September 15, 2008

Well, here is my first blog entry to talk about my teaching adventures! Today was my second day of substitute teaching, and I taught gr. 1 this afternoon! I need to blog or talk to someone, or I feel like I am going to explode, and it seems that no one wants to hear about my day with kids and what they did!

Let me back up and start from the begining! My names is Esther Huang. I am a subsitute teacher. Correction. I am starting to be a substitute teacher! Since graduating in June 2007 with a Bed. I have taught school contracts. Since my doctor told me to go to part-time work due to stress and anxiety, I figured that I should go to substitute teaching since I can choose my own hours and it is actually less work than full-time teaching. I am out the door at 3:30pm - no marking, no lesson planning! It is good.

Anyways, how do I feel about being a subsitute teacher? Well, I am not sure, quite honestly. I still have mixed feelings about it and I am still trying to figure things out. In a way, it is cool because you are there just to manage a classroom and the kids usually don't remember you. In is exciting, because you never know what you are going to get - what grade level or subject. It's kind of stressful in a way because you never know what you are going to get!

For example, I taught gr. 1 today. One of their assignments was to write a sentence. They do not know how to write a sentence! They are not even used to classroom rules yet on the 2nd week of September! They just shout out their thoughts. I was actually getting a slight headache from the non-specific noise.

The kids were cute. They didn't know what to do. Sure, I'm cute too! And I don't really know what to do either. They all talk at once. They don't listen. Sigh! Substitute teaching. I have an appointment at another campus tomorrow to introduce myself and to try to get work. Why isn't this easier?

I guess I shouldn't be too down about it. After all, it's only my second day. It's just that I am moving in a couple of weeks, I have to organize my move, pack my stuff, buy some furniture. I also tutor 5 students in math on the side. I have appointments to keep. My roommates are all $%#@%@@$ and I will be VERY glad to ditch every single one of them as I move into my own apartment!

I have started tracking spreadsheets for the seven sources of income that I have had coming in during the last 2 weeks! Will things get easier? Will I ever enjoy subbing? Will I be happy as a sub teacher?

I think I am happy for now. I do it for the money. I mean, I enjoy it. Hmmm, I don't know what I am saying. My #@$@# roommate cranked his tv up until 1am last night even though I asked him to turn it down twice, and he wouldn't! He doesn't care because he knows I am moving. I can't stand him! He has the fouth mouth of the worst sailor, he's loud, he plays loud music, he is really immature, and he's argumentative! Lack of sleep does not improve anyone's mood!