Subbed A Freshman Math Class Yesterday

[ProfessorGAC]

They were working on simplifying equation with roots.
Over the 5 classes, I got to help a lot.
I got at least 2 in every class say "Oh, I get it now."
Had 4 tell me I should be their full-time teacher because I explain things so well. Of course, I told them that being a full-time teacher would be the opposite of retirement.
But, it was quite a good day!

[IA8IT]

1. Thank You!! My first feel good thing of the day.......

[J-9]

2. As a math teacher

I thank you.

[debm55]

3. That is great, ProfessorGAC. Thank you for sharing with us.

[quaint]

4. Please point me to a multiplication of fractions refresher.

My recipe reduction skills have left the kitchen. TYIA.

[justaprogressive]

5. These should help

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/cc-fifth-grade-math/5th-multiply-fractions

https://www.calculatorsoup.com/calculators/math/fractions.php

[quaint]

15. Thank you.

The first one aimed at fifth graders could be helpful when I have lots of patience.
The second one wants whole numbers as input, sigh.

[popsdenver]

23. Being un-educated in math, tell me

would multiplication/division, etc be needed if we were on the Metric System????????

[justaprogressive]

40. yep.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. A Suggestion

Last edited Sat Feb 28, 2026, 02:04 PM - Edit history (1)

I've never searched the whole page, but I'd recommend 2 math YouTubers I think I really good.
• The Math Queen: woman named Suzanna that is really, really good at demonstrating math problems.
• Tablet Class Math: teacher named John who us also very good. Gets a little off on tangents, compared to Suzanna, but still really good.
I'm assuming they have fractions lessons. Everything I've watched that the do is trig, calculus, geometry & probability. They do word problems too, and Suzanna is great at those.
My Tip: say you only want 2/3rds of a recipe. The recipe call for 1.25 cups of xyz.
1.25 × ⅔ = 2.5÷3, or 5 over 6. Since a cup is 8oz., (5×8)÷6, or 40 divided by 6. So, 2/3rds is 6⅔ ounces. (⅚ths of a cup)
You will seldom be dividing fractions for cooking, so multiplication is pretty much all you need.

[llmart]

17. Wait...

So if you're baking a cake and it calls for 1-1/4 cup of sugar and you only want 2/3 of the 1-1/4 cups of sugar you're going to add 6-2/3 cups of sugar?

Please don't invite me in for cake.

[quaint]

39. I merely reported the Professor's answer.

Don't worry. You aren't invited for cake.
So sorry I asked for assistance.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. My Fault

I meant ounces, not cups!
I'll edit.

[ProfessorGAC]

21. See My Edit

I meant ounces. Duh! Should have proofread.

[Soul_of_Wit]

18. it is 6 2/3 OUNCES -or- 5/6 of a CUP (n/m)

[surfered]

6. That must be a satisfying feeling. Good for you 👍

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Thanks

We don't need the little bitty money the schools pay subs, so I donate it to the local food pantry.
I get a good feeling both ways.

[surfered]

28. You're a good man Charlie Brown

[stopdiggin]

9. kind of made my morning there. Thanks! needed that! - - - - - - -(nt)-

[GiqueCee]

10. When I was in high school...

... pocket calculators hadn't even been thought of. The Math teacher's pets always got slide rules to help them solve math problems. Those of us who really needed help got detention for not paying attention.
It's okay; in the 61 years since I graduated by the skin of my teeth, I've never had occasion to use algebra.

[Soul_of_Wit]

19. Most folks use the most basic algebra almost every day

I have three of something and need five. How many more do I need? The answer is algebra. 3 + x = 5 is identical to 5 - 3 = 2.

[GiqueCee]

30. That's one way to look at it...

... I've always relied on basic arithmetic: 5-3=2.

[COL Mustard]

22. You probably have used algebra, but don't think of it that way

I’m in the same boat as you, and I remember learning how to use a slide rule. Those were the days.

Where I live, senior citizens can audit classes for free at the local community college. When I retire, I plan to go back to school and learn what I can learn in the time I have left. Also to annoy the younger students. 😆

[ProfessorGAC]

24. I Had A Circular One

It was 6.5" in diameters, so if it were straight it would be around 20" long.
Made it much easier to read than the 10" models most others had!
Slide rules are impressively accurate.

[GiqueCee]

32. That reminds me...

... of the proportion scale I've used in my graphics work for years. I always called it my whizz-wheel. Super valuable instrument when you want to scale something up or down.

[Sequoia]

36. I had to take an algebra class at local JC.

The professor told us we were the dumbest class he ever taught. Such encouragement, right? Of course after that remark I dropped the class without penalty. It's important to have a super math teacher. Math should be fun solving problems.

[Beartracks]

47. This is for you!

[GiqueCee]

48. HA!

I want one!

[1WorldHope]

11. Very cool!

[JT45242]

13. I've been doing a lot of tutoring and hearing the same thing

Jonesing for teaching.

Might need to go back with company under new management

[QED]

14. I love it when they say they want me to teach them full time!

But like you said, it's the opposite of retirement.

I subbed for a physics class at my old school yesterday. I hadn't taught the electricity unit for at least 5 years but I remembered how to set up their circuits and reset the capacitors. Guess I still have it!

The week before I subbed for a chemistry class at the same school (I taught chem and physics there). It was gas laws - one of my favorite topics. The kids, like yours, said they understood it now and wanted me for their full time teacher. I think it's just hearing it from a different person - maybe they're more tuned in.

Sounds like we both had successful days (and a little extra $$ to pay the vet bills).

[ProfessorGAC]

25. Weird!

I just did gas laws in chemistry just last week!
We may have been doing it on the same day!!!

[QED]

35. It seems that most on-level classes follow the same sequence of topics.

When I taught Chem using the modeling method, gas laws actually came at the beginning of the course. I liked the way that worked - emphasizing particle motion, etc. But the common district final exam dictated the sequence. Kills innovation.

[aggiesal]

16. I have a story about substituting ...

Last edited Sat Feb 28, 2026, 02:36 PM - Edit history (1)

When I was a Sr. in college, a friend told me that I could be a Substitute teacher if I want to make some money.
So I signed up, got tranined and started substituting.

One day, I was asked to substitute for a math teacher at a local high school.
Obviously when a substitute teacher appears at your class, the students immediately think "Free Day"

I read the lesson plan from the permanent teacher, and started teaching, much to the disappointment of the students.
(Although I found that Fr. & So. were disappointed, while the Jr.'s & Sr.'s appreciated it, because of their SAT's)

One class was learning about Cross-Multiplication. Described it and taught them how to do it. Even had some students come up to the chalk board (Didn't have marker boards back then), to give it a try.
I thought it was pretty cool that they understood it.

A couple of weeks later I got a call to substitute for the day, for the same teacher.
The students already knew me, so it was no big deal returning.

At lunch the Math Director for the High School, pays me a visit and starts asking me if I was interested in teaching.
I told him that "teaching" is a calling and at the time, it wasn't calling me. I had visions of working on the Space Shuttle (which never happened).
Then he tells me that when the class had a test on Cross-Multiplication, everyone in the class, got every C-M question correct.
He said that doesn't happen everyday.
He then tells me, if I change my mind, I have a position at the High School.

Also, being 22 years old at the time, I never had that many 18 year olds flirting with me when I was substituting at the High Schools.

[ProfessorGAC]

26. Your Last Line Is A Beauty!

I don't get any flirting. I'm an old man!
I'm more like grandpa with a ponytail. & a guitar behind the desk.

[Chasstev365]

27. I am a retired US History/ Government teacher and have had similar experiences

It's great to be retired, but nice to still have a hand in educating young people. Enjoy!

[ProfessorGAC]

29. Double Good For Me

We're in a financial position that allows me to donate the sub money to the local food pantry.
So, every day I do it, I am doing 2 useful things at once.

[Chasstev365]

51. Yep; done the same to a local organization

[WinstonSmith4740]

31. I love subbing

But when I pull a math class, I tell them straight out that I can't teach it the way it's being done today. When I show them the way most of us were taught it (by algorithm vs. whatever they call this today), I inevitably get at least a half dozen, "It's that easy?" regardless of class level.

[ProfessorGAC]

42. I Had That Dilemma, Too

Math was always very easy for me, but I didn't know when I started if I was any good at explaining it.
Turns out, I was pretty good at that part, and after a couple years I learned what method they teach, so now I can explain it the way the teachers are teaching it.
I seldom do more than 1 day here, one day there, but; one school asked me to do Tues-Fri for 8th grade math.
I couldn't do the Tuesday, but they begged me to do the other 3 days, so I said ok.
That Wednesday, I come in and in every class, several kids told me that the Tuesday sub just passed out the worksheet and said "No questions; I can't help with math."
A college graduate with a sub license that can't help with 8th grade math? Begs the question as to why they took the assignment. (Yeah, I know the school may have been desperate & took any breathing sub.) But, still.
I spent the next 3 days catching kids up from the lost day.
I knew the teacher (now at a different school where I also sub), and he told me that when he found out who subbed he knew everything was going to be ok.
Nice to hear.

[snot]

33. Good for you!

I had a bad math teacher in 4th grade and never recovered.

[Fiddlelady11]

34. I am currently a substitute teacher ...

And I hear from students that I helped them understand something. It’s gratifying. Their teachers are constrained sometimes by curriculum not created by them. Let teachers teach. Please!

[BobTheSubgenius]

37. Good on you!

Quality teaching can make ALL the difference in math classes. I graduated high school with the firm belief I just didn't have a head for math, but it turned out that I'd had mediocre instruction, at best. A fantastic college prof made that "ALL the difference" for me. In one semester he got me - a solid C student - from basic algebra, through Trig, Calc 1 and into imaginary number theory.

I'm in no way suggesting that I was threatening to win the Fields medal, but I did finish with a 92. I still credit his excellent teaching with the success - as do your students.

Again....GOOD ON YOU!!!

[NJCher]

38. It's nice to get feedback from students

but at the same time, kind of pitiful that it's not built into the system to recognize competent, effective teachers.

I noticed that for a time* students would gather around the door of my classroom while I was teaching a class. It was usually four or five at a time.

I mentioned this to the teacher in the classroom next to me (this is college level teaching) and she said they're checking you out as a teacher.

I later learned from a student that there was a "secret list" of the highly regarded teachers. The guidance counselors had this and slyly gave this information to certain students.

Never once did my institution say thank you for being a good teacher. Never once did they acknowledge my efforts. I had to learn it this way.

--------------------

Now, flashforward a few years and I took a position as a corporate webmaster for a large pharmaceutical company. A big part of my job description was to produce a monthly online magazine that featured the achievements of high-performing employees.

It was a great job and they thought nothing of it when they told me in the initial interview that they were doing it because they were privately owned and could not give stock options to keep their employees around.

In other words, they were telling them "good job" for financial reasons.

--------------

*I later learned it was during registration

[3Hotdogs]

41. Shit, That ain't nuthin'. I can get to 20

with my shoes off.

[ProfessorGAC]

43. Apparently...

...you haven't had any industrial accidents.

[3Hotdogs]

45. No accidents. 83 and all original parts 'cept a couple'a tooth crowns.

Oh, and Cadillac lens replacements.

[GiqueCee]

49. I can't count to 21...

... with my shoes on!

[Figarosmom]

44. Maybe just tske on one or two to tutor

And tell them to teach the others just like you told them. Or do tutoring videos.

[ProfessorGAC]

46. Not A Bad Idea

But, I like the interaction, which I wouldn't get from videos.
The tutoring thing might work, if you could get parents of lagging students to admit their kid needs help.

[airplaneman]

50. You did the math?

Sorry I just had to say that
-Airplane

[TBF]

52. I taught my kids fractions using measuring cups -

but that was about the extent of my expertise w/math!

I bet those kids will remember you!

[Laffy Kat]

53. It takes a special type of person to teach.

There is no way some of us could do it. I so admire teachers.

[ProfessorGAC]

54. I'm No Teacher

I just play one on sub days.
I don't have to plan lessons, grade homework & tests, design IEPs, deal with parents, worry about state test scores ..
Being a real teacher is a lot of work!
I just show up on days I feel like going (mostly days when I can't play golf), help kids for 5 periods & go home. My responsibilities end at 3pm.
I'd never call myself a teacher.

[Laffy Kat]

58. But you were teaching those kids, right?

And "Professor" is even in your DU handle.

[ProfessorGAC]

61. Screenname Is A Long Story

And, that was graduate level chemistry courses for a few years.
That's not teaching. That's imparting information.

[3catwoman3]

55. My senior year of high school had an optional math class they called Math 12X - a little bit of exposure to...

...higher concepts beyond the required 9th grade algebra, 10th grade geometry, and 11th grade trig. My 9th grade algebra teacher, who was fresh out of college, was so bad she got fired after her second year. I had thought it was me, and that I just didn't "get it." Turned out that most of the students who had her also didn't get it.

The final marking period of Math 12X was 6 weeks of intro to calculus. In attempting to explain that calculus had everyday usefulness, the teacher gave the following example - imagine you are a kindergarten teacher, and your students are going to make Easter baskets from a standard 8x11 piece of construction paper. If you know calculus, you will be able to figure out how they can make a basket with maximum capacity so they can fill it with the most candy.

She then handed us a slender black volume and said, "Here. This is all self-explanatory." It was not. Only thing I ever got an F in was that 6 weeks of calculus.

Many years ago, my husband gave me a book entitled Math Without Tears. When I got to page 6 and re-read it 3 times and it still didn't make sense, I closed that book and never opened it again.

I would have so appreciated a teacher like you.

[ProfessorGAC]

57. I've Heard Similar Stories

Especially about Calc.
Funny enough, the top 10 easiest sub jobs I've ever taken were calculus or pre-calc.
But, the reason for that was the students.
Nobody has to take calculus in HS. So, the kids in those classes want to be there!
They're bright & self-motivated, so they all try & if they get stuck aren't too cool to ask for help.
The only classes easier were AP Chemistry & Orchestra.

[BlueSpot]

59. I subbed for a calc class many, many years ago

Mind you, I dropped out of Trig during my own high school experience because math without numbers didn't make any sense to me anymore. I did great in advanced algebra and geometry, but trig did me in.

Anyway, while subbing for that class, when a kid came up to the desk for help, I just had him take it from the top and walk through the problem and explain his thinking from the beginning. I was sweating but it wasn't too long into the process when he self-discovered where he'd gone wrong. The class thought I was super smart. I knew I was super lucky! I'd had no idea what he was talking about for the most part.

Congrats on your great day!

[highplainsdem]

56. Love reading this!

So glad it went that well!

[cstanleytech]

60. Never got that far in school to learn any of that not that I probably would have still understood any of it if I had.

[Clouds Passing]

62. I wish you would have been my mat teacher