Back by Popular Demand..

...it's me!

Yes, that's right it's the start of another year subbing and I'm gonna keep this blog thing a-goin! I actually found I enjoyed it a lot last year.

So, this marks the beginning of year 4 subbing, year 3 in Salem-Keizer, and *exciting* - my first job of the year was a request! Last week I sent out emails to bunches of teachers who I subbed for a lot last year and asked them to keep me in mind when they needed a sub. I also wrote to the office manager of one of the schools I really like and told her I was still subbing. I got responses from about half of them, so that was encouraging. Also, I've been called a lot by the calling system, and - get this - my roommate has yet to be called once! It's very weird.

Unfortunately, all the jobs that the machine has been calling out for are bilingual jobs. Normally, I'd do a bilingual (obviously, I've done them before), but sometimes the teacher will put in special instructions in the job request, and all of these jobs have requested bilingual substitutes. So I feel like I shouldn't take them if they ask for bilingual and I'm not. Especially when they are popping up a few days or weeks before the actual job date. It's at least good to be getting called.

Anyways, today I subbed for the afternoon for a 1/2 blend. The kids were fine. Pretty chatty and obviously still trying to get used to being back in school and learning the routine. But some of them remembered me from last year and all seemed really excited to see me back. I got lots of "Miss Barnes!!!" and "I missed you!" accompanied by as many hugs. It was fun.

I was also able to talk to some other teachers in the building and they acted like they'd heard good things about me and they might want to request me later in the year. I hoping that happens, because I would just love, love, LOVE to be doing primarily requests! Then I'd get to know ahead of time and actually have a better chance to know the schools and staff and administration. We will see how it goes. I'm optimistic.

Well...I've always liked a good saga

Here it is, school year 2008-2009 and I am once again substituting! Not that I'm terribly thrilled to still not have a job, but it's okay I guess. I have a love/hate relationship with subbing. But I guess it's that way with a lot of jobs - most times you like it but there are times when you just hate it!

My first year subbing I just kinda survived. Did what I had to do, but at the end of the year I could hardly remember WHAT I'd done! Last year, I decided to keep a journal of where I went, what grade I taught, and some things I liked or didn't like, or things I saw that I wanted to do someday with my own class (if that day ever comes!) And I'm proud to say that I actually DID keep that journal, and I DID write in it everyday! I'm glad to have it. I can look back now and remember all those things I learned throughout the year that I might otherwise have forgotten!

I'm gonna do the journal thing again this year, but I thought I might also try to keep up a blog - and here it is! I've missed blogging since I stopped doing it a couple years ago, and I thought this might give me some motivation. Subbing, if nothing else, can provide one with some entertaining stories! So here's where you'll find them.

What's up with the name of this blog you might ask? Pintastio - what does that mean? Well, in short, pintastio means nothing, and it means everything! It's actually a word that popped out of my 4-year-old cousin's mouth one day. (Well, to be precise - she's not my cousin, but my first cousin, once removed -- in other words, my cousin's daughter) But anyways, she just made it up and my aunt and I thought it was so funny that I wrote it down so I'd remember. But I think it fits - whatever it means - subbing is pintastio! :)

Tomorrow is my first day subbing for this school year - an afternoon in 5th grade is in store for me - let's see if we can keep this blogging up shall we?