I love my job, and I love my students, but sometimes kids really do say the darnedest things!  This is the story of the first time a student called me something offensive and I think it's only fitting that it be the first story I share with you today. So I was a first year Substitute and I had taken a job in a middle school Science classroom. This was maybe half way through the school year. I was sitting up in the front of the classroom, giving directions. One student looks directly at me and says "you kinda look like a sex offender." Ladies and gentlemen, in a million years I could never make this up. My first reaction was, "wait... did I just hear that right?" But I had heard right. I could have shut down right then and there and walked out, or flipped out. What I said was "excuse me?" And this is where it happened, the student tried to backtrack, by telling me they weren't talking to me. Alright, here's the kicker this kid was looking me straight in the eyes when those words came tumbling out. This is a classic case of foot-in-mouth syndrome and it happens way more than you think. At the time, I was very upset and was seriously questioning my choice to teach middle school. Now a days I look back and laugh because it was such an odd thing for that student to say. 

So the aftermath was that I sent the student to another class that day and made sure I left the details of the situation in my note for the teacher at the end of the day. The next time I saw that student, it was if it had never happened. That's what it's all about. Knowing that stuff happens and kids will be kids. That's what I love about my job, I never know what's going to come out of the mouth of a student or how I'm supposed to handle it. I like to say that Substitute Teaching is 90% stand up comedy and 10% what you know. This is the type of job where you learn as you go and sometimes you make mistakes. These are the stories of my mishaps and mistakes and how I've learned from them. I'd like to share them with you.