Substitute Bailout Program

So I had a new experience today, which is getting rarer after doing this whole subbing thing for three years. So everyone has been hearing a lot about the government bailout programs of banks and auto companies, but I bet none of you have heard about the new "Substitute Bailout Program". I can't really blame you though, because I'm it. I am the bailout program.

You see, I got my job for today at around 9:30 - right about the time I'd given up on getting a job! I arrived at the school at around noon (not because I'm slow, but because that was the time I was supposed to get there) and learned very quickly that I was taking over for another substitute, who apparently, had had such a terrible morning with the class that she didn't want to stay until the end of the day. (She knew this at 9:30!!) So I was defiantly mentally prepping myself for battle. And the kids had those looks on their faces like they smelled fresh meat. The former sub informed me all the ways the class was horrible to her before she left. So I braced myself for the storm and stood in front of that riled up group of kids who just watched their previous teacher leave in defeat and stood my ground. I told them immediately what I expected from them and that I was sure that they were going to do a better job this afternoon. About thirty minutes later, during their lunch time they got a visit from the principal who lectured them on their behavior and read off the list of names of kids who the sub had said were misbehaving. The offenders had to stay in during their recess with the vice principal, who made them write letters explaining their behavior while he filled out behavior referrals.

When I got them all back together after recess we did literacy block and writing. And actually, for the most part they were pretty good. Not sure what did it - probably had a lot to do with the fear put in them by the principal and vice principal, but I kind of like to think that I had a little something to do with it. They seemed to respect me, which the first sub reported that they did not do for her. And oddly, despite me right off the bat telling them what they were and were not going to do and sticking to it, they seemed to really LIKE me. At the end of the day some of the biggest trouble-makers of the morning list were asking me if I would come back tomorrow!