Thursday, January 31, 2008

Fingers Crossed

Its looking good for a snow day tomorrow.

Between 3rd and 4th periods I went to the 2nd floor west boys room and noticed some flurries blowing in through the open window. Its now 6th period. There is already an inch on the ground outside and it looks like its snowing kleenex. The weather dudes are calling for 5 to 9 inches before tomorrow morning.

Snow day or not I could sleep in tomorrow. But it would be that much more enjoyable if I knew that all my students were doing the same.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

A Change of Scenery

On Tuesday my streak came to an end. For the first time since School started in August, 94 school days ago, I spent a day somewhere other than Gateway.

I spent Tuesday at Soldan High, where my Grandfather still holds some athletic records from his tenure there in the 1930's.

Soldan is a bit further from my house and has significantly fewer nearby fast food options for lunch. But all in all its a fine place for bright eyed sub to spend a cold Tuesday in St. Louis.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Off The Hook

I am a substitute. I am in a different classroom everyday. I have a 30 minute lunch break. I am no longer associated with the teacher-less class in room 307 South.

A two hour and 35 minute lunch break was the candy that a stranger used to lure my into his windowless cargo van. I was able to escape. No one was taken advantage of. Leave it at that.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Self Destructive Behavior

My girlfriend's family has a family motto:

You fuck up, you fuck up again, and then you learn. Maybe.

I just fucked up again. I took the teacherless classroom that the assistant principle was trying to nudge me into. It was a terrible decision.

This is different than covering a maternity leave. There is no well organized teacher at home creating assignment calendars. Its just me, a computer, 12 desks, a blackboard, a locked cabinet and desk and three small classes of special-ed students.

But there is a reason I made such a terrible decision. Guess how long my lunch is? Longer. Longer. Two hours and 36 minutes!

How bad can anything really be if you've got one hundred and fifty six minutes for lunch. I could drive to Alton Illinois for the world's coldest beers and 99 cent burgers and still make it back in time to 'co-teach' Dr. Nguyen's 7th biology class.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Jeez

Three days. Three blissfull unattached days. That's how long it took before the brass tried to shoe horn me into one classroom for the rest of the year.

Am I going to take it? I'll tell you the same thing I told them.
'I'll think about it.'

Thursday, January 03, 2008

A Fresh Start

Its next year, the first day of a new semester. Ms. Brighton is back from maternity leave and I'm getting reacquainted with my life as an unattached day to day sub.

Today I'm here for a chemistry teacher. Tomorrow, who knows? Maybe I'll get the call to sub for one of the lunch ladies. Maybe I'll go to the Indian Buffet.

Its third period and everything is going great. First period the only three students in the room slept like perfect angels from bell to bell. Second period the two students closest to my desk and I had a conversation about Seinfeld, weight loss techniques, U.S. currency, cars and what we did over winter break. I rode my bike and went to some parties. Cameron inherited a Dodge Intrepid from his dad. Marvin used a tape recorder to record himself playing Guitar Hero and then listened to the tape while driving around in his mom's minivan.

Its good to be back.