They voted me in! I am a sub at one school district now.

Yes, I flick the lights to get quiet and their teacher claps her hands. I never did the flouride treatments, the nurse used to do them and only with students who signed slips. These kids listened to nothing I said. Quest teachers came in. The clapped before they did anything to get them quiet and to get their attention. Used to be, if the teacher went up to the chalkboard, attention was automatic. My have times changed! Kept 4 on a bench for part of recess. They didn't get much time to play. Ones I had to talk to over and over again. Take care.

Guest, not quest, sorry.

Yes, because I care, I'm already better than most. I know. Years ago, I had a part-time Option 1 class and when I was out sick,the sub wanted the same worksheet for all the kids. Every child in the room had a different IEP (individualized education plan), she wanted to teach every child the same. I kept calling the school and begging for a Special Ed sub, a Reading sub, someone who would teach according to the plan. They couldn't get one and canceled the class half of the time. This meant no remedial reading or math for those kids on some days. But with my collar bone broken in three places, I couldn't get the Doctor to release me. I wanted to go in anyway. Wanted a lesson plan and wrote on the back of the plan. That's a good one! Gave a test for three days. Unbelievable! That beats my having a class of 1 to 6 kids (depending on a time period) and the regular ed teacher couldn't do individualized even though I wrote what to do with each kid for each time period. 13 kids in all in 4 class periods. What would she have done with my 20 inmates that were all individualized?

That was 20 inmates per class as opposed to 13 students (children) in an entire day.

Wow! You've really seen how frustrating it can be! One principal said teachers who expected subs to do anything well were asking too much! I guess he was right, but that's terrible. I was once a sub, and very conscientious about it. Is it that we just pay them too little for people of quality to do the job? It makes no sense to me to waste the kids' time when there's never enough time for all they need to do. I missed six days recently for surgery. I'd given three weeks' notice so they could arrange for a good sub. The first day there was no sub at all, and they asked the teacher next door to cover his own class and mine. They should have paid him extra for that day, certainly! The second day, they had a sub who spoke only Spanish to cover my English classes. When I got out of the hospital, I e-mailed plans to the guy next door for use if there's no sub or a totally inappropriate one. What a waste!

Thanks! I need the encouragement. I'm certified K-6 all subjects and K-12 reading, so that is what I was most comfortable doing. I can understand why some won't do some grades or levels. I was called into a classroom one time and chairs started flying! I told them not to call me for certain types of classes ever again. Once you have a bad experience, you get choosey. They had me sub a Physic's class once. The students asked me if I knew Physics. I asked why they wanted to know. The teacher told them Plan A if I knew physics and plan B if I didn't. They were terrific. They played a game with questions/answers and taught themselves, but other times students have asked me if I was whatever type of teacher just to throw it back in my face. So you never know. Your job sounds like it was hard. The lady who is arranging subs where I am is trying to arrange them a week in advance, unless a teacher is sick. Since it's near X-mas and in December, she has a lot of advance warning. She seems nice, organized and really, really trying to have enought subs. Usually it's a secretary in a Principal's office, but it's Guidance. So many things have changed! Three of us were voted in, so that must be a big help. I saw all three of us working Thursday and Friday. So they must have needed us. Usually last voted in take forever to get a job, last called, but we've been working and will work pretty steady. So they must have needed us.

I hope it does, too. Thanks!

If you don't think subbing hasn't changed, you are way out of touch. I subbed in the 80s, in the 90s and now again. Every time it has changed a lot. Most people have had money to take classes or were part of school districts who sent them to classes to keep up. So I'm 8 years behind the times. There is a school district that trains subs, but the last time I went to the training they told me they only hire people who live in their county and I'm the next county over, so they don't want me. Not sure if the training is still paid. They've started to cut costs by not paying aides and assistants in many school districts for training. As far as qualified, they're taking anyone with college degrees right now. Certified gets one amount and non-certified gets another amount. They only have a hand full of subs.

That should be "If you don't think subbing has changed." You're right, I could be more confident. I haven't taught since Bush inacted all the changes in education and our last Governor got in. All these things plus school boards and even voting affects schools and classrooms. See other responses to see examples of some changes.

Thanks, I need all the encouragement I can get. It's been 8 years and lots of things have changed. Since I'm going through menopause, I think patience is in short supply. Welcome to Mylot. I see your # is under 100. Take care and I hope you enjoy it here. I'm certified Special Ed and Reading. Take care