See The Unseen - Love The Unloved

---

Teacher me…

Showed up to substitute teach…half day…afternoon…reading intervention…arrived 45 minutes early only to be told…the job had been changed to a homeroom…knew that was a possibility…as it’s in the handbook that a sub can be moved…it was noon…Friday the 13th…the place…was abuzz…

Went to the classroom to prepare…was then told the job was being switched to a para and this old gal…had lunch duty…in five minutes…let’s just say…faking lunch duty…on crazy day Friday the 13th…with wound up middle schoolers…of whom you know not one name…is a feat…unto itself…

And so it was…day 1 of subbing…teacher me…now para me…felt lost…out of control…out of…her element…and felt…like she was failing…this substitute teaching test…but in those four hours…para me…learned student names…encouraged…engaged…and bonded with those little ones…who crave acceptance…who desire…attention…
​
Walked with a buddy…who needed a break…ran off some steam in the gym…played some catch…played a game of horse…was gifted a poster he’d won that morning in a drawing…was asked…to come back another day…

This…felt right…felt like teacher me…this was what’s been missed…making that kid…who needs affirmation…feel special…making that kid who stays hidden…feel seen…making a difference…even for just a tiny bit…on a crazy afternoon…on Friday the 13th…
​
And teacher me…agrees…