what my substitute did

by monica

Apr 18, 2015

I was on a medical leave for 7 weeks, and returned to my classroom yesterday to meet with the substitute to get caught up on where she was with my lessons. I found that not only did she NOT do the lessons that I asked her to do, she totally rearranged my room! I left everything so neatly organized, and now it is a total mess. I kept my regular pencils and HB drawing pencils separated, now they are dumped into a common container. My scissors had been separated into four trays, to be put on each of my four work tables---now they are coated with paint and dumped into one container. Same with the glue sticks. My 1/2 brushes are stiff and coated with something white---I hope not acrylic paint. My good watercolor brushes are mingled with the cheap kiddie brushes that someone donated, and in several different containers. Things were moved to different cabinets. My cake tempera paints are disgusting and dirty. Posters were taken down and seem to have disappeared. I had stacking trays to hold c...See MoreI was on a medical leave for 7 weeks, and returned to my classroom yesterday to meet with the substitute to get caught up on where she was with my lessons. I found that not only did she NOT do the lessons that I asked her to do, she totally rearranged my room! I left everything so neatly organized, and now it is a total mess. I kept my regular pencils and HB drawing pencils separated, now they are dumped into a common container. My scissors had been separated into four trays, to be put on each of my four work tables---now they are coated with paint and dumped into one container. Same with the glue sticks. My 1/2 brushes are stiff and coated with something white---I hope not acrylic paint. My good watercolor brushes are mingled with the cheap kiddie brushes that someone donated, and in several different containers. Things were moved to different cabinets. My cake tempera paints are disgusting and dirty. Posters were taken down and seem to have disappeared. I had stacking trays to hold colored paper, which are now holding watercolor trays. I have no idea what she did with the colored paper. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. I asked this woman to finish a simple clay project with one class, and gave her three lesson ideas for my other three grades. (I really wanted her to complete these, as it will be hard for me to load the kiln because I'm still healing from my surgery and in pain.) She did not do any of the lessons that I asked her to do, and left greenware and bisqueware on the floor of the kiln room. Let me add that I am retiring at the end of this school year, and my job has been posted. She let me know through an email very early on that she "sees this as an opportunity to show her teaching style" and didn't "need" my lesson SUGGESTIONS. I very tactfully told her that I DO work within a curriculum, and certain lessons needed to be covered. She completely ignored me. I spoke with my principal about this when I was still in shock over seeing my classroom. He was very blase about it. Our district is on vacation next week, and now I will be in my classroom most of next week---undoing the mess she made. Sadly, she will probably get my job! I subbed long ago before my daughter was born, and I would never have dreamed of messing with another teacher's classroom or her routines. I feel so disrespected by both my principal and this substitute. Any thoughts or similar experiences?

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Jennifer Oh gosh I am so sorry. I totally understand. It is so hard

when people don't understand all that goes into maintaining the

supplies and keeping things organized. Very frustrating that

she didn't follow your plans. I would definitely talk to HR

about this. You can also mention her thoughts on applying for ...See More

Apr 20, 2015

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artsy I can't believe she basically over took your room and ran with it. I have subbed for another art teacher.I didn't care for her style or her room but I worked around the whole thing. I left it the way she had it, if not a little cleaner. People are self centered. I hope she does not get hired. I hope you took photos:) that is just sad and disrespect...See More

May 20, 2015

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Mark Moreland Artsy, 7 weeks is a long time to work in someone else's
organizational style. When I subbed for a week I could
deal with it. Now having been a teacher for years I
understand that a 2 month commitment would require me to
use my own organizational style or lose my mind. If the
sub took down decorations, etc. that is quite different....See More

May 21, 2015

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teacher I know you are irked, and this sub seems pretty much incompetent. you are retiring, so don't wasted your energy being worked up about her. If she is truly that bad, and yet is still hired as your replacement, she will be probationary and it won't take long for the school to start getting complaints and realize she is incompetent.

Relax and...See More

May 21, 2015

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njArt When I was on maternity the sub had gin through nearly the entire year's supply of drawing paper in 3 months. I found out from the kids that they would usually have free draw and she would give them each 3-4 pieces of my good quality 12x18 drawing paper. I could have strangled her. Not to mention half of my model Magic just so they could make whate...See MoreWhen I was on maternity the sub had gin through nearly the entire year's supply of drawing paper in 3 months. I found out from the kids that they would usually have free draw and she would give them each 3-4 pieces of my good quality 12x18 drawing paper. I could have strangled her. Not to mention half of my model Magic just so they could make whatever they wanted with it. Uh hello, I had plans for that expensive art supply! Annoying. Well at least she was so bad that the kids and teachers were thrilled when I returned.

On 4/18/15, monica wrote: > I was on a medical leave for 7 weeks, and returned to my > classroom yesterday to meet with the substitute to get > caught up on where she was with my lessons. I found that > not only did she NOT do the lessons that I asked her to do, > she totally rearranged my room! I left everything so neatly > organized, and now it is a total mess. I kept my regular > pencils and HB drawing pencils separated, now they are > dumped into a common container. My scissors had been > separated into four trays, to be put on each of my four work > tables---now they are coated with paint and dumped into one > container. Same with the glue sticks. My 1/2 brushes are > stiff and coated with something white---I hope not acrylic > paint. My good watercolor brushes are mingled with the cheap > kiddie brushes that someone donated, and in several > different containers. Things were moved to different > cabinets. My cake tempera paints are disgusting and dirty. > Posters were taken down and seem to have disappeared. I > had stacking trays to hold colored paper, which are now > holding watercolor trays. I have no idea what she did with > the colored paper. I could go on and on, but I think you > get the picture. I asked this woman to finish a simple > clay project with one class, and gave her three lesson ideas > for my other three grades. (I really wanted her to complete > these, as it will be hard for me to load the kiln because > I'm still healing from my surgery and in pain.) She did not > do any of the lessons that I asked her to do, and left > greenware and bisqueware on the floor of the kiln room. Let > me add that I am retiring at the end of this school year, > and my job has been posted. She let me know through an > email very early on that she "sees this as an opportunity to > show her teaching style" and didn't "need" my lesson > SUGGESTIONS. I very tactfully told her that I DO work > within a curriculum, and certain lessons needed to be > covered. She completely ignored me. I spoke with my > principal about this when I was still in shock over seeing > my classroom. He was very blase about it. Our district is > on vacation next week, and now I will be in my classroom > most of next week---undoing the mess she made. Sadly, she > will probably get my job! I subbed long ago before my > daughter was born, and I would never have dreamed of messing > with another teacher's classroom or her routines. I feel so > disrespected by both my principal and this substitute. Any > thoughts or similar experiences?

Jun 17, 2015

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