Back to Work

I returned from our road trip and called to have myself reinstated on the sub list in St. Louis Park. Two days went by and the phone did not ring. I, of course, began to obsess about my career as a sub being over. That was then, this is now. My phone rings constantly. This past week, I have worked every day and I have not felt so tired in a very long time. Even a 12-hour drive in the car now seems like a piece of cake. I need to build up some endurance, sort of like when you begin an exercise program.

St. Louis Park's school district has undergone some major changes this year. They closed one elementary school and now send all the 6th graders in the district to the one Jr. High. Student population has declined and the district took the opportunity to distribute low-income students and kids of color more equally around the district by changing school boundaries. The minority student population is now more balanced at 39% in every school, except for Spanish Immersion, which has a smaller percentage. The St. Louis Park school district is ranked academically #2 in the state, next to Edina, where the income level is much higher and the school population much less diverse. St. Louis Park city planners have included lower-income housing in this first ring suburb. Not true in Edina.

This is my third year of substitute teaching in St. Louis Park. I started right after I retired and continued for two years until we left for Mexico. I have great admiration for this school district. The diversity of the student population is fun and a culture of respect is carefully and skillfully nurtured in every school. A first grade I subbed in this week included a mix of Hispanic, Asian, Muslim, African-American, Jewish, and even white kids. A good way for kids to start their school career.

My first assignment back in the sub game was kindergarten. It was a good way to begin. I was reminded why I never took Kindergarten certification. The crying, the tattling, the shoe tying ... ah yes. Not to mention they hug you constantly. Day two: first grade, my favorite grade to teach until I realized I was too old. I love the way first graders internalize their daily routines. "No, Mrs. Baxter, we do it this way, never the way you are telling us to do it." Day three: elementary special ed. I was never certified in special ed. either, although I always had special education students in my regular classes over the years. This week's special education assignment included a student with an IQ of 68 who I found to be extremely articulate; and one student, named Usher, with a much higher IQ who kept flipping out of his seat into a handstand and then proceeding to walk on his hands around the classroom. Day four: middle school. A boy in class wore baseball gloves on both hands all day while displaying his baseball trophy on his desk. I was blown away by a discussion the entire class had about the Holocaust. I never studied the Holocaust until my senior year in high school. Day five: Spanish immersion grade 5. These students practically teach themselves. I wrote in Spanish on the white board the plan their teacher had left for them, and sat and read on my Kindle as they carried out what they were supposed to do independently. I remembered many of these students from when I taught them as first and second graders. One boy who was always folding and cutting up paper is still folding and cutting up paper. Day six: collapse into exhaustion.

Not being as young as I used to be, having hit the big 6-0 in October, I realize that a couple or three days a week of this may be more appropriate for one of my advanced years. I like subbing because each day is so different and there is no lesson planning involved, no meetings to go to, and no report cards. You walk out of the door empty handed, knowing a new adventure and challenge awaits you with the next assignment you accept. The bag of tricks it took years to learn is useful everyday with all the varied situations you encounter; and best of all, you can afford to relax and enjoy the students without all the overwhelming responsibility which a regular classroom teacher has. Some days, if the teacher has a lot of prep time on the schedule, you can fit in a little knitting and/or book reading. Pretty nice!

I only wish this moonlighting paid better, but a little extra money is nothing to sneeze at. I sneeze the money I make right along into our travel account. Nice! Also pretty nice was this week's completion of the bridge across Highway 7 that has been under construction lo these many months. We watched everyday from our windows as they constructed it, anxiously awaiting its completion, and gleefully yelling about the first accident, which took place before eight o' clock on the first morning. I am now able to walk across the blue bridge to the Spanish Immersion School and can also easily zip onto Highway 7 which gets me quickly to the other schools in St. Louis Park.

I figure subbing is something I can enjoy doing for a good long time to come if I so choose. (My first choice of career now would of course be professional tourist and blogger, but no one has called and offered me such a job.) Subbing will be fine for now. I just have to get over being shocked when students tell me I remind them of their grandmother (after all, I am a grandmother). When they say I remind them of their great-grandmother it will be the signal for me to retire yet again.

*And yes, dear Cabo friends who follow my blog, winter has arrived in Minnesota, snow and all! Hence the weird outfit.