Boundlessly Curious: The Substitute Chronicles

So, there are two basic things I am doing with my graduated self.

Teaching dance to children/pre-teens/teenagers/soon ladies (aged middle to...old) at The Dance Establishment.
Substitute teaching.

I could talk about teaching dance, but there is so much to talk about that I am actually considering starting an entire blog about it (because the three I have aren't enough...). It's a venture that I sure hope will continue throughout my entire life and I would love to be able to chronicle my progress as well as share my insight with other dance teachers.

Substitute teaching on the other hand, well I think we all hope it's temporary right?

However, it has actually been surprisingly fun so far. For the most part. And I started getting jobs earlier than I thought in the year and have gotten a job nearly every single day so far. In fact, the only day I have had off since I started a couple of weeks ago I could have worked on. I got a 5:45 AM call (my only one so far actually) but I turned it down because I had definitely gone to bed after 1. And dealing with 4th graders on less than 5 hours of sleep is not a choice I ever want to have to make.

I have done everything from jr. high, to high school, to elementary, to special needs. And here are some of my favorite experiences.

One sweet little 7th grader was very excited when he found out my last name because apparently it is his mother's maiden name. I didn't recognize her first name (polygamist great-great-grandpa, what can I say?) and he asked what my sister's names were. I told him and he said one of them sounded must be familiar, so he must be related to her! Didn't occur to him that he would also be related to me. (Remember, 7th grade.) At the end of the class (it was the last period of the day) he and his friend seemed to be hanging around and his friend was trying to convince him to do something. All I heard from his was "no, that would be weird". But his friend won out and came up to me and said something along the lines of "so, if my mom is related to your sister, that must mean I am related to you!" Yes dear thing, truth. So I said that was way cool, gave him a high five, and he nearly skipped out of class.

I subbed a half day at my alma mater (go Fremont Silverwolves!) and subbed two classes for two different teachers. Just so happens they were both resource classes and I had a couple of repeat students. So that was funny because in the second period, one of them came in and thought I was stalking him. All in good fun. Hopefully.

As a substitute for a special needs classroom (there were 4 aides in addition to me, thankfully) I learned a very important thing. I have always had a kind of fear of those who have mental disabilities, and I don't think I'm the only one. But helping in this classroom helped me see I'm not as scared as I thought, and see the sweet spirit of these kids. I helped a certain boy nearly all day and even though he couldn't communicate verbally with me, seeing how hard he tried to behave when he had the opportunity of playing a game on the Smart Board (which ps, those things are sweet as) was priceless. And to see how those kids banded together in their shared experiences and seeing when other students were kind to them just warmed my heart.

My biggest surprise so far, however, was liking 6th graders. What!? I got to teach a short day at Hooper Elementary and those kids were fantastic and so fun. I let them ask whatever questions they wanted about me for about 10 minutes and one boy consecutively asked if I was married, had a boyfriend, if I'd ever had a boyfriend, and where said boyfriend had taken me. ;) I'd be lying if I said I didn't use my youth and general attractiveness as a weapon in my substitute teacher bucket.

My second day at Fremont High I got to give an impromptu lecture on a financial planning powerpoint from the teacher (this from the girl who hasn't made a budget since she was a freshman in college). But we made it through, we played the logo game, and we watched this Youtube video.

It was, however, from my day at Snowcrest that I got the best compliment. Made the drive on a Friday totally worth it.

North Ogden Jr. High provided me with a student with the same name as one of my favorites from my student teaching. He was also ridiculously similar to said student. Chatty. I have a soft spot for the chatty ones.

And today. 5th grade. So...the difference between 5th and 6th grade is pretty massive. They are a dang bunch of tattle tells. However, it was worth it for a few things. One boy who just came up and gave me a big hug for no reason at all. One girl who told me my hair and clothes were pretty. And this handmade creation.