subtext

Came back to work today after having a sub on Friday (actually 3 subs on Friday because of a sub shortage in the district). After reading the notes left by the subs I thought, “My god, what did my students do.” But once again after listening to the kids as they came in randomly telling me their side I thought, “My god, where do they get these people.” My classes run on a set pattern, that I can improvise on, it is flexible yet gives enough structure that the students know what to expect. My students work. They knew what to do, but the sub would not let them; they wanted complete silence and all of the seniors sitting in little rows. When a girl who was sitting on a bean bag paused in her reading the sub fussed at her for not doing as she was told. I hate being absent. Today we had a fairly good discussion on W. Blake’s “The Schoolboy.” I am trying hard to wait longer and longer before I say anything and that works. One period when no one voluteered, I said, “Cool, let’s read our books.” One boy said something under his breath about the poem. Another one added a comment, then they were off for about five minutes. All of the comments connected to the poem and the purpose/usefulness of school. It made it a good day.