The greatest sub that ever lived.

I think that all kids really want from a substitute teacher {or any teacher for that matter} is to have someone who isn't going to lose their head and yell at them all day. Hence, I have become the greatest substitute that ever lived. Only kidding. But really. When I end my days and the students leave and tell me that I should always be their substitute or I'm the best substitute they've ever had or even that I'm a nice substitute, it makes me wonder what sort of substitutes they've had before. I am certainly nothing special, so what sort of hags are signing up to be substitutes?!

Case and point:

A couple weeks ago I was substituting for a 2nd grade class south of Provo, and the minute I walked in the door, a girl looked right at me and said in amazement, "You're pretty!" Another girl turned to see me and affirmed, "Yeah, you are pretty!" First of all, I was deeply flattered {you know how bluntly honest seven-year-olds are} and it was a great start to my day, but secondly I was shocked that I was a shock to them. At the end of the day I was given gifts of polished rocks and portraits of myself and a multitude of hugs {which is against the substituting rules, but I just don't have the heart to shove 1st and 2nd graders away from me}. But surely I am not the only substitute to receive this sort of affection?

Another case and point:

Today I substituted for 7th and 8th grade English classes and I was terrified. I am terrified of large groups of pre-teens for some reason. But you know what, it was great. In general the students just got to work. My last class was definitely on the rowdy side, but they were hilarious. I had to remind them a few times to get back to work, but I wasn't about to yell at them for telling jokes {which were slightly inappropriate for a school setting but otherwise knee-slappers} instead of working diligently on the crossword puzzle that was left for them to do. On my way out of the school, the kids told me they wanted me to come back and they were just thrilled that I hadn't yell at them. Of course I wasn't going to yell at them! But then one kid said to me, "You would be the best teacher."

Heaven. That's all I really want. And if what students want is someone to laugh at their jokes and not consistently threaten and reprimand them, then it's a deal. But who knows, maybe one day I'll be a witch of a teacher too.

-KB