Substitute teacher rearranges teacher's classroom and throws away her students' ungraded assignments: 'She also moved my plants, including an orchid that's pretty particular about lighting.'

2 months ago 33

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  • Woman in glasses at desk with laptop and chalkboard

    A substitute teacher sits calmly at her desk, waiting to unleash her reign of terror upon the students.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • A substitute reorganized my classroom, threw away student work, and moved my plants. Am I overreacting?

    I had a substitute on Friday, and when I came back, I realized that my classroom had been rearranged in ways I hadn't asked for.

  • Some papers were discarded, including student work that hadn't been filed yet. I keep all assignments for documentation purposes, especially for students with support plans, so now I am missing some pieces that I may need for later.

  • Items on my desk were also moved around/removed and things around my file cabinet had been gone through and shifted.

  • She also moved my plans, including an orchid that's already struggling and and pretty particular about lighting Students told me that they weren't able to follow the directions I left.

  • A potted plant with purple flowers sitting on a window

    An orchid plant is sitting on the windowsill, where it can get sufficient sunlight.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • They were supposed to quietly swap papers to have their classmates look it over, but that wasn't

  • One student had their Chromebook taken away because he was trying to access a YouTube video that I had specifically linked into Canvas.

  • Even though the information for the assignment was on the board, I also posted the information to Canvas so the substitute directed them to Canvas, but if a student read the directions off of another students Chromebook because they didn't have theirs, she would fuss at them.

  • She also was super nitpicky about when they could turn in their assignments. I normally let them turn it in as they finish, and she told them not to turn it in until the bell rings.

  • Overall, students told me that expectations felt inconsistent and that the environment was overly strict. I completely understand that subbing is not easy, but going through materials, discarding papers, and changing procedures without direction feels like a lot.

  • At the end of the day, I dropped by briefly to grab some papers before leaving for the weekend and she mentioned that she had cleaned and sanitized my desk and that my kids were so talkative and r de generally.

  • She even mentioned to me some of the kids got put out of the classroom and when she gave me the names, I just KNEW that something wasn't right because those names were my most helpful and sweetest students.

  • Small school children sitting at the desk in classroom raising their hands during the lesson

    Young students raise their hands because they are helpful and sweet to their teacher.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I didn't really know how to respond because that not something I would typically expect/want done.

  • Am I overreacting or is this as out of bounds as it feels? I'm honestly thinking about leaving an explicit "PLEASE DON'T REORGANIZE" note from now on.

  • Z3st3dL3mon Yeah I had a similar issue before break and posted to the substitute reddit. The replies were about 50% "why would you touch someone's stuff?!", 45% "you're a bad example for your students if your desk is messy", and 5% "I'm so sorry I thought I was helping!" Just leave the note in future, I sure am.

  • Constant_Leader_8551 Original Poster's Reply Bro the ADHD is very real in this classroom. What looks like mess to others, is organized chaos for me. I know what each pile of papers is and where they go because they are all simultaneously moving.

  • Asleep-Chocolate- I'm a former teacher and a substitute now. You are absolutely right in feeling the way that you do. The sub had absolutely no right to rearrange, throw stuff away, etc. I had a very particular place and a reason to have my room/desk area arranged a certain way. Sometimes, it's just because I liked it that way. I taught special ed and also kept student work for documentation purposes, so I totally understand why you would be mad. I can't even imagine subbing in a classroom and d

  • Constant_Leader_8551 Original Poster's Reply I submitted VERY DETAILED feedback in our sub portal and I told my academic coach what happened and she was also very appalled. Especially when all 105 of my students AND MY COTEACHER FOR 2 CLASSES come in and say the same thing, I'm gonna believe them.

  •  you done need to move my sh..

  • Constant_Leader_8551 Original Poster's Reply Bro I even cleaned off workspace specifically for her. My desk is comprised of two desks in the shape of an L and I cleaned off the front side and straightened up the back side a bit i.e. made my distinct piles of papers, wiped stuff down, etc. The kids said that she took EVERYTHING off my desk wiped it down and started throwing stuff away.

  • JustTheBeerLight Tell the office to never assign that sub to your room again. Report what they did. Tell your colleagues to do the same. That is completely unacceptable, disrespectful and bats t crazy.

  • ADHTeacher Ban the sub and report to your admin. This is ridiculous and, ime, entirely too common. Idk what would make a substitute--esp a short-term one--think they have any business rearranging a teacher's stuff at all, much less throwing papers away, but it's happened way too often to my colleagues and me. Side note, I just banned a sub for similar crop and feel no guilt whatsoever. My admin said they're probably going to ban the guy entirely, even though he provides a lot of coverage for us.

  • Cyclone_Eyes Yikes! I'm sorry the sub made so many unauthorized changes. Just wondering if you know for a fact she discarded the work? I'm hoping she did some "mystery filing" or reshuffling, and it is not gone entirely. :(

  • nomad5926 Not an overreaction at all. Honestly all I really want a sub to do is take attendance, monitor the kids as they work on whatever worksheet I left for them and that's it. I don't need heroes or cosplay-teachers. I just need you to be the adult in the room.

  • quickwitqueen Ohh I naw, that's bulls. I would be livid. I have banned subs from my classroom for less.

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