I’m sitting here and typing this in a classroom. Not because I’m in class, because I AM the class. I’m the teacher, well, substitute teacher at least. This has been my profession and job of choice for the past two weeks, and I feel like I’ve found my calling.
No, I don’t mean substitute teaching being my calling, I don’t want to substitute for the rest of my life…although I have now convinced myself that I do indeed want to teach for the rest of my life. I want to teach middle school.
Wait…I want to teach middle school? Seriously? Am I sick or something? They say no one wants to teach middle school…why would I?
Well, when I was in middle school and knew I wanted to be a teacher I said I wanted to teach middle school English…but when I was in elementary school I said I wanted to teach elementary school, and when I was in high school I said I wanted to teach high school. And in college I did think that I could just continue my education and teach at the university level. So why have I regressed or changed or just decided to teach middle school now?
It really has to do with my experience as a substitute teacher now. I’ve been a sub at both the high school and the middle school, and my experiences at the two schools, though in the same corporation, could never be more different.
At the high school, I felt like I was wearing a sign that said “substitute teacher”. I didn’t feel accepted by anyone, not even the administration that hired me. Maybe the classes I’ve subbed for at the high school has something to do with it—my first two exposures were for teachers I never had who taught classes I never took. I didn’t take these classes because I wasn’t interested in them and didn’t need them, so why should I take them?
But even now looking back and comparing my experience with the two schools: At the high school I had no structure. I was given a lesson plan and was told to follow it. There were no disciplinary rules written or place for me to take attendance or anywhere to write anything about the classes. I had a class where writing an actual write up instead of just putting it on a sticky note would have been much more effective in getting my point across. Then I was hired as an aide who went to class with a hearing impaired student for half of the day and then was not assigned anything for the rest so they made something up for me…that was almost my last straw—I didn’t want to go in and sub for that school again.
And I haven’t, but that’s not necessarily been my choice. The past six days I’ve subbed have been at the middle school, and I’ve loved every minute of it. And again, I will give the classes that I’m in credit because that very well could be a reason why it’s been such a positive experience. My first three days were for my previous 8th grade English teacher, then a day for my previous 8th grade science teacher, then for a music teacher, then for my previous 7th grade Social Studies teacher, and tomorrow I will be subbing for my previous middle school choir teacher. I’ve personally known each teacher here I’ve subbed for, as well as the subject area, and I know that could be a reason for my vast enjoyment.
But administratively the middle school is more organized and better suited for me being a substitute. The attendance secretary is always really nice and makes sure I know the lesson plans and where the classroom is. I personally know both the principal and vice principal. Each day I get a sheet where I can record the activities of each period as well as take attendance. There are places for me to take notes about each class so I feel that if I have anything I need to say I am able to say it. Not to mention each class I’m in I always have at least one teacher come in and make sure that I’m doing alright as a sub and make sure that I know if I need anything I can go to them.
The fun thing is really when they recognize who I am and that I was in middle school only six years ago. Then all of a sudden they’re asking me where I go to college at and what I’m studying and when I say I’m an education major it’s like we have an inside joke or something.
Teaching at the middle school has been such a great experience, and I feel it was meant to be—I was meant to teach middle school. I love this decision.
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