“Why do I feel like I’m talking to my mom?”
— Student to me, during a debate about whether or not he was on task. He wasn’t.

Best. Compliment. Ever.

(Source)
My persona when I am subbing is stern but fair, encouraging but not coddling. I don’t argue with students. I just tell them what they need to hear, what they need to do. Ultimately I do care about how they are treated and what they are learning, as a former teacher (I spelled “teacher” incorrectly earlier, ha!) and as a mother.

I think they get that.

So when a certain student who is very verbal in class (i.e. won’t shut up) tried to give me reasons why he was in fact doing his work, I was not having it.

Hence, the quote above.