I was the long-term sub in a world history class at a local high school for seven weeks until the BOE decided to bring a qualified teacher into the classroom. I was given a one day notice the new teacher would be taking over on the following Monday. I am now back to relying on the sub system to call me for sub assignments. A recent sub assignment was for a teacher in the classroom across the hall from my "former" classroom. My "former" students had varying reactions when they saw me in the hall that day. Some said they were mad at me for leaving them, didn't want to talk to me and kept walking. Others stopped to give me hugs and told me they missed me. Some students mentioned they missed my worksheets. A few students complained they hadn't learned anything since I left, other students complained their grades were dropping with the new teacher, but they all wanted me to come back. I was surprised how many students said they missed me, and I was even more surprised when the trouble making students gave me hugs. If you read my previous post you would know my time in the world history class was not all sunshine and rainbows. It took a few weeks for the students and I to develop a working routine and to develop a good teacher-student relationship.
You never know the impact you have on students until they show/tell you. The students' reactions were a pleasant surprise and a confidant booster for my self-esteem. I feel as though I made a difference in their lives. To me that's what teaching is about, making a difference.
~Jonnie
