Any other substitutes/teachers out there? - Page 2

oncegreek · #1 10-06-2009, 11:50 PM

Good luck with subbing, Lucy KKG. Times are tough in California schools. I have been with my district for almost ten years, and I have never seen budget cuts like this. We can't buy any new textbooks until 2014, and for the 10-11 school year, there is talk of furlough days. Also, there are no longer yard duties- we have yard duty now. I know this sounds like a petty complaint, but many of us use that time to help students, and do what little prep work we can. Now, we will be lucky to get a 30 second bathroom break. Oh, and this is a k-6 district. I know that I am lucky to have a job, but I am dismayed at these budget cuts, and the effects that they will have on the students.

LucyKKG · #2 10-07-2009, 03:25 AM

Yeah, I'm still waiting to get my permit from the state. It's taking forever!! I mailed my packet in a day or two after my last post. I still have to give my stuff to the school district after I get the permit. Ugh! I applied to some private schools, because I've been waiting so long. (I went to one of them, and they now have three campuses, so we'll see.)

Also have an interview at Barnes and Noble on Thursday. :-) I worked there before, so I'll probably get it.

LucyKKG · #3 11-11-2009, 04:31 AM

I'm THIS much closer to subbing! I finally got my substitute permit last week. Word of advice to anyone hoping to sub in California: take the CBEST early (it's easy) and apply for your sub permit as soon as you graduate from college!!

I can get my TB test results tomorrow, then I'm turning applications in right after I leave the doctor's office! Haha. I'm applying to 5 districts (I think), and only one requires letters of rec. Of course, it's the one I want the most. I have one letter, the second went in the mail this morning, and the third should go out in a day or two. Yay! I really hope I can start working in a few weeks. I have no idea how long each district takes with its sub hiring process.

epchick · #4 11-11-2009, 01:28 PM

I'm a sub!!

Xidelt · #5 11-11-2009, 11:20 PM

Good luck subbing in Cali! I'm a teacher in Georgia. Times are tough here in my district. We've already been furloughed 3 days and had pay freezes through next year at least. There is talk of 3 more furlough days for spring semester. The budget has been cut to the bone. My content area was supposed to go through the book adoption cycle this school year, but that was cancelled. I'm working with textbooks from 1996. The books are older than my students!

LucyKKG · #6 11-11-2009, 11:33 PM

^^ That totally sucks! I remember laughing at old books when I was in school cause of wrong information we found. I can't imagine having to use those as the teacher!

I didn't get to turn in my applications today because I forgot all of the district offices are close for Veterans' Day. Duh! I can't wait to get started, and I'm sure I'll be more nervous about it when the day actually comes.

I have a random question: would it be weird to introduce myself (or write on the board) as Miss Lastname? I really prefer Miss instead of Ms. but I'm already young, and I think Miss would just make me sound even younger.

Xidelt · #7 11-11-2009, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucyKKG

^^ That totally sucks! I remember laughing at old books when I was in school cause of wrong information we found. I can't imagine having to use those as the teacher!

I didn't get to turn in my applications today because I forgot all of the district offices are close for Veterans' Day. Duh! I can't wait to get started, and I'm sure I'll be more nervous about it when the day actually comes.

I have a random question: would it be weird to introduce myself (or write on the board) as Miss Lastname? I really prefer Miss instead of Ms. but I'm already young, and I think Miss would just make me sound even younger.

No, it's not weird to introduce yourself or use Miss at all! In fact, I did the same thing when I first started teaching before I got married. I always wrote my name and introduced myself as Miss Xidelt. I preferred it! In fact, I kinda miss it sometimes.....

LucyKKG · #8 11-12-2009, 12:14 AM

Ok, I'm glad you think so! I'm only 22, and this is the first time I can think of that I've wanted to seem older than I actually am. I'm kind of worried about the kids not listening to me because of my age. I know there are other things I can do to establish authority (besides what they call me), but it'll be weird being as little as 4-5 years older than my students!

BabyPiNK_FL · #9 11-12-2009, 12:56 AM

I subbed before I started grad school and I was "Miss BabyPink" unless I thought I'd have a really hard time w/ the class and then I was Ms. but I don't think it made any difference b/c kids don't know the difference anymore for the most part.

epchick · #10 11-12-2009, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

I subbed before I started grad school and I was "Miss BabyPink" unless I thought I'd have a really hard time w/ the class and then I was Ms. but I don't think it made any difference b/c kids don't know the difference anymore for the most part.

lmao, I don't even know the difference. I'm Ms. [epchick] to my students, but most just call me 'miss.' I've always been told not to allow them to call me that, but i'm kinda over it. As long as they are listening to me and doing what I ask, I could care less whether they call me miss, Miss/Ms [epchick] or just use Miss A (the first letter of my last name).

Lucy just remember this one thing (cause its the thing i still struggle with)---they WILL disobey you just because you are the sub. A lot of times, they won't listen to you. Don't be afraid to raise your voice, or be stricter than you wanted to be. They will push your buttons (especially the little ones) and they need you to be the disciplinarian/leader. Don't go in there thinking you are gonna be their friend (that was my mistake in the beginning). Once you show them that you mean business, then the friendly/nice person can come out.

I have a list of 7 traps that substitutes fall into, and I can tell you i've probably fallen into 3 of those traps. Now i'm learning how to re-work my strategies to be more effective and give me less anxiety lol.

LucyKKG · #11 11-12-2009, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epchick

Lucy just remember this one thing (cause its the thing i still struggle with)---they WILL disobey you just because you are the sub. A lot of times, they won't listen to you. Don't be afraid to raise your voice, or be stricter than you wanted to be. They will push your buttons (especially the little ones) and they need you to be the disciplinarian/leader. Don't go in there thinking you are gonna be their friend (that was my mistake in the beginning). Once you show them that you mean business, then the friendly/nice person can come out.

Oh, I'm sure! Some kids love to torture subs. Why? They're usually an easier target cause they're in a new situation. I'll put my big girl panties on and show 'em! (So I say now...haha!)

epchick · #12 11-12-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucyKKG

Oh, I'm sure! Some kids love to torture subs. Why? They're usually an easier target cause they're in a new situation. I'll put my big girl panties on and show 'em! (So I say now...haha!)

Everyone would tell me that kids will misbehave, even the good ones, just because they can, and I would say "well no, cause i'm cool and the kids will like me." Chyeah, right! Some classes are better than others, but i've had to use my 'mean teacher' voice so much that I come home hoarse. lol

One third grader and I almost had a show down, cause he would NOT stop singing the '5 dollar footlong' Subway theme. This was a time I wish we still had spankings in school! lmao

LucyKKG · #13 11-13-2009, 04:45 AM

I am now officially a sub!!! (I posted a more brief version of this in another thread.) I went to 4 school districts today with mixed results. They were all very nice, but one wouldn't even take my application and said come back in January, one took my application but also said come back in January, and the third let me fill out an application without giving any indication one way or the other.

However...I got hired at one of the districts! I still have one more BIG one (the biggest in the area as well as where I went to school) to apply to once I get my last letter of rec, but I'm super excited about this! There are 4 elementary schools and one middle school in the district. I actually know a brother and sister in this district, so I hope I get to see them!

I could start as early as next week! I got a missed call from someone with a prefix similar to this area when I was at the Sharks game, and I know they wouldn't leave me a message. Could they really need me so soon? Anyway, the sub coordinator said she thought they'd need me for sure before Thanksgiving. I'm excited!!!

epchick · #14 11-13-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucyKKG

I am now officially a sub!!! (I posted a more brief version of this in another thread.)

CONGRATS!! I would suggest (in case you haven't thought of it yet) to get a good daily agenda/planner and make sure you right EVERY job you have down. I never thought it would be that big a deal, until I realized (today!) that i got jipped money. I had the job # and everything ready to prove I actually worked that day. IDK how your school districts will do it, but make sure you write down everything, cause you never know when you'll need it.

LucyKKG · #15 11-13-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epchick

CONGRATS!! I would suggest (in case you haven't thought of it yet) to get a good daily agenda/planner and make sure you right EVERY job you have down. I never thought it would be that big a deal, until I realized (today!) that i got jipped money. I had the job # and everything ready to prove I actually worked that day. IDK how your school districts will do it, but make sure you write down everything, cause you never know when you'll need it.

Thanks! Yeah, I have a planner and am going to dedicate a notebook or some kind of organizer thing to subbing. I kind of already learned about how they do payroll. I'll make sure to stay on top of it.

It sucks that I'll only get paid monthly because I'm used to other jobs where it's been bi-monthly, but I'll get over it.