When I first started teaching I had nightmares about being sick and having a substitute in my room. I made detailed schedules and instructions for anyone who might take my place for even a day. I feared that even one day off of our planned curriculum would somehow damage my students. I wonder now how many of my more experienced colleagues were laughing at me.
I had to go to ER yesterday and will be out of class today also. So my instructions for my sub are “keep my students busy and happy”. There is plenty of work stacked on my desk, but I’m never right on track with my lesson plans. We are always reviewing something I didn’t think we would have to review or spending three days on something I thought they would understand in two…max. I might switch Wednesday’s lesson for Monday because I have perfect attendance and want to take advantage of that. I might plan to do something and then realize there isn’t time to complete it. So I don’t expect a substitute to stay on track when I don’t do it myself.
The longest I have ever been absent from the classroom was eight weeks- for major surgery. My students and parents missed me and a couple of my students didn’t do quite as well with a sub as they might have with me, but we all survived. Life goes on…
I hope to be back in the classroom on Monday. In the meantime I hope my class has a good day.
Hope you get well super quickly lady for you!! Your kiddos are very important but you have to do whats best for you!! Once in a blue moon!!
Posted by: Debra Freeman | January 14, 2011 at 06:38 AM
Well kaden said it was a sad, sad day!!! lol
You should have seen his little face when he was telling me, like something really bad happened! He was still talking about it after 5 pm to Braxton about you being sick and that you were gone the WHOLE DAY!!!! We both wish you the best of luck and want you back ASAP!!!! Pack that nose and come on!!! LOL, LOL
Posted by: diana Weger | January 14, 2011 at 07:03 AM