L and the "Horrid" Substitute

Today was L's first day with a substitute teacher and according to her, it was not a good experience.

"Mommy, Mommy!," she cried, running to me.  "We had a sustitube in school today!"

"You had a substitute?," I asked.  "What's that?"

"It's when your teacher isn't there so a mean teacher comes in," she replied in a serious tone.

"So, it was a mean substitute?  Why was she so mean?," I asked.

"It was a he and he was mean because he wouldn't let us get up without asking," she recounted.

"Um, L," I said, laughing.  "You aren't supposed to get up without asking when your teacher is there, either."

"Well, he wouldn't let us talk unless we raised our hand!," she exclaimed.

"Again, L," I said, with a sigh.  "You aren't supposed to do that, substitute or not."

"Well," she said, clearly annoyed that I couldn't see the terribleness of the situation.  "He wouldn't let us walk around or go on the playground or play with play-doh!"

"Oh my," I commiserated. "Well, what did you do all day?"

"We worked on very hard work!," she declared.  "And now I am tired.  Yeah, I'm tired because we had to work so hard!"

Kindergarten has been a real eye-opener for both of us.  I figured given the fact that I've done this twice already, Kindergarten this time around would be a breeze, but I've been thrown for a complete loop.

Kindergarten now is what first grade was when B was in it.  Not only is the work harder, but the kids are learning that the same behaviors that were acceptable in preschool are not acceptable in Kindergarten.

L's teacher has a behavior system in which every child starts at a 3 (ready to learn).  The can either move up to 4 or 5, stay on 3 or move down to 1 or 2.  L is always on a 3 and I always tell her how happy I am she kept her 3.

"But L," I asked her last week. "What do you need to do move to a 4 or 5?"

"Well, we need to not blurt out and not follow Mrs. Teacher around," she answered.

"Do you blurt out?," I asked.

"Yes.  I do," she answered honestly.

"Do you followed Mrs. Teacher around the classroom?," I asked again.

"Yes.  I do," she answered.

The next morning, as she was eating breakfast, she exclaimed, "Today I am going to get a 5, Mommy!"

"That is awesome, L!," I cheered.  "I know you can do it!"

At school pick up, she came up to me and said sadly, "I only got a 3 today, Mommy.  Are you mad?"

"Did you try your very best?," I asked her.

"I did," she answered.

"Then, I am not mad, but I am curious.  Did you follow Mrs. Teacher around?"

"I did," she replied, looking down.  "I had to tell her something and she didn't see my hand raised, so I followed her."

Mrs. Teacher came over to talk to me about L's day and I brought up the number system.

"Oh, yes," she said with a laugh.  "Every time I turn around, L is there.  I nearly toppled over her today.  She over heard me talking to another child about how he is on track to earn a 5 and L said, 'I will get a 5 and I will get to go Treasure Box!  One day, I will get a 5!'  I reminded her of what she has to do and agreed that one day, she will get there."

L is determined, albeit stubborn.  She wants that 5 so badly, but the urge to follow Mrs. Teacher around the classroom is just too great for now.