Entertainment
How to Become a Substitute Teacher (And Why I Love It)
Last spring, on a whim, I applied to be a substitute teacher. I thought it would be a good way to get involved at my kids’ elementary school beyond the occasional class party signup. And, despite having no background in education, I wanted to help out with the teacher shortage.
So, I turned in the paperwork — which moves like molasses, fyi — then took a one-day training session. As soon as I jumped in, I loved it. Yet anytime I tell friends I’m a substitute teacher, the most common reaction is, “Oh, wow, I could never do that.” But I am here to say: Yes, you can. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way.
Lean into the flexibility. One of the best parts about substitute teaching is the flexibility to fit your schedule. In Tennessee, I make between $90 to $100 a day. Even if you go just once a month, you’re still helping out.
Showing up for a full day actually feels less exhausting than going in for a special event. Many parents have gone into school for lunch or Valentine’s Day parties, when the acoustics of the cafeteria are at full blast or the sugar rush hits an ultimate high. But most teachers run their classrooms like a tight ship, and the kids for the most part are a trained crew. So, by the time you show up, all you have to do is follow the lesson plan for the day and they’ll act accordingly.
Find your ideal grades. Kindergarten is chaotic yet sweet. First grade is delightful because the kids accidentally call you Mommy. But I found that second grade is my sweet spot. The kids are independent but haven’t started all the weird social stuff; and I can still do the math. And I was nervous about subbing for Special Education because I didn’t know how to navigate helping children with differing abilities. But I immediately bonded with the students, and I loved the one-on-one connection you can form with the kids in smaller classes, as opposed to facing 25 kids at a time.
Set boundaries with your own kids. If you’re going to be subbing at your child’s school, make a game plan with them ahead of time. It’s a love fest whenever I run into my younger children in the halls. But my 4th grader told me I am NOT allowed to say ‘hi’ to him at school; I should not acknowledge his presence or that I gave birth to him.
Get to know the school employees. I figured all the teachers would eat lunch together in the teachers’ lounge, like they do on TV. But everyone’s so spent, they mostly retreat to their own spaces for a few precious minutes of quiet time. However! There are still plenty of places to engage, whether it’s by the copy machine or in the library. The school admin team will be your lifeline; and shooting the breeze with the cafeteria staff has become the highlight of my day.
Don’t let down your guard. The students have a greater understanding of the system than you do. They’ll try anything to throw you off your game. Lunch at 10:30. Double recess breaks. Snacks in the loft. They’re ruthless. Fortunately, every classroom has at least one student who will be there for you. He or she is the one you can lean on to tell you if something is off.
Come up with your own gimmick. Here’s one of those little details that goes a long way. I make it rain with stickers. One fifth-grade teacher I know does personalized doodles on her kids’ tests — talk about a pro move.
Go easy on yourself. There will be days when kids show up and just don’t want to be at school. One may look up at you with her jack-o’-lantern teeth and flawless skin and tell you she hates your glasses — don’t take it personally. And there’ll be times when you’ll have to improvise. When the kids ask me something I don’t know, I think it’s okay to admit you don’t have all the answers.
Toby Rose is a writer and mom of three in Nashville. Her work has appeared on goop, Real Simple, and Parents Magazine. You can follow her @tobyfels.
Note from Cup of Jo: We will be matching readers’ donations to Everytown up to $2,000. Just forward your donation receipts to hello@cupofjo.com. Thank you so much xo
P.S. A formula for easy lunchbox packing, and how to help ease kids’ separation anxiety.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
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Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
