Substitute teaching, take two

Thoughts: it is much improved when I start the day wearing red. It was a definite mistake to wear blue last time. I’m too nice when I wear blue. In red, I don’t feel like being nice. It’s also good for me to have not quite enough coffee before starting. Too much coffee means I smile and talk. Not smiling and not talking are important for the substitute teacher. Not-quite-enough coffee, and I look scary and mean. And scary is important. Must communicate, “I will be your friend, but not your buddy.” God does that with us, right? He doesn’t let us get by with what we want to do because he loves us—even if we all keep trying to surf the net while His back is turned. We have all like sheep gone astray, every one to his own way.

Besides, you learn important things (like “has the bell rung yet?”) by being quiet.

Thoughts for the day are astonishingly forgettable. I almost wouldn’t blame students for resisting being educated, when “education informs the mind and inspires the heart,” or something just as bad.

Someone needs to tell substitutes how long a moment of silence lasts. Or if there will be an announcement.

Most students display a shocking lack of social skills. I wouldn’t even mind if they didn’t respect me as a teacher if they would respect me as a person.

By 9:20, I am sorry I did not have quite enough coffee.

Finding a “self-affirmation quote” to copy is a ridiculous waste of time. Believe me, honey, those students don’t need a whole lot of help with self-affirmation.

I am the only person who can get up and walk around the classroom while I’m reading! I wonder if I am the only one learning anything?

In the afternoon, 3 of 4 students say “Hello” and make eye contact. Shocking. I am probably too friendly as a result.

At break time I see the students who got in trouble because I told their teacher what they did the last time I subbed. I feel their hatred boring into me, and run away as quickly as I can with my cup of coffee. I shouldn’t be so intimidated by high schoolers. I told them I was going to write those things down for the teacher, and I, unlike them, am honest. I’m glad I won’t have to sub for them again.

I wonder if I left my personal notes about subbing on the teacher’s desk?