high school

Well, after my start at the Elementary and Middle school I got to experience subbing at the High school.  I could not believe how much they kept calling me, after being there one day they would ask me if I can come back the next day and next so now I've subbed there for 3 days straight and going back this afternoon.  I really thought out of all 3 schools I would get the least amount of calls for High school because I heard they have plenty of subs but instead it is looking pretty busy over there.

So far I subbed for Study Hall, Special Ed and Math there.  The study hall I expected to be very low key and pretty much just watching the kids.  The day seemed forever long because I just had to sit there, take attendance and make sure everyone is behaving.  They did give me a laptop so I was able to browse online which still didn't help me feel really bored.  A friend told me she just reads her books there which is probably the only thing I could do.  So in that sense, I really disliked subbing there just because of the lack of activity/tasks. 

But I thought maybe Special Ed would be different and definitely Math would.  Well, Special Ed was very much like study hall except there were only 8 kids per class at the most.  During one period I had to have the kids read out loud from a novel and that was an experience as they had trouble reading very simple words.  I know that's why they're in special ed class, but I didn't see anything wrong with any of those kids as far as having a learning disability or anything like that, it's more lacking the motivation to study.  On another hand I was glad that I had at least one task to do with the kids and make sure they understand what they're reading.  Otherwise the day was very slow again, just like study hall.

But surely Math would be a whole other story I thought.  I thought for sure I'd have to do something with the kids, explain stuff or anything but there were a bunch of handout sheets they had to complete and when they were done they had free time.  And they didn't need my help at all because they just all got their answers from the books or the smart kids and the teacher did say that it's ok for them to work together.  So it was another long day.  One thing that I was really surprised about was when the Math teacher wrote on my instructions to please encourage the kids to work on their work sheets but if they don't, it's not worth the fight. I had to laugh to myself at that because it just shows that they don't get after the kids much at all.  Sure, they eventually get bad grades because they didn't finish their work and stuff but it's just interesting that he doesn't expect the kids to do what he told them to.  I think all the classes did really great and most of them did the work, even if some of them just copied it from a friend.  It was supposed to be review for a test in a couple of days so I hope they know it by then. :)

High school kids are way different than Elementary and Middle school kids.  It was a bit intimidating to me at first just because they're so tall and grown up looking but really most of them are just kids inside big bodies :) and it helps to remember that when I talk to them.  I have to say I don't get as much enjoyment out of subbing there as I do in the Elementary school where I need to be engaged with the kids the whole time.  A friend of mine only subs there because she likes how low-key it is and she can just do her own thing usually, but for me it would be really hard to do that day after day.
Occasionally yes, it's nice to have a slow day but every day would be hard and I'd have to get creative with what to bring with me that I can work on.  But I really can't complain because at least they are calling me and it must be the easiest earned money ever.  I am going back there for one period this afternoon (they have 90 minute periods so it's a bit long) and have no idea what class it's for so we'll see.  It's nice getting more familiar with the school and their schedule too so I look like I know what I'm doing.:)