I've been working as a substitute teacher in the Oakland Public Schools for the past two weeks--high school. The substitute department told us to call ourselves "guest teachers."
Unfortunately, the students haven't grasped the beauty of having a Guest Teacher.Attitudes vary from "Hey-Let's Cut-Class" to "Hurray - a sub - it's Social-Hour." Classroom teachers leave great lesson plans and explicit instructions for the Guest Teacher in order to keep the curriculum moving in a consistent, forward direction. But students have a different lesson plan in mind.
When does this attitude start? Kindergarteners and first graders sseem to understand that the adult standing in the room is a teacher that should be listened to, even if she/he has a different face than their regular teacher. Perhaps by 4th grade the Myth of the Substitute has drifted into children's minds from whatever School Room Epic Poem it comes from.
Former students who are now in college gave me this advice about substituting in high schools:
1. Don't follow the regular teacher's lesson plan; students will refuse to do it.
2. Bring your own lesson plan, even if it's poetry writing in a Physics class.
3. Best option: bring a movie, sit back, and relax.
I refuse to give in to this cynicism. So far. But I'll let you know how I feel in another month or so.
No comments:
Post a Comment