Something endearing between the lines

When students write apologies to their sub.

I won’t be substitute teaching this week, mainly because the school is going to remote learning due to a wave of infectious illnesses, including Covid-19.

Substitute teachers are in demand nationwide for many reasons. It’s no different at our little school here in Custer County. In recent weeks I spent several days as a sub in the special-ed resource room. I’ve also done time in academic success (a study hall), middle school English, science and math, and — get this – 4th grade, causing one teacher friend who has a master’s in education to comment, “Haha. Freakin’ 4th grade. I couldn’t.”

It’s true. Sometimes I feel like some sort of strange mercenary going in to guest-teach for real educators, especially during this coronavirus pandemic.

In the weeks ahead I am pre-scheduled for more special-ed shifts and two days of 2nd grade, not to mention whatever else comes up. It doesn’t pay exceptionally well, but it’s helping fill gaps while I am between editing/writing clients.

Ironically, I’ve helped kids on the autism spectrum with math and reading, and discussed college plans with high-achieving students. I’ve played chess with kids caught up on their work. I’ve enjoyed reading books to 6th graders and high-school seniors, including my own son, Harrison. I’ve relearned fractions, and how to find the lowest common denominator, a skill I’d used only when writing metaphorically.

Last week, a couple days after being the “guest teacher” in middle-school math, I was handed a big envelope by the school’s secretary. Inside I found notes from the 8th grade class apologizing for their behavior the day I was their sub. I quickly stuffed the scraps of paper back into the envelope.

At first, I was a little irked. I’d left no complaints about that class. Sure, they were a little rowdy and a couple of them had to be told to quiet down a few times. But it was really nothing out of the ordinary as subbing goes, and I didn’t see any reason these students should have been made to write apologies. I wondered who even ratted them out, because I didn’t.

Sometimes I feel like I should apologize to them for impersonating a real teacher.

I took me three days to bear looking over these notes. As I read them one by one I found something endearing between the lines of what they were so obviously told to write. Many of them expressed a level of caring that I had not expected.

I thought back to that Monday. In another class a student had raised her hand while working on an assignment. When I responded, she said, “I just want to thank you for subbing.” Later I found a note on the classroom whiteboard thanking me for being there.

It seems guest teaching doesn’t pay much, but it is a gateway to other riches. And I am grateful for that.