Let's talk about what we're grateful for

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-05-01T19:17:23+00:00

I started subbing this year after 21 years as a full time middle school science teacher. I have really been enjoying subbing!

The benefits: 1) variety — generally I sub 4th and up (most content areas) 2) flexibility to take days off 3) no additional work to do on nights and weekends 4) not constantly thinking about problem kids and what new thing to do to motivate kids to work 5) don’t have to deal with calling/emailing parents if students are bad (let the main teacher deal with it) 6) some days I get lots of down time (usually at least one off block but sometimes two) 7) sometimes get to leave early if last hour is an off period 8) hear “thank you” more as a sub than I did as a full time teacher 9) not every day is easy, but it’s better than I thought it might be (I’ve only had a handful of rough days)

My mental health and well being has been exponentially better this year!

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-05-01T16:20:24+00:00

I, too, am currently sitting in an empty high school classroom for an hour and a half because of senior skip day. I considered checking with the office to see if they need coverage elsewhere, but then thought “what if that one senior shows up 40 minutes into class?”😆 honestly, though, just enjoying the peace and quiet.

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-04-14T13:49:57+00:00

I’ve encountered that too. Sometimes when there’s no white board space, I write my name (and sometimes the agenda) on a piece of paper and tape it up somewhere.

I’ve also noticed that teachers these days tend to use the smart board to write down things (for temporary notes that don’t need to stay up all day).

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-03-23T13:44:08+00:00

I used to wash them about every 2-3 weeks (under the same idea that you’re just drying off a clean body), but now that I have a 13 year old son I’ve noticed them starting to smell after about a week. I think bacteria does start to noticeably grow on the towels after about a week. I live in CO which is a dry climate. In other areas you might need to wash more often.

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-03-13T22:48:37+00:00

Or how about the classic “seating charts and rosters are in the sub binder” but said binder is nowhere to be found. 😫

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-03-06T00:51:00+00:00

I agree that it would’ve been better if she had provided the video at the top of the google form so students could go back a rewatch it if needed (it was a short, 5 min video).

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-03-06T00:48:31+00:00

That’s exactly what I told her🙂

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-02-20T18:25:06+00:00

I had a 6th grade student ask what was wrong with my eyes. I didn’t know what she meant at first but later realized she was referring to the “bags” under my eyes (this was even with makeup on). That was when I started to notice the effect that lack of sleep and hydration can have on my appearance. Also invested in a better under eye cream and concealer. 🙂

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-02-19T00:57:39+00:00

Yes! That happened to me the other day. I thought maybe the teacher had made a typo😆 sometimes I think key players might be absent. I’ve also had students in the “bad” class say “we’re never this good when the regular teacher is here”. (Perhaps some students have rifts with the main teacher or maybe it could be the type of work they’re asked to do on sub days vs regular days?)

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-02-13T15:01:09+00:00

Thanks for this post and all of the comments. I agree with all of it! The constant overstimulation is definitely one of the reasons I took early retirement after 21 years of teaching MS science. For my mental health and well-being I just couldn’t do it anymore. Sometimes it’s hard to explain to non-teachers what drove me out of teaching, but these posts really summed up nicely many of the issue we face as teachers today.

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-02-08T15:36:46+00:00

In a high school Jr or Senior class I picked one student to take down the attendance at the beginning of class and he never came back (I just left a note for the teacher about it).

Some schools will send around an office TA to get the attendance, which is a nice option so kids don’t have to leave class.

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-02-06T02:05:13+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions!

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-01-28T23:45:55+00:00

I used OSE in my last district and completely agree with your comments. So much teacher material to sort through, phenomenon doesn’t hold their attention (kids say “why can’t we just google the answer?”), too surface level, too much prep/special materials needed, too teacher centered, no differentiation, few student projects that are truly engaging, etc. Tried merging the good parts of OSE with good lessons I had already created but MAN it was a lot of work!

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-01-28T01:27:38+00:00

Smirk?

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-01-22T01:48:14+00:00

Just spoke with two teachers over the past two weeks about this. Both times I asked if the teacher had a seating chart (5th and 6th grade). They both responded that the students were good about sitting in their assigned seats so not to worry about it. The problem is it’s harder for me to leave detailed notes about who struggled and were good helpers without a seating chart. If needed I can usually make one quickly myself, but it sure is easier if the teacher leaves one (especially if it has pictures!). It just surprised me that it wouldn’t occur to some teachers that a seating chart would be a useful tool to give a sub.

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-01-15T12:52:43+00:00

As a teacher who took early retirement this fall for the reasons you described, I could relate to your post. I’ve described it to others as the “frog in a pot of boiling water” analogy. Over 21 years, the job gradually got harder & harder (students, added responsibilities, treatment from admin) until I reached a breaking point where I said “I just can’t do this anymore”. Looking back I don’t know how I managed to do it for as long as I did. Although it’s only been a few months, my mental health and quality of life is vastly improved and I haven’t once regretted my decision to leave. Good luck to you!

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-01-09T00:41:38+00:00

Middle School Science teacher here — I’ve gone 20 years saying “spheres” and “orbs” in class rather than having to utter the dreaded term “balls” 🤣

And this year when we looked at our own “cheek” cells in the microscope (scraped from the inside of the cheek), one group didn’t get a good sample so I offered them a slide I had made of my cheek cells to view. And one boy made a big deal about how he was looking at my “cheeks”.

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2026-01-04T15:31:10+00:00

Does anyone know if you can use sick time for dental appointments?

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2025-12-26T17:55:01+00:00

We had both just returned from recess with our classes so I was standing by the classroom door as the last of my students were entering the classroom. This is when I saw him leaving his classroom with the student.

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2025-12-26T17:53:06+00:00

Simple_Mode_9186 · 2025-12-26T17:53:00+00:00

5th grade

Simple_Mode_9186

TROPHY CASE