Here's why I'm doing this blog: I want to keep a record of my experiences as a substitute teacher for myself and for anyone who might find some type of humor or cautionary wisdom in my stories.  I am finishing up my Masters of Education at MTSU and currently searching for a full time teaching job. Don't get me wrong, the Education Department at MTSU is wonderful. But I have learned more subbing for the last 3 months than I have a whole year in grad school.

I am aware that subs are frequently the butt of jokes and are not well respected, even among full time teachers.  And especially not among students. "Ahhhh we got a sub today?! Yessss!!"  That means it's party time. But as a sub you are expected to step in and be an expert at classroom management. Perhaps for the sub who is only working for a supplementary income simply being a babysitter for 20+ kids is enough. But it is a different story when you actually want to be a teacher.

It's frustrating for many reasons. First of all, the teacher-student relationship that the teacher has been working to develop since the first day of class simply cannot exist with the sub. Though I always make every effort to learn each student's name and at least one thing about them (favorite college, favorite subject, etc.) it  can be really difficult to remember throughout the course of one day.  Second, many students have been let down by previous subs and dare I say their teachers in the past because they have come to believe that a day their teacher is absent is a day that  they should not be made to do any work.  So naturally many students will try to get away with whatever they can.  This makes controlling the classroom very difficult.

Third, and most importantly, I've found that when teachers only leave worksheets for the students to complete, my time in the classroom is very difficult.  Granted, teachers cannot expect a sub to carry out their normal lesson plan just as they would and most teachers probably think their sub has no interest in attempting  that. And that's the real frustration when you're a sub who wants to be a full time teacher.  You are so eager to put into practice the methods you have been learning about and so eager to develop your own lesson plans and carry them out with your class.... but it's not your class yet.

Still, subbing has been the best job I've ever had.  I knew after my first day that leaving my job on Music Row was the right choice and being in the classroom was my purpose. I've already learned so much about classroom management and imploring different teaching methods. Every day I'm experiencing a different school with a different culture and a diverse group of students.

Teach Me How to Dougie

I was the dorkiest 9th grader at Cherokee County High School. I had huge glasses, an awkward lanky 6"3 frame and I walked the halls fearful of any seniors looking to push me up against the lockers.  I was starting to discover 'real music' at this time so I was wearing Beatles shirts and talking about Van Morrison nonstop.  School was such a drag to me. I'd rather be learning guitar.

The only class I really enjoyed was history. I loved both World History and American History, but I was especially obsessed with the cultural changes our country had endured since the Civil War. I loved reading about the radical changes in politics in the 1960's.  All of these interests of mine seemed to magically come together and create the perfect teacher. Like a creature from Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory, Doug Ford emerged from behind his desk, toting a guitar and quoting Bob Dylan.  He had actually lived the 60's and had experienced that turbulent time in our history. Mr. Ford was the 'cool' teacher.  He rode a Harley to school.  He brought in his guitar and played us Civil War era folk songs.  He started a contemporary music class where we were encouraged to start a band and perform our songs during lunch.  This man was a godsend.

He shared a disgust for the way football players were worshipped at our school and would let me and my buddies stay in his room during pep rallys to watch TV. As if he couldn't get any cooler than that, he also coached my soccer team.  But more importantly than all of this, he was an encouragement.  He didn't scold or belittle his students.  He made learning about history fun and relevant.  I became friends with him and after I graduated we played in a church band together for a few years.  He is an incredible man.  Ten years from now I hope there will be at least one student who will say the same about me.