trouble.

I have just had my first experience of students "telling" on me. Yikes.

Of course their story was exaggerated and of course these girls were the worst in that class period. I was approached by the principal of the school I was subbing at. She was very kind and wanted to know my story. I explained my side of the story. We both mentioned how some students don't understand that every teacher teaches differently and that substitutes, especially, don't know the students learning style and personality very well.

I was a bit shocked that this conversation needed to happen, but I think it went ok.

I just can't believe how rude these students were to me and how they acted. I am supposed to someone to respect. I mean geez.. why don't students know this?

For now, I will keep in mind that I am the bottom of the barrel in the teaching world.

don't challenge me.

You know, I love to teach. I went through 4.5 years of school to teach. I've wanted to teach pretty much my whole life. My least favorite thing about teaching though is when kids challenge me. I hate it, especially when I'm a substitute teacher. There are correct ways to disagree with teachers, but most kids don't know that.

For example: When I tell you to do something, you do it. Plain and simple. I ask you to take out your packets, you take out your packets. I ask you to not move from your assigned seat and you don't move from your assigned seat. I'm just doing my job. I'm doing what I am told in my notes YOUR teacher left me. But no. Miss/Mister know-it-all pipes in: "but, seriously we can move." "Oh no, Mrs. X let's us do that." "Well, we are doing THIS today." Ok lady/gentleman, I will not get mad, but just ask, "Do you want to teach today?" Most answer no, there are a few smart asses who say yes. When they do I actually hand them the lesson plans. By then, I have embarrassed them enough to have them hand back my lesson plans. Problem solved. Don't mess with Miss Lucas.

In other notes, I finished my volleyball season. Our record was 16-6. Not too shabby. I really, truly couldn't be happier. I had very hardworking girls and very supportive parents. Not many incidents except a little drama. I am amazed that I had such a perfect season. I had to be reminded many times that I was going to make mistakes and that all coaches do. I also had to be reminded that I am in a fish bowl. Everyone is watching me. Everyone can see my actions as I coach. I need to be smiling at all time. I need to have positive body language, the girls feed off of it. It is a very stressful job and way harder than it looks. I am so so so thankful for the past coaches I have worked with and for the coaches I have played under. They have given me their passion for sport.

Other than that, subbing has been great. I mean, there have been a few classrooms/schools that I won't go back to, but that's the joy of subbing. You get to pick and choose when/where you want to sub!

XoXo

-Rachel

Cue Rebecca Black song...

Happy Friday.

So far, it has been a not-so-happy Friday for me.

1. I was late to the school I was teaching at.

2. There was way more traffic on HWY 77 then there should have been.

3. Semis and slow moving cars can suck a duck.

4. I got lost.

5. I drove around the school twice to find the parking lot entrance.

6.The teacher I'm subbing for is having the guidance counselor teach the class.

7. I have nothing to do today except lunch duty. hooray. not.

I think I am more annoyed than anything. Why have a sub if I'm not going to teach anything? Teaching is what I look forward to when I come to school. I was legit excited to teach science today, but no. Science is not the topic.

A positive about my situation is the topic the class is covering today: Kids With Disabilities. The guidance counselor is putting into perspective that each and every one of us has a disability. She had kids raise their hands if they had glasses/contacts, if they were less than 5ft. tall, if they were left handed, if they had allergies/needed an inhaler, was afraid of heights and if they only spoke one language. She then asked why are those any different than kids with need assistance walking, talking, seeing, etc. You know? It was super neat.

I've had a rough week. I can't find a part time job. I mean, HyVee won't even hire me. Yikes. It's so hard to stay positive sometimes, but I have awesome friends and family who support me.

Have a safe and fun weekend!

oh the substitute life.

It has been a grueling beginning of the year. I have been coaching part time, but not getting any sub calls. It's frustrating and definitely discouraging. I have subbed a few half days (a great way to sleep in) and I'm now onto full days. It is a nice change from being lazy in the apartment all day. Seriously, I'm so glad to get out! I have subbed kindergarten, second, fifth, sixth and seventh grades. A nice variety. My favorites are 4th-8th.

Something that has frustrated me is the lack of behavior/classroom management that teachers do not use in their classrooms. I subbed for a male 7th grade science teacher and I was just appalled at how rude his students were. He must let them get away with more than they should. It is nice to hear a TA tell you that you did well with the students though. She even said that it was the best that period had ever been. That tells me I'm doing my job. Again, it is so refreshing to know that I am doing my job well.

My volleyball team is doing well. We have hit a few rough patches, but are overall 5-3. I think that is pretty great for a freshman team. I am looking forward to seeing their progress through the end of the year.

Happy Thursday

Ahhh GOOD MORNING. It has been awhile. I think I picked the best first day to write though.

Today, is my birthday. Last night, I won the first two volleyball games of my career as the freshmen coach at LSE. I'm kind of a big deal. (just kidding)

As you may have read in a previous post.. I was offered the JV position at Southeast. Long story short, they made a switcheroo. It's ok. I'm happy with where I'm at, even if I'm learning with the girls.

I have been subbing. Well, once, but subbing is so slow the first month of school!

Anyways.. busy weekend ahead of me. I'm in Casey's wedding which will be a blasty blast.

I'll post pictures after the weekend!

Have a safe Labor Day weekend everyone.

xoxo - Rach

Let's try this again...

It has been over 6 months since I wrote a post. My life has changed so much since then!

I finished student teaching, I barely passed my CAPstone project, I graduated from college, I moved home, I'm coaching club volleyball, I travelled to Florida for vacation, I'm a substitute teacher and I was offered half of my dream job. Really that has been my life in a nutshell.

Let's rewind to about a week ago. I had my first sub job in LPS (Lincoln Public Schools) at Lincoln North Star High School. First of all I was blown away by the size of the school. Yes, I've been there before, many times, for volleyball and student council activities. But I was also blown away by the size of the students. They were all pretty much taller than I am (not hard to do). I'm so used to teaching students who are half my size or are at least shorter than me.

ANYWAYS. I had a real eye-opening experience while I was there. Even though I was just subbing for PE, I couldn't believe the disrespect the students have for their peers and their teachers. Yes, I know that I'm just a sub and I went in knowing I would get treated badly. I just didn't think it would go so far. It also made me realize how important my job as an elementary teacher is. One student, while taking a test, couldn't read it. It was just a real shock. Hopefully students from my future classroom will be able to read by high school, if not, then I shouldn't be teaching anymore.

In other things, after being truly devastated by not being offered the freshman coaching position at Waverly, something happened in my favor. I aced my interview for Lincoln Southeast JV coach. 2 weeks later, I was offered the job. As I was speaking with the AD (a former Husker volleyballer) I must not have made sense, but I did end the conversation with a Yes! I'll take it! Haha. I have never been sooooo excited to be part of a new/re-vamped program. They have a new head coach, a new jv coach and a new freshman coach. It's going to be quite an experience!

I hope to keep this updated more throughout my subbing experiences and my job hunting experiences. I have now been limited to accepting a job in Lincoln Public Schools, but I'm ok with that. If I don't get offered a position, I will probably sub all of next year. Again, I am ok with it! It will give me MUCH more insight into how to teach.

Ciao!

Uhm yeah.. we're gunna need a bigger boat.

Holy cow! It's been a month since I've started teaching. I am loving every single minute of it too. I have overcome many challenges such as getting the students to put their names on their papers, girl drama, tattling, physical violence, in school suspensions and nouns.

My biggest challenge right now is nouns. They just don't get it. It is a 3rd grade concept too. I broke down this morning grading papers. I had to quit half way through. It just kills me tht after reading the directions 3 times, working 6 or 7 problems together and then going over the directions one more time - I have 9 students who completely did the worksheet wrong. I don't know what to do. I am trying to put together a noun cheat sheet so that they can look at that, but I don't think it is going to help. Dr. Dub (an old professor) suggested to use a graphic organizer to break down why nouns are nouns. Idk. Maybe I'll try both.

Volleyball is off to a 500 start. We got 4th/12 at Beatrice we beat Columbus I believe, lost to Pius, GINW and Skutt. It was some great volleyball. We beat Blair last Tuesday. Lost to Gretna on Thursday. It was heartbreaking, but Gretna is GOOD. We went to Norris yesterday and smoked Blair AGAIN, but had some mental errors and lost to Norris. I wanted to beat them so that we would have a chance to play Gretna again. Oh well, we then beat Ralston soundly.

I am spending the day at my parents, so it has been relaxing with the new kitchen and beautiful weather, windows open, ribs smoking and soon to be beer drinking.

I need to keep this updated better!