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I am currently working as a substitute elementary school teacher and
trying to get on full time for next year. I started subbing because
I've always wanted to teach and my husband and I moved to a new area
which meant that I was going to need to find a new job.
I went in with a certain amount of fear, mostly because I
remember having subs in school and my classmates and I weren't always
nice to them. What I have experienced has been great. Yes, my job
is
hard: I am almost always an outsider, I go to a different school every
day and meet anywhere from 30-100 new children every week. I frequently
eat lunch by myself and some of the "real" teachers are rude to me.
But, I get to try out different age groups, neighborhoods and
styles each day. If I dislike a school or a class, I never have to go
back. I can take days off and I can wear my favorite outfit to as many
schools per week as my heart desires. Most of the "real" teachers
appreciate the work I do and
understand how hard it is. I am frequently asked back and, most
importantly, I have a lot of fun.
Through subbing I have decided
that I would like to teach kindergarten, 4th or 5th grade. Seems
strange that there would be such a gap, doesn't it? I know. See,
kindergarten is fun because there are so many "moments." Like when they
can't detect a joke and think I am really calling them ducklings
("We're children!"). Or when I start counting down from five and they
start scrambling to be sit down and be quiet.
They are sweet, funny and curious. They take small things very
seriously and don't worry about some of the things older kids worry
about. I can be silly and sing songs without putting them off. In
fact, they eat it up. Fourth and fifth grades are fun because I like what they learn
during those years. I love talking about long division and multiplying
fractions and how to write the perfect cursive "r." They understand
sarcasm and jokes. But they also know everything and are just starting
to figure out that teachers don't.
Even though kindergarten, 4th and 5th are my favorite grades, I
would be perfectly happy with any full time gig. I just like working
with the kids.
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