Ah Tarter Sauce!

Yesterday and today I've been subbing as an instructional para at an elementary school. I help with reading groups, and I also teach social studies and character education. To Kindergarten through Second grade. It's been an absolute nightmare. My friends know that my undergraduate degree was in history education. High school history. Frankly, I'm terrified of little kids, especially a huge group of them like in a school setting. Or daycare for that matter, which is what I feel like I'm running. This year I have been subbing in middle school through high school. I could sub in elementary, but I can't even wrap my brain around what a teacher does with twenty 7 year olds for 6 hours in a day, much less sub in their classroom. I could never do it. Especially if there was no sub plans. I'm not the wing-it type of person, but I can do it with older kids. Not 7 year olds. Now I've para subbed in elementary before, but usually para just means help kids in class, and help teachers get things done. Not this job. So yesterday was my first experience with the devils they call kindergarteners. No, they're not bad kids, in fact they're super cute. But they don't know how to raise their hands, be quiet, sit still, stay in their chairs, do their own work, or do any work for that matter. And forget about trying to teach something. It was a rough day. I cried. Multiple times throughout the day. Once almost in front of the kids. I decided to laugh instead, but boy were things a mess. Today is a little better becuase I have 2nd graders. They're a dream. One little boy's version of a swear word was "tarter sauce." He messed up on an assignment and chastised himself with the "tarter sauce" curse. It was adorable. Not enough for me to want to come back this morning, so let's not get too wrapped up in any form of cuteness. But I am here. Barely. I haven't cried yet though. Of course, I haven't had kindergarteners yet. I do know that I have an incredible new found respect for teachers at that level. It's like glorified babysitting and I know that I just couldn't handle that for nine months a year. No matter how much they paid me. Which wouldn't be much anyway. :) So I just wanted to share my growing experience with you. I know you're probably thinking, "how bad can teaching kindergartenders be?" Well, you weren't there. There's no controlling them. It's mayhem. It's amazing they let them come to school at that age. I don't remember what I was like, but surely it wasn't that bad! :) Maybe it was, but I remember adoring my teacher, so she must have been a good woman. I should find her and tell her so. Anyway, I think I'm done now. It's back into the wolve's den. Wish me luck.