This is so frustrating!  It takes so long to write up detailed plans so that things can be done the way you want.  It is almost like teaching an extra day so that you can be absent.  Either you leave plans for make-work stuff that you don't really care about how it gets done (not a very efficient use of the kids' time), or you try to leave things that can carry on as if you were there.  Invariably, the stuff is not done the way you really wanted, or not done at all.  I can't stand it either.  

I'm so glad to hear that you will confront him tomorrow!

Mystery Teacher,

I myself am I substitute teacher. I just graduated from undergrad this past December and, in effort to obtain a full time teaching position, have entered the *glamorous* life of subbing. I'm sorry to hear about your recent negative experience with a substitute, but I would like to commend you on leaving detailed lesson plans for the sub (even though he didn't follow them). So many teachers don't bother to leave specific plans and/or are so disorganized it makes life difficult for the sub. It is easy for substitutes to fall into the trap of making friends with the students (probably why your class had recess), because they think classroom management will be easier, but it's no excuse for not following plans. Also, if the substitute teacher in question begins to develop this habit, he will be known within the district ( not in a good way ) and you probably will be seeing less of him as a result, because he won't get called as often. Good luck && I hope the next time you're out of your classroom you have a better result! :)

Sincerely,

MissD07

Good luck! As a substitute teacher I'm thankful when classroom teachers give feedback because 1. It makes my job easier and 2. It helps weed out those subs that are just there for a paycheck and increases my likelihood of getting called. :) I like to take the opportunity to "steal" ideas in other teachers' classrooms to use in my future classroom. If you have any advice or ideas for a beginning teacher I'd be very grateful :)

my teacher-bff had this conversation in her staff meeting the other day:

Teacher 1: i wish the substitute would at least hand out the worksheet.

Teacher 2: i'd settle for a substitute that wasn't drunk.

Teacher 3: i'd settle for a substitute who didn't use racial slurs to describe students, drunk or not.

this is a high school, but still...

we have the worst sub issues in our district right now. and hardly anyone is willing to sub at our school site b/c we are a middle school. my sub today did just fine and my kids did beautifully! i am so proud of them!