The Streak Is Over!

The last few weeks of substituting have been very pleasant. I've had lots of sweet, quiet, cooperative classes. Just yesterday I remarked that I was pushing my luck, and that the first bad day was just looming over my head.

If I'd known I was a prophet I would have kept my mouth shut!

Today was not a good day. I've had worse, but it certainly was not nice, easy or enjoyable. The kids were loud. They did not follow directions unless threatened (basically, "do this now, or go to the office" or, "do this now or owe recess"). They did not stop talking for pretty much anything. They did not sit still. They did not do their work correctly (because they also did not listen to directions!)

It was frustrating!

At one point in the day a boy came up to me because he'd actually finished his project. He asked what to do next and I told him to read a book (what all that were finished were already (supposed to be) doing). This is the rest of our conversation:

"I don't waaaaant to!"

"I didn't ask you if you wanted to. Please find a book."

"Teacher, I really don't want to. It's boring!"

"I understand."

"I don't like reading!"

"I'm sorry you feel that way."

"I'm not going to!"

"The direction was to find a book. You may choose to follow the direction, or you may choose to go to the office and explain to the principal why you did not want to follow directions."

"Urgh! Are you gonna be here tomorrow?"

"No, I'm not"

"Good. That's gonna be a lot better!"

"Yes, I'm sure it is. Have you decided if you are going to follow directions?"

"(grumbling) Fine, I'll read!"

And pretty much that's a snapshot of my day. This was not the only time I had this conversation. I was very happy to say goodbye to the little stinkers! Here's hoping for a better day next time!