Oops!

I forgot to write about my Friday last week!

So basically, there was a significant mix-up that was pretty much my fault. But it was resolved, and no one was worse for the wear. That's all the details you get on this blog - I don't really feel like detailing my mistakes in writing. :)

The day was fun though, the kids were mostly good (except for one incident on the playground), and the day went by really fast because they had library, which when you only go to school for half a day, takes out a big chunk! And since I had two half-day classes, and they both went to library, I had lots of time to work on the projects the teacher left for me.

That's what I did. :)

Slow Day

Argh. I'd already written like half of this post and then the internet got all screwy and I lost the whole thing. So this will be brief as I don't want to type it all over.

Basically, I got called for a job last night with a weird start and end time. Called the school this morning and eventually figured out what time they wanted me there, and had to sort of dash off at the last minute.

After I arrived all excitement for the day was over! I was supposed to have four groups/sessions with students, but only ended up having 2 because the other two groups where just one kid each and they were both absent. I was also supposed to help out in a classroom for a portion of the day, but the teacher didn't need me. So I spent 1 hour with kids and the rest I didn't do anything. Tried to read my book, but it was so quiet and warm in that room that I just felt sleepy!

On the plus side, on my way down the hall in the morning, I got stopped by 2 teachers who wanted me for afternoons tomorrow and Friday. Then the LRC teacher wants me back tomorrow morning. So it will be a one-school week, and for that I am glad. :)

You've GOT to be Kidding Me!

So this week has pretty much stunk.

Granted, yesterday was pleasant, but Tuesday was not an enjoyable class, Wednesday was the "we don't actually want you" debacle, and today, oh today - it happened again.

Is it a full moon this week?!? (Oh, just checked - no it's not. I must search for another explanation.)

Anyways. It's about 12:30 and I've given up on a job for today and am talking on the phone with my mom when I get another call. It's the sub office calling for a job starting at 12:01. So I'm irritated and running around like crazy to get out the door. I arrive at the school, and this is just not my week because, once again, they look at me a shock and say, "Oops, sorry, we don't need you."

Yeah.

Again.

I know.

Apparently the job was SUPPOSED to go to another sub that was already in the building, and she was already doing the job. So they said sorry a couple more times, went back to their work and waited for me to just leave.

What am I supposed to do?

I wanted to say, "Well, find me something to do, because I'm here and you have to pay me." But I also didn't want to make everyone angry with me and get bad rep. So I acted frustrated and I left.

Then I went home.

And called the sub office.

And tattled.

Well, not tattled really. You see, tattling is telling on someone when you want them to get in trouble, and telling is when you tell on someone to keep them and everyone else safe. (At least that's the best way I've heard to explain it to kids.) And while there might be a tiny bit of me that wants to get them in trouble, mostly I just want this to quit happening! The people putting in job requests need to learn how to do it right. And that would keep them safe from my anger, so yeah, it's just telling. :)

It's Not My Fault!

Really it wasn't.

This afternoon I was sitting in my recliner reading a book, since I had nothing better to do and no place to sub. And then, surprisingly, my phone rings. It's nearly 1:30, so I'm not sure who it is but it can't be the sub office.

But it is.

It's a call for a sub job teaching 4th grade at one of the furthest schools from my house.

Start time?

Noon.

Yeah.

So I'm thinking, "That's weird. Wonder what's going on up there?" while I scramble around getting dressed, brushing my teeth, grabbing my stuff and running out the door. I drive the half-hour to the school and dash into the office. Pretty much as soon as I walk in the door I realize something is not right. Usually when you get one of these abnormal, really late calls, the office is waiting for you to arrive and there's a spark of recognition in their eyes when you walk in the door. This did not happen. In fact, they seemed very curious who I was and why I was there. I explained that I was there to sub and that I'd gotten a late call about a half-hour ago. Then they seemed really puzzled. This set off a series of events: one of the office people called the teacher, the other checked the sub site to make sure I read the date right I guess (I had). Turns out the teacher wanted the sub for Friday and put the date in wrong. However, now that I was there because of their mistake I now have a choice (this is district policy): I can leave and not get paid, or I can stay and do whatever they want me to and get paid for a half-day. They can't tell me to leave, it has to be my decision. Well, obviously, I wanted to get paid. (I did make the 30 minute drive up there! I didn't want it to be for nothing.) However, I got the feeling they were wishing I'd choose to leave so my sub pay wouldn't come out of their school's fund. I didn't want to leave though, I wanted to get paid, so it was a little awkward.

Eventually they sent me to the library to help out there.

The library people liked me.

I shelved books and covered new books with contact paper for a couple hours. They were very happy to have me and kept saying over and over how it was so great I was there, and "thank you so much". So at least someone was happy to have me around! :)

Fifth to Kinder & Lots of Confusion

Wow, I don't even know where to start today's blog! Today was a big mess of mix-ups, tight schedules and mistaken identity. I will try to simplify it so you don't have to spend an hour reading my blog.

Anyways, I started the morning across town in a 5th grade class. I arrived early (hoping that then I could leave early to go to my second school for the afternoon), only to have to wait in the office for 10 minutes for the office staff to arrive and print out the sign in sheet. Then I went to the room to find a mess on the teacher's desk and absolutely no plans or plan book in sight. I did spend a good 10 minutes searching though. Just as I was about to give up and go to the office to ask for some sort of schedule so I'd at least know when PE or Music and Lunch were. However, at this time the teacher walked in. He looked totally shocked to see me there and it was not long before we figured out that the person in the office who puts in the sub requests made a mistake and got a sub for the morning when he actually needed a sub for the afternoon! I told them I already had a job for the afternoon, so they had to get a new sub, and I ended up teaching the class for the morning anyway. They were a pretty nice class and the morning when by quickly. However, in all the commotion of the morning I didn't get a chance to call the second school and give them a heads up that I was coming from another school and might be a few minutes late.

Come midday I ended up racing out of the first school and driving back out across town to the second school. Annoyingly, I got behind some slow drivers and hit a few red lights so I was about 10 minutes late. I literally ran from my car to the front door. Thankfully, the second school hadn't even noticed I was late, and didn't seem to care either (helpful that they know me so well I think). The afternoon was with kindergarten, and when I got there the teacher was still in the room. For a minute I was afraid I was going to have a repeat of the morning, but all was well. The teacher actually stayed and lead the class for the first hour. After she left the assistant (also a sub) and I took the kids to recess, then I read them a story, and then they did math centers. It was pretty easy and the kids were good. It was a pretty drastic change from 5th grade though!

Anyways, despite the two nice easy classes it was kind of a stressful day. I'm hoping I don't have to do two half days at different schools again anytime soon!