Last Sub Job for the School Year

I subbed for probably the last time for this school year.  I taught some kids that are in my neighborhood.  I love knowing some of the kids.  They get so excited that they know me.  It was a really great day, but there were a few things that were difficult.  Here are the top five things about my day:

1.  Teaching math is so cool!!  I taught partial products with the math program "Go Math."  I am loving "Go Math!"  They have the coolest ways of teaching concepts.  I constantly think, "This is so cool and so much easier!  I wish I was taught this way!"   Here's an example of it.

24 x 19

1. First draw a rectangle and split it into four groups.
2. Then take the number in the tens place on the number 24.  2 is in the tens place and it actually represents  20.  Write it down.   
3. Take the number in the ones place in the number 24, which is 4.  Write it down.  
4. Do the same thing to the other number, 19.
5. Then multiply.  A lot of the kids got confused where to put the answer.  I told them to put one finger on one number, like 20, and the other finger on one number, like 10.  Then bring your fingers together until they meet and that's where you put the answer.  
6. Then add up all of the numbers.

This is what you would show the students so they can visually see it better.

This is how they will see it on their paper. 

2.  BULLYING IS NEVER OKAY!!!!  I just about started crying yesterday when some boys were making fun of this girl in my neighborhood.  They play this game called, "Suzy Touch."  No, her real name is not Suzy, but you get the idea.  If you touch her on accident, then they go around trying to touch others.  She came to me devastated. I guess they play it all the time.  :(  Oh boy, did I lecture them...you know the good kind of lectures where they really feel bad.  They had to write her an apology letter.  It just makes me so mad.  I try to live by this quote, "Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." -Plato 
I know this might sound silly, but even when people cut me off when I'm driving, I try to stop and think, "You know what, maybe they're in a big hurry because they're trying to get to the hospital."  We all are fighting our own battles.  We all hurt and we should try to help lift others up. 

3.  Never leave a kid in charge.  The teacher ran out of papers for an art project.   Her classroom is across the hall from the copy room.  I thought it wouldn't be that big of deal to go make some more copies.  I put a kid in charge that seemed to be having a rough day.  He's the type of kid that wants power/control and I thought I could give him a little power while I was gone for 2 minutes.  BAD IDEA!!!  The power went to his head.  I literally needed to make 10 copies.  He told everyone to "shut-up" and that they were all "r------." It's not a swear word.  I just don't like to say it because I think it's very VERY rude.  Apparently, another boy said some racist comment.  We handled it and the principal was called. When I had to leave the room again to talk to the principal, the kids asked who was in charge.  I told them, "You are all in charge of yourselves and your behavior.  I expect you to act as if I was in the room."  I might come in afterwards and ask one kid that I really trust what happened while I was gone.  When kids are put in charge, there seems to be more drama.  What do you do when you have to leave the room??

4.  Games + Learning = both students and teacher are HAPPY :)
We played Multiplication Bingo.  Sometimes kids need a break from worksheets, lecturing, etc.  This fun learning game makes everyone happy! 


5.   Don't judge other teachers:  I've noticed that certain schools seem more judgmental.  I'll admit, I've done it.  We all have moments when we are rock star teachers and other moments when we mess up and our kids weren't in a "perfect straight line and were silent soldiers walking in from recess." :)  I agree that kids should be well-behaved, but don't give other teachers the stink-eye because their class was a little noisy.  We're all just trying to do our best.  Also, don't come chew ME out if I have a kid misbehaving in the bathroom.  Please just calmly inform me.  I can teach my student better, but in the end it's his/her choice how they're going to act when I'm not looking. When you chew out another teacher on something they really can't control in that moment, it only puts a teacher in a bad mood, which affects his/her teaching.  Isn't our goal for all kids to learn???  Again, we're all fighting our own battles....Be Nice! :)