Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Substitute Workshop!

So tomorrow morning I report to the district office for a Substitute Teacher Workshop.  !! There were no interviews of any kind - I just sent in my documentation and completed the online application.  But since my DH has told me repeatedly that "they'll let any idiot sub" I assume that I'm considered hired if I'm chosen for the workshop. There are supposed to be 60 openings.  I had contacted the head of HR to verify that they got my application and documents a couple weeks ago, and she told me I would be receiving a postcard.  That postcard never came, but I contacted her again this past Monday to verify that I was indeed expected for the workshop and to see what information I needed for tomorrow.  It's not a very comforting sign that the very first step in this processing was botched when I didn't receive the notification postcard.  Did mine just happen to get lost in the mail?  Did they forget to print it and mail it?  Will I get in the mail tomorrow - a day late and a dollar short?  For someone like me who likes to know ALL the details in advance so I can prepare (and worry) this is not a good start.  I wonder if there is anyone else who didn't get their postcard.  Am I going to have a lot of competition, or will I fit right in with this new batch of sub recruits?  How many of us will have absolutely no experience?  I don't even have kids, so I can't even draw on parenting experience.  I sure hope I get some easy assignments with well-behaved kids first so I can ease my way into it.  I hate that I'm freaking out about it.  I'm trying real hard to keep the anxiety at bay, but it's sneaking in on sly wings.  GET THEE BEHIND ME, ANXIETY!  I wonder how long it will be before I get an assignment.  If there are 60 of us new recruits at the workshop, plus the existing supply of subs, that's an awful lot of subs.  It will be interesting to see how many jobs I get between now and the end of the school year.  I do know that my DH will be requesting me to sub for him while he's chaperoning Grad Nite in Disney World.  (I'd much rather trade places and get a free trip to Disney!)

It will be interesting to see exactly what this "workshop" entails.  I have absolutely NO information on what we'll be doing.  I have to bring my SSN card and a voided check, so I imagine at least some of it will involve filling out employment paperwork.  But the word "workshop" implies that we'll actually learn something. (Or am I being naive?) I hope it's more than just how to use SmartFind Express, the automated calling system they use.  I found an online tutorial for that a few months ago and have already got it all figured out.  (Did I mention how much I love information?) I'm going to have to pack some snacks, too.  I don't know if this is a half-day, full-day, or just a few hours.  Ooh, maybe we'll do a bunch of cheesy role-playing activities!  I hear they do that for regular teacher workshops sometimes.  I've gotta tell you, if I hear we're going to be doing a trust fall, I don't think I'll be able to keep a straight face.  I wonder if they'd let me bring my camera and take pictures. Hmmm...  Hey, maybe I can do that when I'm subbing too!  It might help me get over being nervous.  Plus I can tell the kids if they misbehave I'll put embarrassing pictures of them on my blog.  Heehee!  :) 

5 comments:

  1. Hello Surfie!

    I have a suggestion for you that I think you'll find excellent...too bad your district doesn't do this already - Use the Sub-Hub to train yourself and get ready. www.thesub-hub.com It's only $25 for the Introductory Teacher Training which offers 10 hours of super-relevant online training on the Dos, Don'ts, and best practices in Substitute Teaching.

    Just a tip, you can't post pics of kids you've taken without their parents' permission...:)

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  2. HAHAHAHA! "Trust fall." God, I hope it's not one of those kinds of workshops.

    I'm surprised they didn't tell you how long it's going to be. Forget snacks -- I'd have to bring full meals with me, just to be prepared. Humph!

    Well, however long it lasts, best of luck!

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  3. Anonymous - Thanks for the website info. We did get some useful training at the workshop, plus lots of links for other online resources to use. I know I can't post their pictures, I was just kidding. :) Even if I was allowed, I would never want to embarrass a student.

    JD - No trust falls! It did end up being a full day, but they provided lots of snacks and drinks, and we got an hour break for lunch. I didn't have a single hunger pang all day, thank goodness!

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  4. Surfie, I'm curious about what they told you at the workshop. I never got invited to one, since I already worked in the district as an assistant. Hopefully there isn't some critical information I should know! I hope all goes well when you begin subbing.

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  5. Theresa - Nothing critical, but it did feel helpful. I've never had ANY experience with teaching, not even as an assistant, so I'm willing to take all the help I can get.

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