Lisa's first day as a substitute teacher

Well, today was my first day as a substitute teacher (the regular teacher is having an operation). I experienced what I think must be every teacher's worst nightmare: It's the very first day of the new school year, and my entire "orientation" consists of “Here is your class room, and this is a list of your students”! That's it! No class schedule, no lesson plans and NO teacher’s manuals or books! Not even a marker or an eraser for the dry wipe board!

The kids are a cute group though. 14 out of 22 of the students are Chinese (it’s a Chinese-Panamanian Christian School). They’re a little rambunctious (I was kindly informed by another teacher that this class is famous for being just that!). They did okay with me today but kept me on my toes. No snoozin’ with this bunch...

I manage to escape and hunt down a secretary and get a dry wipe marker and eraser. I found the principal and asked him for some books or instructions or class schedule. He smiled and said, “Just make sure the children have their names on their books, and get a list of those who don't have books”. That's it for the whole day! Well, that took 15 minutes…

So with the rest of the day to fill, I had the kids write their names on the board, we sorted them out alphabetically, and they got their desk assignments. Then I had them take out a piece of paper (only to discover that some kids arrived at school without books, or paper or even a pen!). I had each student write his name on his paper, decorate it and then tape it to his desk so I could learn their names.

Then, I had them take out their science books (and buddy-up with the ones without books) and had them read aloud the first lesson. VERY interesting. Some of the students read fairly well, but two couldn't read in English and one couldn't even speak any English at all (hmm… How are they supposed to do an all-English curriculum?!). Everyone then answered the questions at the end of the lesson ("No-English" girl was shown the answers, and got to practice her penmanship).

Finally recess arrived. After recess, the Spanish teacher worked with them until lunch, and after lunch I had a short class. The students tested me on their names, and then I divided the group in two teams and we played math tic-tac-toe until it was time to go. This week the students are getting out at 1:30 instead of 3:30.

Anyway, pray I survive the next two weeks… (the principal later apologized about the books never arriving. He says maybe I'll get some tomorrow…).

Lisa