Sub-batical!

OK! GOT IT! EUREKA!

I’m no longer in sub-urgatory*... I’m actually on.... SUB-BATICAL!

Let me back up. I’m crushing on lots of teacher books, and trying to convince myself not to buy them, even though I know I will in the end. This is, shall we say, a “lean” time financially, and I’m a little stressed about Christmas coming up and bills and etc.

However, I’m really trying to use this time - like I said recently - to learn and think and try to plan out my game for how to be an awesome teacher. SO, if I view this time as something like a sabbatical, then that means it’s totally OK if I buy books to read and research and think and plan - just like I said I would do.

My list - bought and desired

Teaching Adolescent Writers by Kelly Gallagher (just bought it)

        

Reciprocal Teaching at Work: Powerful Strategies and Lessons for Improving Reading Comprehension, 2nd Edition
by Lori D. Oczkus

        

Common Core Curriculum Maps in English Language Arts, Grades 9-12 (Common Core Series)

Should keep me busy and fill in those long periods in the teachers’ lounge ...

*Sub-urgatory - a place or state of suffering inhabited by teachers who are expiating their sins before securing a full-time teaching placement. Ok, I’m being slightly bitter and facetious. But, have you ever subbed? If you have the secret recipe - please, by all means - let me know!

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Sub-Sub-Subbing

So, there are ups and downs to my current schedule.

On the one hand, I come home and have nothing that needs to be graded, planned, or really even thought about. The job more or less ends at 2:30.

On the other hand, I am not so good with lots of time on my hands. I am a sadistic sicko who needs to work a lot in order to be happy (ok a little hyperbole there - but not all that much of it).

On the one hand, subbing gives me time to think and read and maybe even write about how to be a better teacher (and other stuff too - like cruising my way through the Game of Thrones series).

On the other, my dad always said the more you have to get done, the more you do. I am not necessarily productive despite all my free time.

But, I absolutely knew ahead of time that I would feel like this the second my long-term leave placement ended. So I guess I felt a little more prepared. I am determined to make the most of all the time I have right now. What better time for a few goals?

Goals for SubTime

1. Can’t think well if I don’t feel well: first goal is to exercise 4 times a week.
2. I want to be the best teacher I can possibly be. That requires research and thinking. So, this goal is a little amorphous but it is to think about and read about best teaching practices.
3. Write down something interesting or notable (to me) at least 3 times a week. It can even be 1 sentence. I just want to get into the habit of recording.

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