Being a substitute teacher

February 25, 2010



For a time that your cooperating teacher is not around, absent or has an (urgent) appointment, you have to handle the class. You must be very creative.

During my In-campus practice teaching when my cooperating teachers were very busy, I was the one who handled the class. In my first shifting for the Off-campus, my teacher was there but I was the one who handled the class even though those days were only allotted for pure observation. It’s okay. For me, I enjoyed teaching my Grade-II pupils. Some said, I was a substitute for my cooperating teacher.

This time around, I can give a good “Yes” that I was a substitute teacher.

Due to vehicular accident, Ma’’am Claro was on-leave for a week. Her feet were swollen and some scratches on her arms made her unable to handle the class. So, the Principal went to the room and told me to handle the class since my cooperating will be on-leave for a week. She looked for the lesson plans so that I may have a guide. I should only teach one subject per day, but since Ma’am Claro was not around; it was like a straight teaching. I was very thankful since I had already prepared my lesson plans and visual aids for a weeklong teaching. So, my preparation for one week teaching of 1 subject per day was only spent for one day. I thought I will be relaxed when I went home since I have nothing to worry about lesson plans and instructional materials. When I went home, I found myself almost busy again for my next teaching.

One thing that challenged me most was when Ma’am Claro sent me a text message if I have time to teach Science 6 in Grade VI-O. Of course I can’t say no, I accepted it. I asked for the subject matter from Joy, since she was also teaching Grade VI. It was about the Origin of the Universe.

Since it was all about the theories of the origin of the universe, I thought it would be very difficult for them to understand the concept. So, when I when home at night, I walked around to look for balloons. Like a bee, I flew from a store to another until I found a small sari-sari store at the far way down the road. However, I have to play first a lottery. I have to pray first that a miracle would help me choose the right number for the balloons. At first, I failed. Then, I have got one; play again until I got three (3) small balloons. I looked for a crunchy cracker and marbles.

I was not worrying that they might be unruly and disorder when I teach because I know that they are afraid of me. That is one thing that makes me laugh. Yes, I am strict. My Grade II pupils love the chemistry of being strict and humble. But then, other grade levels were afraid of me, according to them, I was like a terror teacher.

Here we go. I used all of them as I taught the theories on the origin of the universe. When I let them demonstrate how was the Big Bang, Big Crunch, Steady State and Dust Cloud Theory. They were all amazed and they were able to understand the concept since they have an experienced to remember as a representation of those theories. What a wonderful day!

I remember the text message she had sent to me: “Thank you Sir James, you will be the pilot of my class until Friday.

Here is an excerpt from Ma’am Claro’s message: “ VI-O tbi james mga behave un kc mga honors un tank u ur d pilot of my clas til fri. kya mo un d principal obserb u dat ur the best ST congrats 4 dat!”

It is so nakakatabang puso. I just replied, “ngek, grve man po. I only enjoy and love my work.”

Deep in my heart, it’s the warmest message I have ever received from a cooperating teacher. Thanks you!