Wow! Who would have thought?

When I first started subbing, I was miserable! I had a hard time getting control of the classrooms, talking to teachers I didn't know, and I just plain longed for my own classroom! Whenever something happened that was uncomfortable, I would break down. Last year at this time I wasn't enjoying subbing at all!

After a year and a half, I have learned so much! I am getting a lot of good ideas on that I can use in my own classroom. I've become better at communicating with new people. And one of the most important things I've learned it how to deal with students in a more positive way. I've learned that you treat them with respect and expect good behavior. This usually works. Sometimes it doesn't and it makes for a long day. I don't fret over these days though. It doesn't have much to do with me, those students don't really want to be there, and there isn't much I can do to change their minds in one day. What a load off of my mind!

I still look forward to the day when I have my own classroom again. Which will hopefully have next fall when we move to Phoenix. But now I have a bunch of ideas of what I can do in my classroom, and a renewed confidence in myself. :)

Enjoying Subbing

Last year at this time I was miserable subbing. I longed for my own classroom, and hated being at different schools everyday. I still don't really like being at different schools everyday, but I have grown to like subbing. I think knowing that kids are going to be thrown off by having a sub, and not letting them get away with things has helped. I have also learned that I like high school kids. I used to be scared of them. They are as big, or bigger than me after all! But I have learned that I really like teaching them. :)

No subbing jobs yet

No subbing jobs yet for me. We've only had one week of school though.

It was a great summer here. We went to Seattle a couple of times to see a friend there. We shopped at Pike's Market, and spent 4th of July there as well. It was rainy and wet on the 4th. We watched fireworks covered in blankets from the garage. The kids had a ton of fun, which made it all worth it.

We also went to Idaho a couple of times to visit friends there. We went to Wallace, Idaho, way up north, to see my friend Melissa. She's a music teacher and teaches piano from home. We also went to Boise to enjoy the water park and visit my best friend Kristi and her family. Our daughters have grown up together and are going to miss each other terribly when we move to Arizona.

I've started prepping for the PRAXIS. I looked up the requirements for AZ and I need to take an AZ teacher assessment there. I wish they'd just accept the PRAXIS. OI! I am also going to take the assessments to qualify for highly qualified special education and reading. We aren't sure when we are moving yet, so I need to renew my certificate here and get a new certificate in AZ. Paper work, paper work! OI!

Oh, and if we move within the school year, I'll be making 1/2 of what I make here as a substitute teacher in AZ! Great. That is just a good incentive to get a job and not just sub when we move.

I'll post more when I get some sub jobs. Until then, not much else to say! Thanks for reading. :)

Long time, no post!

I've been subbing and subbing and subbing. Not much else. We are finally getting some sunny days in Oregon, so at least the weather is improving. Since I last posted, I have learned that we are moving to Arizona at the end of the year. So that means another year of subbing! I can't take a job knowing that I am going to quit 1/2 way through the year. Well, I could take a job, but it wouldn't feel right knowing that I'm going to be quitting 1/2 way through the year. In the meantime, I will start working on my permanent certification for Oregon and Arizona, at the same time. Can we say PRAXIS? URG! And I will take all the assessments I need to become highly qualified for special education. Fun, fun! NOT!

I have subbed in special education classes and have realized that I really want to stay in special education. I also have found that I like high school. I didn't think I'd like it, but I have discovered that they aren't so scary. :) That being said, I like elementary and high school, but not middle school. Middle school kids just like to push buttons and don't really have much respect for adults. Puberty is not my friend, nor theirs.

A subbing we will go...

Subbing has been going pretty well since I got back from winter break. Well, the two jobs I've gotten anyway. I think if I can just stay away from Middle school, at least everything but PE, then I'll be good. I love subbing for PE for any grade. When the kids are running around they don't have time to be snotty! :) I subbed for high school the other day for the resource room and it was fantastic! The kids were great, and not mean at all. I talked to another teacher about it. He had previously worked at a middle school and said that he prefers high school too. :)