I never thought I'd be back in the classroom as a teacher.
But since I haven't landed another position doing what I love most (being an advocate for women's rights and a violence prevention educator) and since freelance writing and speaking doesn't pay the bills, I'm "Mr. Hung" again - 24 years after I left the teaching profession! Yes, my first job out of college was being a public high school teacher back in Texas.
Right now, I'm just subbing, but I am in the process of getting my California credential based on my Texas one. If I can't be as much of an activist myself, perhaps I can help a rising generation to figure out what issues stir their hearts and to learn how they can be engaged in their communities. Social studies teacher for hire in SoCal!
But again, I'm just subbing for now. Today, I covered a class of 2nd graders. One boy started crying in the middle of my reading of The Gingerbread Man to the class.
I asked him what was wrong, and he said, "I miss my mom." I don't know the boy's circumstances, but I tried to comfort him, as did several of his classmates. A good friend of his put his hand on the boy's shoulder and said, "Okay, you're just going to have to be strong right now." One of the girls leaned over and said, "I know how you feel. My pig just died." It was sweet and amusing and poignant all at the same time.
More adventures in substitute teaching to come!
#asubslife #substituteteacherlife #socialstudiesteacher #forhire
