Currently, I'm working one day a week at one of my school sites. The job I'm supposed to do is to provide reading interventions to struggling readers. That I've enjoyed immensely. However, the last two times that I've been at my school site, I've been told that I need to sub. (We have a hard time finding enough people wanting to sub in my district - I suspect it has to do with the low pay, tough working conditions, lack of respect, and lack of support.)
I've enjoyed both days back in the classroom. The kids were talkative, some were a bit disrespectful, but most were pleasant to be around. It was nothing I didn't think I could handle, especially since the kids were 3rd & 4th graders. However, yesterday I kind of taken aback as one of the aides who was in the room made a comment to me that threw me off. She proclaimed that she thought the kids were being absolutely horrible.
I looked at her perplexed as I didn't think they were being horrible at all. Were they testing the limits? Yes. Was it something that I felt was out of control? No.
I think that part of it for me was that I'm used to teaching at the middle school level. I've seen disrespectful, outrageous behavior. Perhaps my tolerance level is a lot higher than those who have never had the pleasure of being around hormone riddled adolescence.
(On another note, one of the girls had an accident & I was horrified. Apparently, she is really shy and was too embarrassed to raise her hand to let me know she had to use the bathroom. She told me when they broke for recess. I felt so bad.)
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5 comments:
I bet that woman came from a more affluent school--it's not that the kids are "better" in an affluent school, but they do know how the system works better and that makes them easier to deal with.
I know SDUSD is hurting for subs big-time, but I left exactly because of the disrespect. Though the union was even less respectful of us.
Subbing is a TOUGH job and can be made even worse by the admin. That poor girl!That would be hard to deal with. As a high school teacher, I've had students throw up, but not THAT.
That is just some of the things that goes along with the profession. I work at a school as the Tech and I see some of the things teachers have to deal with. It reminds me of a funny story that happened 2 days ago. Sort of a bad choice in words with a teacher and fifth graders- see : http://yuthink.blogspot.com/2012/02/schools-teacher-has-wrong-choice-of.html
Subbing - I've been there. It is extremely rough in middle school; however, there still are very nice, polite students in the bunch.
I have taught middle school for about eight years now. The kids are still that...kids. Maybe I have developed more tolerance for the antics, perhaps I am just a bit more patient, I don't know.
I suppose I just remember that no matter how entitled or disrespectful some can be, they are just trying to find their way.
We are all so different in our classrooms. What some feel is out of control, may not be at all. I wouldn't take it personally. It will drive you nuts.
It makes me sad that they are using you to sub instead of letting you provide reading interventions. That used to happen ALL the time to our Title I aides. They'd have their pull-out groups cancelled constantly so they could do everything from subbing to cafeteria duty to making photocopies. :-( I am glad it's going well for you, though. I can't imagine how challenging it must be.
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