A New Direction

After looking for work and finding none (see the previous blog) I've been substitute teaching. It's the most rewarding job I've ever had.

I've been subbing in a South Carolina school district teaching classes from kindergarten through high school. They all have one thing in common: the kids can't stop talking!

I'm not one of those subs who sits behind a desk reading the newspaper while the kids take over the classroom. I'm constantly walking the room making sure everyone is doing what the absent teacher has told me (s)he wants done. There are times when the teacher leaves a broad lesson plan or one that is supposed to last the entire class period but doesn't. That's when I get a chance to teach...with a capital "T."

I've taught Government, Investing, English, Social Studies, Math, Art, Science, English as a Second Language and Physical Education. I've taught special ed kids and Autistic children and I can't get enough.

I was subbing for a teacher who knew she was going to be absent for a few days and she asked me if I wanted to teach anything in particular. I gave her my lesson plans. The following Monday we discussed Americas wars from the Revolution through the Gulf War. What surprised and thrilled me most was many of the answers to my questions were coming from one of the kids who was the classic goof-off, the one who disrupted every class he was in.

The following day I taught the history of music from Beethoven through Run DMC. I asked the kids to write down whether they liked the type of music they were listening to or not, and why. Thanks to "You Tube" they heard Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, the Big Band sounds, Blues, Jazz, Country and finally Hip Hop. I'm sure some of them had never heard some of these genres.

Some of the kids have asked me how I know all this stuff. The answer is simple. Experience and I read everything.

Subbing has also brought back some of the stuff I learned in high school, especially math. It's nice to know I still remember.

One might not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but it's nice to know this old dog still has a trick or two up his sleeve and can teach tomorrow's leaders.