On Tuesday morning, I was supposed to meet with Jessica, another English teacher. She was sick, so instead of talking to her, I had to sit in at her class. I wasn't really given any information about what I was supposed to do, so it sounded like I was just there to babysit. The first class they told me to go to was with the seventh graders. In the beginning they behaved, but shortly after, they went wild. It was difficult to control them because I have absolutely no power and I was given no teaching material or instructions.
I ended up having to sub for her other two classes classes that day; the other seventh grade class and a ninth grade class. The second class went a little bit better because I went in with an activity for them (I had learned I couldn't just expect them to do the work they had been assigned by the teacher). By the time I taught the third class, things went more smoothly- having older kids definitely helped. I was EXHAUSTED by the end of the day, but I got a love letter from one of the students, Sandy, so that totally made my day.
The next day I came in and the same thing happened. This time, I went in ready to teach. I started with the seventh graders (the second group) and helped them review for their test on Sunday. Things went well, and although it was difficult to keep everyone's attention at once (it's a big class, there's about 25 students) I think I managed pretty well- definitely better than the day before. Then I went with the ninth graders, and we did a reading together- that was a great class. Finally, I went with the other seventh graders, and not only did I have to sub for English, but also Math. Since I don't speak Hebrew (their professor teaches that in Hebrew), I just gave them a worksheet to work on. Things went kind of ok, until it was time to switch to English. That class has three distinct levels, and I don't know how Jessica does it, but she keeps everyone engaged by giving them different exercises. Since I only learned about the different levels from the kids themselves, I didn't come prepared at all. I sort of managed to give them things to do to keep them quiet, but I felt like a police officer more than anything else.
I understand why I needed to be there, but I'm going to make sure teachers take their vitamins every day so no one else gets sick!
I ended up having to sub for her other two classes classes that day; the other seventh grade class and a ninth grade class. The second class went a little bit better because I went in with an activity for them (I had learned I couldn't just expect them to do the work they had been assigned by the teacher). By the time I taught the third class, things went more smoothly- having older kids definitely helped. I was EXHAUSTED by the end of the day, but I got a love letter from one of the students, Sandy, so that totally made my day.
The next day I came in and the same thing happened. This time, I went in ready to teach. I started with the seventh graders (the second group) and helped them review for their test on Sunday. Things went well, and although it was difficult to keep everyone's attention at once (it's a big class, there's about 25 students) I think I managed pretty well- definitely better than the day before. Then I went with the ninth graders, and we did a reading together- that was a great class. Finally, I went with the other seventh graders, and not only did I have to sub for English, but also Math. Since I don't speak Hebrew (their professor teaches that in Hebrew), I just gave them a worksheet to work on. Things went kind of ok, until it was time to switch to English. That class has three distinct levels, and I don't know how Jessica does it, but she keeps everyone engaged by giving them different exercises. Since I only learned about the different levels from the kids themselves, I didn't come prepared at all. I sort of managed to give them things to do to keep them quiet, but I felt like a police officer more than anything else.
I understand why I needed to be there, but I'm going to make sure teachers take their vitamins every day so no one else gets sick!
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