The Metaphorical Red Carpet

Today I returned to my favorite school to sub in a kindergarten class. I'd subbed in this teacher's room last year, so I was familiar with the routine as well as the assistant (who is one of the best assistants out there - she just has the sense to know when to jump in and when to just let me deal with things. She's super helpful, and easy to talk to, and really good with the kids. So it's nice to sub when you know you'll have good help.) Anyways, the day was pretty easy: song, calendar, story, "jobs" or "groups" as I called them in error, recess, movie and snack and then home! Then: repeat! We watched a movie today because it was the kids' last day in that classroom. Their regular classroom had a leaky pipe which caused a whole bunch of mold, and they had to move out for a couple weeks while the problem was fixed. Today they finished the repairs so they can return to their regular classroom tomorrow. The movie was a sort of celebration (plus movies are easy for subs to manage which I'm sure influenced the teacher's decision to plan one!)

Once again I felt like a celebrity at this school. EVERY time I went outside or walked down the hall and passed other classes, I saw little faces light up with recognition and start waving frantically or yelling out my name! Once, as I was coming back inside with my class, I passed a class going out to recess. LOTS of the kids were waving at me as we passed each other. Then, the little boy at the end of this line saw me and started yelling "Hi! Hi!" out to me. A few moments later he remembered my name and started yelling that behind me and waving. I waved back. Then, as I'm turning the corner I hear him out on the playground yelling, "HEY!! Hey you guys!! I found Miss Barnes!! I found Miss Barnes!!!" It was all I could do to keep from cracking up. Kids are so funny. Kinda cool to still be remembered after the long summer!

Oh, and this message is to Jan: I hear you are lurking! I'm glad you're reading - you should comment sometime! (You don't even have to sign up to do it!) :)