Perfect Storm of Subbing

It was the sort of day when I finished work with a splitting headache. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.

1. About 15 minutes after arriving at the school I am told by the instructional assistant for the class that this is a kindergarten room. I had accepted the assignment after being told it was for a second grade class. I never accept kindergarten assignments because I just don't have the right sort of energy or patience that they require.
2. Also upon arriving in the room, I am told that the regular teacher has been on maternity leave for the past several months, and that I am the 5th substitute teacher that the class has had during her leave. If any of you know anything about teaching or kids, more than anything they need consistency. Five different substitutes means the class is going to be a disaster in terms of discipline----even more since these are kindergarteners who are still trying to learn what appropriate school behavior is.
3. Since there wasn't a regular teacher in the classroom there were also no lesson plans. Someone had left some photocopies for the kids, but the photocopies were appropriate for third or fourth graders. One of the work sheets was too unscramble various holiday words---these are kids that can just barely spell their name.
4. I only got about 4 hours of sleep last night. Yes, that is my fault but it makes the day much longer and tougher.
5. In the morning, there were three adults in the room--me the sub, an instructional assistant, and a reading teacher. All three of us were supposed to be teaching reading groups at the same time. Talk about chaos. Too many cooks ruining the soup. Everyone seems to be in charge but no one is in charge.
6. Several kids with various behavior problems, including at least one ADHD kid (my guess is 3 or 4)---but the mother of the one child told me that hers was.
7. I had a job interview immediately after school, so my mind was slightly distracted. After today's class experience lets hope my subbing days are coming to a close.
8. The school librarian didn't show up too teach my class, so I missed a 45 minute break that would have been greatly appreciated today.
9. Little boys trying to get my attention by bawling their eyes out (one boy was crying so loud that the teacher from across the hall came over to see if everything was ok). Why was the kid crying? Because I said he couldn't play Simon Says because he was talking too much.
   
10. Half the kids in the class did not have pencils, and there weren't extra pencils ready.

I know there are other things on the list, but I can't remember what they were. My brain is too frazzled from the day.

So what did the perfect storm look like? Kids laying on the floor, kids taking off their shoes, kids sitting on tables, kids talking, kids yelling, kids pushing, kids running, kids fighting.

Do you want to hear the scariest (well almost scariest) thing? The instructional assistant and several of the other teachers that were near my classroom said that the behavior in my class was 100% better than the day before.

And now for the scariest part? I'm going back to the same class again tomorrow. Why I'm not sure, I figure the kids have had enough chaos already I don't want to give them anymore. Plus, since I'm going through a whole job hiring process, I need to be looking as dependable as possible. What do we say with a day like today? Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggghhhhhh!!!!