And so ends another weekend. I am hoping and dreading that this week will bring some big changes in my employment status. I have two jobs, which is two more than many people have, but I would really like some information on them. Specifically, I’d like to get a call to substitute, but at the same time I’m hoping I don’t get a call to substitute. The idea of it makes me very nervous.
I have a tote bag that has some stuff in it that is supposed to help me survive substituting. Included are a bunch of worksheets that are, essentially, busy work. They’re there in case the teacher either didn’t leave a lesson plan, or if the lesson plan is just not something I can teach (which, honestly, I can’t imagine). The only problem is that I have just one copy of each activity. I have been putting off dealing with the reality of substituting when I should have been putting togther a binder of this kind of work. Multiple copies of each activity, or laminating them so that the kids can do them with dry-erase markers (making them reusable). So, if I’m called tomorrow morning, I’m a little screwed on that front.
Also in the tote bag is a binder of substitute teaching tips, one of which is a list of things you should bring with you as a sub – the “survival guide”. I have about half of the stuff on the list. Of the things that are left, about half of those are just really not necessary (a stapler?! really? rubber bands??) I have no idea what the rest of the items are because I haven’t looked at the list for three months. If I end up needing any of that other stuff, I’m up a creek.
I don’t know. I’m anxious about the whole thing, really. I’m anxious that they won’t call, but I’m anxious that they will call. If they call, I’m nervous about having what it takes to keep these kids under control. Will I be able to find the room? Will I be able to find a bathroom? Will they have the teacher’s schedule available, or will I need to hunt for it once I get to the classroom? Will I have time before the kids get there to acclimate myself to the classroom I’m in? Will the kids get there and I simply freeze? How do I take attendance? Where do I send it? What if someone gets sick? What if I need to send someone to the office? What if some of the kids get in a fight? All of these “what if” and “how” questions are driving me crazy! I guess it all boils down to will I know what to do once I’m there? Only doing the job will tell me that.
I had to make a decision this weekend that if I’m not called tomorrow morning to sub, I’ll need to call the sub coordinator to make sure I’m on the list – I think I’ve mentioned this before. I also need to email the director of the supplemental instructors at Lee College to find out what’s going on there. I suppose I ought to finish reading the training manual, as well. So, there are things I can do to feel like progress is being made. It’s just a matter of getting motivated and pushing past the paralyzing fear. As Nike tells us, I need to “just do it”.
In other news, I finally finished the cross-stitch project I’ve been working on for forever! Yay! It only took me…oh, when did I buy it…since last summer(?). I think that’s when I got it. It could’ve been since last winter break, for all I can remember. But it’s done! Well, the stitching is done. Now, I need to get something to mount it to that will act as a backing, and then mat it and frame it. The backing and matting won’t be a problem, but the framing might take a few weeks. Affording the right frame will take a little money that I don’t have right now. Once I frame it, though, I’m mailing it to my friend, Seamus. I’ll take pics of it framed (hopefully I’ll be able to do so with a new camera!), but will hold off posting the pics until he’s gotten it. Don’t want to totally ruin the surprise, after all.
