Substitute Teaching in Out in the Open

Yesterday in the class I subbed for something wonderful happened. I handed an assignment out and one child pushed the paper back and said, “oh, I can’t do this kind of stuff.” I quickly smiled and replied, “oh, but surely you can!” Again, the child frowned and said, ” Nope. I’ve never been able to do this. It’s too hard”. As the rest of the class began to work the child pushed their chair back and sat frowning, giving up with out a fight. I knelt down next to this child and pointed to a word on the paper. With out giving me a chance the child started trying to explain why the child couldn’t do it. I quickly stopped the child and said, “but I know you can do it! Let me show you a trick!” The child now perked up with interest and scooted the child’s chair up to the desk. (Ah! I got the child’s attention!) I showed the child my trick that I had been taught and the child decided to try it. AND IT WORKED! Now the child, with a new found confidence, continued and finished the assignment with out anyone’s help. The child felt happy and satisfied… And I for just a moment felt like a super hero.