, I don't want anyone getting hurt or me getting in trouble because I can't handle a class. I can get over a stressful day. I just don't want guilt or problems following that bad day.
I talked with the behavior specialist about this class not long ago. She said she has been working with this class, but the teacher won't follow through with the behavior plan. I felt better after talking with her, because obviously, I'm not the only one that thinks this is a bad class. Sometimes though, I just feel like a bad sub after a bad day. Later, I know I did my best and shouldn't be so hard on myself.
I apologized to my husband. We need the money, but I don't want to set myself up for a bad day. Besides the stress of it all, I am afraid that something really bad could happen and ruin my reputation as a sub. I need to sub and I pride myself as being a good sub.
Friday, I had my "regular" kindergarten class. This is "my" class and I usually do okay in there, but classroom management has been a problem in this class for the regular teacher. There are some kids in that class that I am seriously worried about. Two children really have no fear of any consequences the school can give. One has been hitting other students and even the teacher and para. He tried to bite me one day months ago. I pulled my hand back and screamed at him if he bit me, I would bite him back. Needless to say, he has not tried since. Neither boys listen, ever. Academically, the first boy is so behind.
I actually had a good day with the first boy Friday. The class planted flowers on Thursday and when he started to get off task, I stopped him and asked him about planting the flowers. I asked him things like "Did you dig the hole yourself?" and "Did you plant a flower plant or a little seed?" "What kind of flower did you plant?" "What kind of container did you water it with?" I kept him busy talking about the flower planting adventure and he really enjoyed the attention. Usually I can't get him to respond positively to me at all, but yesterday, he was my little friend.
Anyway, the second boy I mentioned was off track all day, but nothing major. Then at the end of the day, the kids were to leave their small groups/centers and go to the "rug" to wait for dismissal activities. I was right there, but my back was turned. I was putting away work from our small groups. I turned to go to the "rug" to start dismissal activities just in time to see the boy spinning in a circle with a chair in his hands. Imagine yourself spinning a child around outside - that's what he was doing with this chair. Kids were sitting around him, probably as shocked as I was. I went up to him, put my arms around him from behind and took the chair out of his hands. I don't know how I did it without getting hurt, or causing him to hit one of the other kids with the chair. I took him by the hand and told him he was coming with me. I took him to the para that works with that class and told her he was going to stay with her. She was cleaning up her table from small groups. I told her what he did and left him sitting in a chair with her. I then went back to the kids and started their end of the day story.
I'm thankful that nobody got hurt. I'm sure we could have done something to supervise the kids better when they went back to the rug. The thing is, the boy couldn't have been on the rug more than 2-3 minutes and I was right there! We were still waiting for students to report to the rug. Once the whistle is blown, the kids clean up their center and go to the rug. I saw this one run past me, but I said nothing. It was the end of the day and my energy was spent. I should have stopped him when he ran past in the first place.
Some classes can be rough for substitutes. That's to be expected. I just can't believe how some of these little ones behave. What will these little monsters be like when they grow up if someone doesn't reach them soon? Of course, I don't want anyone getting hurt or me getting in trouble because I can't handle a class. I can get over a stressful day. I just don't want guilt or problems following that bad day.
Some things like behavior problems just aren't our fault. I also agree that it is insane how much kids can get away with nowadays...I seriously worry about how much worse they will only get with time...Sorry you had a tiring day Friday...and that tomorrow is Monday! Speaking of which, I should probably get to bed...I have a job tomorrow at 7:40. Night!