Designated Doodler

1. You know that terrified feeling you get when you start your first day at a new job? Yeah, well that's what subbing is like...every single day is your first day (unless it's a long term sub job). 2. Let's pray that the teacher has their kids seated alphabetically, it will make my life soooo much easier. 3. Nobody talks to you at lunch because you're just a temporary fixture. 4. It is inevitable that you will walk into a classroom where the teacher has no plans for you whatsoever. 5. The kids will test you...every minute...of every hour...of every day. This includes them switching names on you, switching seats, trying to sneak out of class, trying to get in verbal battles with you and doing anything and everything except for their classwork. 6. There will be a point when you ask yourself...why did I take this assignment? 7. You will be up at 5am looking for jobs for the day if none were posted the day before, and you really want/need ...

I remember playing dodgeball when I was in elementary school. The gym seemed huge and the bright overhead lights flooded the light wood, polished floor that squeaked when I pressed the toe of my shoe on it and slid it across. There were lines on the floor and I didn't know why. I remember how often I was frustrated by my peers. Sometimes they'd say things that were nonsense, or they wouldn't listen to the teacher, or even each other. Looking back on it, I realize now that organizing a group of six year olds into cooperating, must be like herding cats. We fluttered around the gym, ready to play the game that was just described to us at length. Throw the ball to the other side of the line and try to hit someone, then they're out of the game. But if they catch it, you're out. As we grew up, I think it got more complicated…something about freezing people…but those rules were yet to come. This was dodgeball, straight up. It was all our little brains could process...