My Nose Knows I Blew It. A Rough time To Be A Teacher.

[Teacher of the Year]

26. It's funny--when I was subbing I really dreaded some general ed classes.

I do a lot of individualized education, based on the needs of the student. Teaching 30 kids algebra in gen ed is a whole different can of worms.
The two roles take really different skill sets.

After my awards subbing became kind of different. I have a portrait with President Obama so after I introduce myself and get the class settled, I introduce myself, depending on the grade I show them pictures of my white cat, who is deaf, and my cat who is extra fluffy (with a photoshopped photo of her in a princess dress and crown-my husband's gag gift a few years ago) and our big black dog snuggling Pepper the kitten. Then I share the picture with President Obama and tell them if we have time later, I'll tell them all about that day at the Whitehouse. The reaction is incredible and the kids want to know everything.

After that conversation the kids kind of bond and, honestly, think I'm a little bit cooler than I was, and they have a pretty good attitude about getting the work done. If it is a middle school or high school with classes, by second period kids are coming in asking if it is true I know the President. As a sub, to have kids bounding in to sit and listen, almost like you are a special guest rather than a sub that they have completely forgotten they meant to give a hard time to. Kind of magic in some ways!

(The flip side? About a minute after I shared the picture in a middle school science class, a hand shot up. A student holds up her phone and says, "It says here you were fired for being gay." LOL... I had not thought about that part of social media and. phones in the classroom but I'm an expert now.