Dear Teacher: A Note from Your Sub

Dear TEacher,

Yes, we subs know ALL about the "etiquette" of being a sub, but do you have ANY IDEA of the "etiquette" of being the teacher that we're subbing for ??

Your chicken-scratch doodle "plans" are impossible to read, and seem like something you wrote in your sleep.
Are you kidding me ?????????

and your filthy MESS of a classroom has left me just speechless.

and there are amazing teachers out there looking for work....

************************


OK, Disclaimer: Im NOT bashing all teachers. MOST of them ARE absolutely wonderful. Great plans, lots of detail, books and materials are easy to find, etc.

and Ive seen messy classrooms and Ive seen bad plans, especially of course the last minute absences..
But this was one of the WORSE ever.

The classroom is not only an unorganized chaotic disaster whirlwind, but it was filthy. coffee stains on papers and work areas, old coffee cups, water bottles. just GROSS.

The notes were VERY vague. "Fractions page in textbook".
Had NO clue which text to use and she used multiple books for different groups.

"Worksheet in 5th grade box"
I asked the students where this BOX was, since it was camouflaged in there somewhere, and it was an old yellowy little box with stashes of odds and ends pages of worksheets that were unrelated and not for this class... needless to say, we had to improvise and I made a fun activity out of her vague plans...

Her entire plans consisted of vague instructions that I had to figure out.

Luckily, I was able to wing it where I needed to, and take lead from the students as far as what they were up to/what needed review etc...

Am I over reacting? Is/Was this acceptable of the teacher to leave these plans ?
and isnt there an unwritten rule, where teachers take SOME sort of pride in their classroom??
I not a neat freak by any means, but I was embarassed to be sitting in this mess...

Message edited 4/27/2007 11:59:33 PM.

Re: Dear Teacher: A Note from Your Sub

Some people are just messy - it's gross but true. Doesn't necessarily make her a bad teacher. Plans were vague - could've been an emergency and she had to leave quickly.
Believe me I have been a sub and know what it feels like to have vague plans, but after teaching for a while, (and being really sick this year where I had to take several days off) I left vague plans too bc I kind of felt like the sub would know what to do bc she is a certified teacher, and if she didn't she would ask one of my co-workers. I usually leave extremely detailed plans....however with being so sick I really could have cared less about what plans I left. Does that make any sense?????
On the other hand, I have a pre-typed generic plan that stays in my sub folder with all the routines, good/bad kids, teachers to ask if they need assistance, extra work, etc.
It's tough being a sub.....but I got some great experience and ideas from doing it.

Re: Dear Teacher: A Note from Your Sub

Im definitely not saying she's a bad teacher, and Im sure it might have been an emergency or last minute, but just after seeing this so many times..
I usually do give them the benefit of the doubt...

Re: Dear Teacher: A Note from Your Sub

I was a sub for a short time and now that it is very difficult to sub in anyone's classroom. Some teacher's leave detailed plans and other's don't. Some rooms are very organized and others are not. A sub must remember that it is not their room and they must make the best of it. Some great teacher's appear disorganized. Although it is not my style it works for them.

Leaving sub plans is not any easy task. some subs are wonderful teachers and do a great job, and others cannot follow the most detailed plans. If a teacher has a bad sub, sometimes they feel as if they worked on those plans for nothing. There are two sides to every story.

As a sub, who probably wants a job, the rule is silence is golden. I learned this from a great mentor. Go in, do the best job you can do, and don't complain. People who complain don't usually get hired.

Re: Dear Teacher: A Note from Your Sub

I agree, there are 2 sides to everything. I guess it's just hard to see this when we're supposed to emulate these teachers. But we're all human.

Oh yes, silence is golden
Im one of the subs who leaves a template/document with extremely detailed notes and my contact info.
Ive gotten requested many times and have been asked about whether I was interested in a leave replacement when I was 7m preggo (for after baby of course) and there were many asking about the spot.

Just because I vent on here, doesnt mean Im going to complain
We're all human. just as her room can be messy/dirty, I can react to it. Like I said, im far from being a neat freak. I have my own little "organized mess" I like to call it

Message edited 4/28/2007 6:11:26 PM.

Re: Dear Teacher: A Note from Your Sub

I'm totally disorganized... my desk is a pile of papers I can't imagine what subs must think...

I do leave rediculously detailed plans though.


I've never had a true 'emergency' though.

Re: Dear Teacher: A Note from Your Sub

I always have papers around (and I share a room). I gave a plan last time that the kids should have been able to do, but told the sub they couldn't. When I came back and helped them the slightest bit, they completed the work.