So, I've finally landed a job...for now. It just became official today, but I'm now the long-term substitute 5th Grade Science Teacher at an elementary school in Springdale at least until Christmas break.
I started subbing for this classroom last Monday and just got the official word that I'm good to go with this position until the teacher, who's recovering from surgery, comes back. This past week has been a good opportunity to get to know the kids, schedules, co-teachers, etc. More than anything, I have to say that the other 5th grade teachers who I'm teaching with, have been incredibly friendly, encouraging, and helpful. I couldn't ask for better support from them. Not only that, but it's mostly because of them wanting me on the team that I got the gig. Teaching in an elementary school was definately not my first choice, but this group of teachers on my team seems like a tremendous environment for me to get my feet wet and gain some experience.
For the most part, I think it's a good group of kids. Of course, some are ornery, some need a little extra, I don't know how they can always lose all their pencils or how they can be constantly forgetting papers/books/assignments, but as I get to know them, I find that I like them more and I think they're sort of getting used to me, too. Sometimes, it's difficult to be all business and disciplinarian with them, because I can see how cool the kids are and how much fun it would be to just have fun with them. As I'm with them more, I'm hoping that they/I can figure out how to communicate that when I mean business, we need to get to work, but I'm all for making the work fun, too.
The really good news is that starting next Monday, I'll get a bump in pay. Two weeks after that, I'll get another bump. This definately helps relieve lots of stress in terms of income/bills/livelihood. At the same time, this means I'm going to start being responsible for a lot of things in the class that I haven't needed to be responsible for yet: grades, lesson plans, etc. So, it's just kind of a new stress.
So, that's it for now. I'll try to post little stories as they come. Today, I got to deal with a student that reared back and punched another kid in the back of the head right in front of me. That was new and different.
