I got the job I really wanted!

Most of you know I have been working as a 'freelance' substitute teacher the past 2 years in our local schools. During that time I soon found out there was one elementary school in particular I loved to work in and I felt very at home there. I have also developed some good friendships with the staff in this particular school and liking the people you work with and for, is crucial I think.

I also knew that if the School Secretary ever left it would be my perfect job and all my previous work experience would make it a very comfortable fit. Well 2 weeks ago she quit and so I applied and then kept everything firmly crossed. This is a job I have regularly substituted at both the Elementary and the High School, so I was hopeful I would have a good chance.

I got it! :-)

The new Principal, a very friendly, professional and enthusiastic lady called me this afternoon and after discussion we agreed terms. I am delighted and very excited and I am certain we will make a good team as I think we share similar working ethics and standards. It will also be fun to be working together both new in our roles and being able to change things up to suit the way she wants to run things. Although she is the 'new' Principal, she was promoted from 5th grade teacher, so we already know, respect and like each other.

Other big advantages from my point of view are it's just 7 miles from home on empty roads, the office is really nice, I get school hours and holidays, plus a 10mth contract although I can choose to work in June/July if I want to. Considering I need time to return to the UK every few years, or to be here when my mum comes for a month....this works brilliantly.

I will be starting in the next week, just doing half days in June to prepare for the new school year and then I will take July off to be with my mum.

I waited 2yrs before I plunged back into a full time job, but this was deliberate having had the 'big' career back in the UK. This time it was all about a nice job, that was well within my capabilities, with nice people and not too much stress. It took time to find the right thing, but I have no doubts whatsoever this job is it and I am very happy.

So no more substituting puking Pre-K'ers for moi, I will now be the one calling in some other unsuspecting sub' to do the dirty work! ;-)

School's almost out....

Well today is my last day of subbing for this school year and it will be spent as a secretary at a local High School. That's assuming there are no last minute calls before Friday, but I think it's unlikely.

This year I have done more substituting than ever before and I have pretty much loved every minute; well apart from the Pre-K projectile vomiting 2 weeks ago but even that had a funny side!

When I left the UK I never imagined I would end up as a Substitute Teacher over here, my background in Human Resources and Office Management has served me well though. I still think a few of my family and friends back home can't believe I love it so much, seeing as my former life rarely involved child interaction. After all I chose not to have children but I have learned that actually I do love kids, but I still prefer to be able to hand them back!

If I had my time over, I may even have gone into teaching with hindsight. Working in the schools is very rewarding and really makes you a part of the community quickly and that's great when you are an immigrant.

Pre-K quote of the day....

During recess I was watching one of the little boys digging in the dirt for ages, and when I called them in he took forever to stand up and I could see him stuffing things in his pocket fast.

When he reached me, with stuffed pockets I bent down and asked him what he had in his pockets. I said "you can't take rocks in the classroom sweetie"

"Miss Sarah they're not rocks they're Seahorse eggs, I have to keep them, can I go bury them" with lower lip starting to quiver.

Well having seen 'The Waterhorse' (which I am certain is what he actually mean't), how could I possibly deny such a heartfelt request. So I waited whilst he went and buried his precious 'Seahorse eggs' and got a hug as he went back to class! As we would say "bless his little cotton socks"!

Pre-K Marriage Proposal and Puke!

Yes you read that right, today I received a marriage proposal from a 6 year old called Caleb. Totally out of the blue he ran up to me and said "I'm going to marry you when I get older Miss Sarah", gave me a hip hug and ran off again! LOL

Later my day took a downturn when a little girl started projectile vomiting with no warning and continued to do so as we ran her the width of the room to a trash can! End result, puke everywhere, up the wall, on the bulletin board, a 9ft trail across the floor - I swear I never thought a little girl could produce so much vomit!

Of course the smell was appalling and almost immediately the other 17 of them started yelling, heaving and covering their noses in horror. Spotting a disaster in the making...I rapidly removed them out to the playground before anymore started puking from the smell. This was followed by 2 calls to the office requesting the cleaner as an emergency and the parent to pickup her daughter! Our blessed cleaner Lourdes was equally appalled at how much vomit one 5 year old girl can produce.

She was so sick one of the other little girls was so very concerned she ran over to ask me if Cory had to go to hospital...LOL, I reassured her no she'd be ok!

Good job I love the little ones, as I get to do it all over again tomorrow, hopefully without the drama though! :-)

Today for the first time.....

I am sooo ready for school to be out finally.

Not a good substituting morning and that's all I have to say on the matter! Roll on the weekend.....

UPDATE 5:30pm - The Hubster just took delivery of 9 handwritten letters of apology from the morning class I substituted for today that were so bad. At least their teacher (whom I really like & respect) has made them accountable for their actions. Bless their hearts, I had to chuckle though when he called to say one of them very sheepishly delivered them to him!

P.S. I hope you will understand that out of respect for the school I will not be naming which school or grade I was with this morning. But it was a different class to yesterday....

Brit' Word of the Day....

Today's BWOTD is one I hear all the time when I am subbing Pre-K or Kindergarten grades at school:

"Can I go potty Miss Sarah"

'Potty' = loopy or nuts

So this always makes me smile, because I want to reply "no you definitely can't sit back down at your desk please!" LOL

But we do also refer to a childs small plastic toilet as a potty, so I knew what they mean't the first time I heard this. But it still conjures up scary images of the whole class going nuts :-)

In the UK it is more likely to be used as:

"That woman is completely potty"

Brit' Gal put into comatose state by 2nd graders!

Oh boy! Or maybe that should be "Ohhh...2nd grade boys"

Today I had my favourite 2nd grade class and they really are, but they are sooo tiring LOL! The girls are little sweethearts, but 6 out of the 7 boys are SO LOUD and energetic. When we had spare time they all pounded me with questions about England and the Queen, but I found some online video for them to watch that finally quietened them.

I am so brain dead as a result, that I managed to almost rip my wing mirror off my Pickup as I drove into the garage. So I have had to do a bit of grovelling to the Hubster and beg forgiveness for it's smashed state :-(

The full-time teacher of this class who is an older lady than myself, has all my admiration for doing 5 days with them in a row. This particular 41 yr old is knackered after just one!

I am off to lie down and recuperate in a darkened, silent room.

Back to school

I might be less prolific the next 2 days as I am back subbing.

Today it’s 4th Grade and tomorrow 3rd Grade, both classes I have done before and enjoy. I will be back to report with any resulting funny moments.

Spring Break is just around the corner :-)

Back to Subbing.....

I have another busy week of substitute teaching ahead.

Today I am 1st/2nd grade at our town school and all of the kids I have known since Kindergarten, so I was swamped with hugs when I arrived! They can tend to get a little over excited but it's just their age and they are generally good for me.

Then the next 2 days I will be the Business Ed' teacher in the High School at a neighbouring town.

I may then take the rest of the week off as the weather is in the 70's here and looking great finally!

School Snippets #3...

Well I thought I had escaped lightly the past 2 days until the 3rd grade (9 yr olds) just showed up for class. Word has obviously spread in the Grade school that I am substituting and they were well prepared for me!!

When it was obvious they were too excited to settle down quietly, I decided to allow them some time to question me. When I said any questions for me, all 15 put their hands up - just a tad overwhelming!

Here are the choice questions and comments of this hour, keep in mind they have been watching the Julie Andrews version of Mary Poppins.....











This is my stern British Substitute Teacher look!

"WOW you sound so cool!"
"Are you speaking Irish?"
"Are you speaking British?"
"If I go to England will I be able to speak British?"
"Did you live in a castle?"
"Have you met Robin Hood or been to his forest?"
"Is your laptop from England?"
"Have you been to Scotland"
"Do you drive on the left side of the road?"
"Do you drive the same cars as us?" When I told them we don't have Pickups they were pretty shocked and horrified...lol!

"Did you bring your car from England?"
"Are you're clothes from England?"
"Will you teach us to speak British too?"
"Do you have McDonald's in England"
"My Dad's castle is in England" LOL!!
"Can you speak Irish?"

"Have you got a King and Queen?"
"Why haven't you got a King?"
"Have you met the Queen?" I would be rich if I had a cent/penny for everytime I have been asked this!
"Do you know what 'Queen' is in English?" !!

"You sound just like Mary Poppins!" (too funny as I definitely do not!)

Then we all had a sing-a-long to 'Supercalifragilistic' and Chim' Chiminee Cheroo - not at all sure on the spelling!!

Before they left I taught them the British word 'chuffed' and I could still hear them shouting it at each other as they crossed the yard....lol

Should be fun!!

If you know me personally this will be pretty funny.....for the next 2 days I am the Music & Band Teacher at one of our local schools!!

Singing is not my forte and my whistling has been known to clear rooms, I have no doubt there'll be a school snippet after this experience....lol!

Snippets from school....# 2

Well it was Kindergarten all day today and they were all really good for us, 26 of them in total!

The only funny was actually mine whilst giving them their writing test. I got to the letter 'Z' and said 'Z', 'zzzzz', Zebra......a room of blank faces and a few 'huh's'! I tried again, same response and then my Aide reminded me we pronouce our 'Z' differently to them...LOL

So there I was saying 'ZED', zzzzz, Zebra (as in Deborah) and they know it as 'ZEE', zzzzz, Zeeebra! Even when the Aide said it for me I still repeated it wrong, resulting in a classroom of giggling 6 yr olds. Anyway they cut me some slack as they know I am different!

After lunch they started dropping like flies...the first one puked on the Merry-Go-Round in recess (luckily I wasn't there, as apparently it was not pretty!), the next one puked an hour later after rest-time. And in the time it took me to walk to the office and return, a third one had puked on the floor....LOL! So I am now off to bathe in Clorox & hope for the best ;-)

High School Math teacher tomorrow, so less fun but hopefully also less puking!

Snippets from school....

I was subbing again today.

Now I still haven't managed to surpass the 'Did you get here on a spaceship' question from a Pre-K last week.....LOL!

But as with most of my interactions with the kids, there were a few interesting conversations and questions asked of me today:

• If you were really important in England and then got really important over here, which country would you make switch to drive on the other side of the street?

I actually thought this was a well thought out question....after a few moments thought I replied England, as we are the exception to the general rule around the world.

• Did you ever get stopped by the cops for being on the wrong side of the street here?

This came after I explained for the first 6 weeks here I was forever turning out on the wrong side. I explained 'no' because luckily I live in a smalltown and they just cut me some slack. Even after one particular day I was driving up the street towards a cop car (LOL!), but bless his heart, the Deputy just frantically waved me over, although I could see the whites of his eyes! Then there was the other time when I came up to the rail crossing on the same side as a little old lady in town and nearly gave the poor dear heart failure!

• Do your cops carry guns in England, or is it still the funny stick thing?

LOL! I explained yes they still carry the truncheon (which caused much laughter) but we do have some armed Police in most towns now, who can be called in.

• Are you considered regal?

Ok this one had me really laughing and I had to explain that kind of means you are royalty, so no I am not generally considered regal!!

We also had a minor incident with the word 'bond'....it only took 4 attempts of me saying it and finally some translation help from a student who said - 'ohhh she means BOND'!

Kindergarten tomorrow, always a rich source of entertaining questions and comments!

Perils & Pleasures of Pre-K!

Today I am subbing for the local Pre-K/Kindergarten teacher and am now on my break before returning to finish the day.

It's been the usual mixture of a few tantrums, tears and alot of laughter and cuddles. The first hour was stressful whilst they 'tested' me out, but once I had shown them who was the teacher, they calmed down and have been pretty good. We even had a bit of a fight breakout at lunchtime because they all wanted to sit next to me, so I diplomatically sat in the middle...lol!

I enjoy doing the 'little ones', they come out with the cutest things....I just had one of the girls tell me "you say WALK real funny Ms Sarah"! Earlier one of the boys asked me if I came to the USA in a spaceship!!

So it's back to work to watch over them whilst they take a nap and then continue watching 'Finding Nemo' until the day ends. I think one of the cutest things you can ever hear is a roomful of 4 year olds with the giggles!

P.S....I know there will be a few of you back in the UK who have just fallen off your chairs in shock at all this schmaltz over little kids from me - people change ya know! ;-)

Substitute teaching on Valentines Day....

I have one word for you.....DON'T!

Well not for the Pre-K little kiddies anyway.....I knew I was in trouble when their morning teacher delivered them with the warning ' they've been bouncing off the walls'!!

Talk about a sugar high....17 four & five year olds who'd already had way too much and then we had to give them more at their party...LOL! Oh they were okay, but they were also very hyper and very loud and I was very happy for 3:15 to arrive :-)

Tomorrow I have 4th graders, who will probably not have slept all night from being too wired and will therefore be comatose by 11am. I am hoping for an easier day!