Just venting: leave replacement sub

we live in NJ. My son is in first grade. the teacher he started the year with had i think 20 years experience, things were organized, etc- BUT she had some health problems and is on leave until the end of February.
The sub they hired is just not good. I'm just not even sure she's ever taught before!! she is in her 50s, and when i was in there helping out with the class christmas party, she just kind of sat at her desk, just seemed uninterested, didn't really interact with the kids, even just a quick walk around to check out their craft projects we were doing with them.
she's been there since right after thanksgiving, and still hasn't sent home a "welcome letter" introducing herself or giving us her email address or anything like that...
you would think as a leave replacement, she would just kind of continue what the other teacher had been doing. But she's sending home completely different stuff, she's basically just googling "printable worksheets" and sending home 5 or 6 of them a night. with no instructions or notes on what to do (like are they all due tomorrow? or are we supposed to do one a night and hand them all in on friday?)
They have a reading log system. My son is writing books down that he reads at school, but she's not signing off on them. Which makes me wonder how much she is actually monitoring the kid's reading progress....
yesterday, i tried to review my son's spelling words with him and he was all confused- turns out she didn't even introduce the spelling words in class.
anyway- i'm just frustrated and i feel like my son is getting gipped out of the things he needs to learn. First grade is a pretty important year as far as foundation for math and reading and spelling. and its hard for me to pick up the slack at home when she's not including good instructions or notes with the homework....
after talking to a couple other moms from the class who feel the same way, I actually emailed the principal last night... i felt bad, but i know emailing the teacher is probably just gonna get me an "ok- i'll work on that.." kind of thing. just annoying knowing there are SO MANY great teachers out there who would have loved a long term sub position and would have actually been teaching these kids...

Re: Just venting: leave replacement sub

I don’t think you should feel bad at all. I would have raised my concerns a little earlier to her so she had a chance to change some things, but 3 months in, the principal needs to be involved. I agree with you that 1st grade is a very important grade for foundation learning, and it sucks to go from an awesome teacher to a bare minimum teacher. Hopefully things start to get better ASAP!

Just venting: leave replacement sub

I agree that it needs to be addressed but I think she should have went to the teacher first.

Just venting: leave replacement sub

I don't think you should feel bad. I would've done the same thing.

We've had a couple of horrible leave replacement stories over the past two years at our school - and they were handled poorly by administration that this year, they finally got it right for someone out on maternity leave.

Re: Just venting: leave replacement sub

I think you did the right thing. My DS went through something similar last year and it was awful. I didn't have the confidence then to speak up and I feel it really ruined his K year. Good luck!

Just venting: leave replacement sub

thanks! i did end up emailing.... AND i've been talking with a few other parents who also emailed or called the principal (after not getting far with just talking to the sub) SOO apparently the principal and the sub have a meeting tomorrow. I doubt anything will change, since she's only supposed to be there for another month (they're not going to bother hiring another sub) BUT at least maybe some things will change, since so many of us have complained.
Its bad- yesterday was a half day for inservice, and apparently the class almost missed lunch because the sub forgot it was a different schedule!!! the other first grade teacher had to tell her it was time to take them to lunch!!

Just venting: leave replacement sub

Oh man, I would be pissed too. Especially as someone who used to be a leave replacement sub and bent over backwards to try to do the very best for my students. It sounds like teaching is not the field for her. It's NOT ok to just sit at her desk all day, especially with such young students. Even though it's only supposed to be another month, that's still a prettry long time actually. AND it's possible the original teacher might have to extend her leave or even not come back at all. I think you and the other parents should push for a real improvement or a replacement. Like you said, there are so many people new to the teaching field who would LOVE the chance to have that position and who would put so much energy, effort and love into it.