Never say never!!!!
I am eating my words, but it’s ok because I am owning up to them and I am ok with it.
“I will NEVER be a sub!”
I remember saying it when I was a teacher. I appreciated substitute teachers more than you know. Kids acted up and didn’t always appreciate the job of a sub and I wasn’t going to put myself through that torture… or so I thought. Ha! Little did I know how much I would miss the atmosphere of a high school and the teenagers. So, when my friend (who once was my sub and now is a principal -that’s another great story) called me and said she needed subs, I caved. So, now in my retirement, I am now an official substitute teacher!
Here’s the deal… I was wrong. I will admit the kids have been great for the most part. There have been a couple of “little toots,” but nothing bad at all. I always just remind myself that teenagers' brains have not been fully developed when they act up and I get through it.
Last week I was signed up to be the “extra” sub in the building. The wonderful lady in charge of subs (a truly thankless job) always has an “extra” in case someone calls in at the last minute. Well, I was sent to the gym as the 4th sub in PE. All 3 coaches were out for a track meet. So I was just there to hang out and help - I guess? I had no idea what to do? Two of the other subs stayed in classrooms with kids who didn’t want to have gym time while another sub managed the gym. I like having a plan and being in charge. I wouldn’t even get to call the roll. I had no real responsibilities but just to be the “extra!” I wasn’t too thrilled going into it….
Extra can mean so many things. Thinking back at my day I thought I just sat around, but looking back, I did so much more! I ended up pulling out a desk in the hall for hall duty and rerouting the “lost'' young children that had ventured from the gym towards other parts of the school (whew, good thing I was there to help them find their way back to the gym). Each period I took the roll to the office for all the PE classes, I covered each class for the subs bathroom breaks, I talked with all the kids in the gym (some were coming up with a plan to save the world:) ) and at one point we even had a fire drill where I stood guard to make sure we all exited the correct door. I really think we probably got most of the three classes of kids back in! All in all - it was an EXTRA fun day!
I went home and started thinking about being the extra. I thought how could I make that a theme everyday? How could I make every day extra? Intentionally Extra!
Keli’s Korner Challenge
Here’s what I mean - spend a week being intentionally EXTRA!
You choose what you want to do each day - here are some examples.
Monday: Be EXTRA Grateful - be extra grateful for things, people, situations…. Tell people, post about it, pray about it, call, text or write a letter, etc… .
Tuesday: Be EXTRA Present - in conversations, in your studies, in your workouts, etc… .
Wednesday: Be EXTRA Helpful - be super helpful at home, school, work, random people, the store, etc… .
Thursday : Be EXTRA Positive- focus on the positive in you life and help others find it in situations in theirs!
Friday: Be EXTRA Complimentary- tell the people you see something wonderful about them - something that will make them smile!
You could also do this and make this a weekly theme - your choice! :)
Have Fun - and remember it is ok to be EXTRA!