Liar Liar Pants on Fire

I subbed a half day kindergarten class today. Nothing too much to talk about... I subbed the afternoon and the teacher I was covering for taught morning so I did a lot of prep work. I know I only taught kindergarten for 10 weeks but I still remember how much prep work is involved in kindergarten... it is crazy status! Anyway, I did participate in centers and kids were telling me some crazy stories that never ended! I swear those babies come up with the crazies stuff to say. I love when they talk like little babies. I sometimes wonder what my own kids will be like... I always pray they won't be the annoying kid in class; I would die of embarrassment.

I am going to go help Matt decorate his classroom tomorrow. I am so excited to see what his school and class looks like. Today was his second day and he hasn't been able to stop talking about how much he loves it. I am so so so so beyond happy for him. I don't know anyone that is more deserving for his job than he is =)

I know that my long term sub jobs aren't for a while, but I am still so excited. I want to start already!

Quotes of the day:

1.)
Girl: We don't pick our noses here.
Me: Ok, phew I was worried about that.
(...20 minutes later, she is picking her nose.)

2.)
Boy: I went to the Amazon yesterday and the snake that was there wrapped itself around me and I was so scared and I didn't know what to do and then my dad came and he took a knife and he cut it right off my neck so that the snake wouldn't sting me and then I saw a dragon and then.....
Me: Wow, that's pretty intense. Finish your work now, ok?
Boy: It was... and then blah blah blah blah blah...

7th grade math and science

Sometimes I wonder how people, such as my boyfriend, can teach 7th and 8th grade... it takes guts. Those kids are slightly out of control. Luckily, today my kids were pretty good. I seriously stink at math but today I successfully taught a lesson to the 7th graders. Go me!

Quote of the day:

While looking at the science textbook...
Student: Oh my god, what is that a picture of?
Me: What does it say?
Student: It is a furnace!!!
Me: No, Sugar-pie. Read it again.
Student: Ohhh, I mean fetus.
Me: (stunned look on my face)
...a couple minutes later...
Student: Ms. Hobbs, is it true that babies have an extra layer of skin over their body when they're born?
Me: (...silence...) Ask your mom.
Student: How do babies pee in the womb?
Me: (...silence...)

Back to work!

Well if you haven't heard the exciting news, Matt is the new middle school science teacher at a school in Pomona! I thought I was going to pass out when he told me, I was so excited. I am so proud of him. =)

I finished my master's degree on Monday, so I am pretty excited about that! It felt a little weird knowing that I was taking the last test for a very very long time.

I subbed second grade today! It felt so good to be back. The weather is a little bit out of control though. The kids had to stay inside during lunch, so they got a little hyper towards the end of the day. We watched School House Rock and played Heads Up 7 Up, which seemed to make them happy. Overall they were a fun class. I love being a teacher.

I received exciting news today! A teacher asked me to long term sub for her! Wahoo!!! It won't be for another few months, but I couldn't be more excited. Life seems to be moving along quite nicely.

I am so glad to be back at work. Not working totally throws me off balance.

Quote of the Day:

Student: Ms. Hobbs, you should see my moms rental!
Me: What kind of rental?
Student: Her car rental. She's got a PT Cruiser with all the diggs!!!

In sickness and in laziness...

So, I am a substitute in 3 districts now! woohoo... keep em coming, folks!

I was talking to Kristine and her husband last week and we were talking about how sad it is that I have to rely on teachers getting sick in order to get work. It is as though when I pray for work, I am really praying for a teacher to catch the flu in the middle of the night. Isn't that just crazy?

Another reason I love teaching is because I get to create friendships with amazing people. I went to help Letty and Kari set up the kindergarten classroom and then I went to visit with Kristine and her family. I had a blast! I love spending time with the new friends I have created in the teaching field over the last year. Nothing better than friends.

Etiwanda goes back to school Monday. Hopefully I will be called to sub. I have been waking up at 6:00 to prepare myself for going back to work... It is exhausting just to wake up! Next Friday a family friend, Mary, requested me to sub for her. I have known Mary forever. When I was a kid she was my CCD teacher at church. Her daughter and I were best friends for the longest time. I am so excited to be able to sub for her. =)

Going Home

Yesterday I went on a field-trip with my old work. I worked for a grant funded program in Pomona for two years. I worked with kids in a lower income area and promoted college. The program follows kids from 8th grade to their senior year in high school. I LOVED THAT JOB!

Although students at that grade and in that neighborhood tend to have an attitude and are quick to fight, they are amazing kids. I loved getting to know them. The team I worked with became my family throughout my two years there. I would do anything for them. We worked really well together and got stuff done. It was really funny yesterday because we went to the beach and I was standing next to my boss. A guy tripped and fell on the beach; my boss and I both looked at each other and started dying laughing. My other former coworkers from a different school site looked at us and said "no wonder you two used to work so well together." It really is true, my boss and I made a great team.

Of all the jobs I have had, that is the job where I felt most comfortable with the people I was surrounded by. Everyone in the program is there for the same reason and we all truly care about each other. I was nervous to go on the field-trip because I hadn't seen my coworkers, kids, or boss in about a year but everyone treated me like I had never left.

I feel like substitute teaching is a lonely job sometimes, especially when I work at schools I am not familiar with. I am basically my own boss and I enter a school with teachers I have never met before.

I wanted to work in programs similar to the one in Pomona once I received my degree but then I went into teaching. Don't get me wrong, I love teaching but I also love working with such a close group of friends. Maybe I can still consider working for a program like this? Hopefully something will open up. I would still be a mentor at Gear Up if subbing wasn't better pay.

I loved seeing my kids, my coworkers, and my boss. It felt like coming home for the holidays!

Buzzed

While tutoring an 8 year old...

Me: You can't write "peeps" in your essay instead of "people"
Kid: You're SUCH a buzz-kill!!

Master's Project!

Well, I finally finished my master's project!!! I just have to write a little paper to go with it then I will be all done!!! It feels very unreal.

Once I finish the paper and my educational psychology class, I will have a master's in education in a few weeks!!! PRAISE THE LORD!

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE I MADE FOR MY MASTERS PROJECT!

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions please feel free to comment on this website, email me at: cassie.hobbs@laverne.edu, or give me a call. I would appreciate your feedback.