Substitute Cheat Sheet!

This would be a great idea to leave for a teacher, and maybe they will fill it out for the next time!  I would add a pull out schedule as well.  I hate it when the note, from a first grade teacher says something like, "There are several pull outs during the day.  The kids know when and where to go."  Sure they do! 
 

Eeking out a living...

Substitute teaching has been meager this year, at best.  I haven't been able to get many jobs and certainly not the ones that I am most excited about. 

I have had 5 job interviews recently.  Two for new subbing opportunities in the largest school district in our area and one for the Head Start program.  One was for a teaching job to cover the rest of the year and I already know I didn't get that one.  The last two are for directors at child care centers.  I have gone up for many of these types of jobs, but I keep getting the same line.  "We really liked you, but we feel that you would quit on us the minute a better job came along."  It's been almost three years, so....  It's not like I plan to stop pursuing teaching, but I have 15 years of experience in this area and I can do a fantastic job in a child care situation. 

It's frustrating, one job says I have too much education and experience and the next job says I don't have enough experience.  I'm caught in the middle and it's driving me a bit crazy!  Oh, and broke too!  Don't forget about that!  I took out a loan to pay my bills.  I haven't paid a penny on my student loans yet and things aren't looking too good.

Just in case you wanted a downer today.  You're welcome!

Middle School Art Class

Middle school is tough.  It's tough for kids.  It's tough for teachers and it's tough for subs.  Middle schoolers don't want to do what a teacher tells them; no matter what it happens to be. 

I subbed in an art class.  I like to sub in electives, because they are classes that the students chose.  So the idea is that they would be at least okay with being there, right? 

The teacher gave me packets of drawings, with instructions.  The kids could choose any one, or more, of the 20 choices and then add their own enhancements, color and creativity.  A super easy assignment.  So why did I hear so much whining and complaining?  It was like I was asking them to recreate the Mona Lisa, instead of drawing a cartoon duck.

The drawings were a range from super simple to pretty difficult.  Only a few students, throughout the day, chose to challenge themselves with the difficult drawings.  Many of the drawings looked suspiciously the same size as the examples. Others just turned in a blank page.  Few had color or creativity in any way.

I chose one of the more difficult drawings and worked on it a few minutes at a time during the day.  In one of the later periods a student looked at my drawing and was amazed.  "Wow Ms. D.  That is so cool.  You are a really good artist. I bet you were super popular in High School."

I tried very hard not to laugh out loud.  First of all, I was a terrible artist in High School.  I was NOT popular.  Art skills have NOTHING to do with popularity in high school, at least not in my high school. 

 

Substitute Teacher Tip - Map your school!

One of my best tips for other substitutes is to map the school you are going to in the morning.  Even if you have GPS. Just in case technology fails you, you have at least a general idea of where to go.

I don't know why, but for some reason my GPS doesn't know where many schools are.  I end up in the middle of a neigborhood or a nearby park.  After it happened a few times, I started to map my school before I left, double checking the street view to make sure Google actually knows where the school is located.

It is so embarassing to show up late because you got lost.

Thrown to the Wolves!

Do you ever feel like a school is throwing you to the wolves?  A while back, I went into a room with NO warning..  These kids were crazy.  At some point almost half of the kids were sent to the office.  A couple were dragged out of the room by aides.  This is not a behavior classroom. 

At lunch I went to the Principal and told him I wanted to leave.  I have never done that before!  I haven't even considered it!  He talked me into staying and told me that he would "Read them the riot act!" after lunch. 

He came in and asked them to sit in a circle so they could have a class conference.  This took 25 minutes.  Not the conference, the CIRCLE!  When they finally got settled he began quietly asking them about how they thought their day was going.  They complained that I was giving them too much work.  (Following the lesson plan here, and leaving out several things already.) They complained that I promised them an extra recess and then took it away. (The teacher left time in for a special recess if they earned it.  They didn't!)  There was lots of talking and miscellaneous complaints about other students.  He listened quietly and then said, if you can believe it, "It sounds like Ms. Day isn't being fair to you.  If you can agree to have better behavior this afternoon, you can have that extra recess right now."  Then he got up and left, while kids were running out of the door of the classroom and down the hall, passing him, toward the playground. 

If I weren't currently attempting to find a job in this district I would have had a string of words for him that I would not print here. 

I followed them out to the playground, let them have 10 minutes and then blew the whistle.  Do you think they came in?  Are you kidding?  They just ignored me and another teacher came out, blew her whistle, started screaming about them being too loud by her classroom and calling all of their parents.  They finally relented and came back in. 

The teacher had 45 minutes of silent reading time planned for the rest of the day.  I figured that was going to be another disaster, but the kids actually got out their books and read pretty quietly until I told them it was time to clean up and go home.  It was about 10 minutes before the bell rang, but they immediately tried to start leaving.  I had to physically block the door until the bell rang.

I don't plan to EVER return to this school.  Or anywhere that this principal is working.

Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys!

I actually had a fantastic day today working in an ELD (English Language Development) classroom. I hope to get a chance to go back sometime.

But, I saw this on Pinterest and it reminded me of some many sub days.  It made me think of how lucky I sometimes feel to be done with a classroom at the end of the day. 

I recently subbed at an alternative High School.  WOW!  I don't think I have ever heard as much swearing in my life, as I heard in that 4 hours.  I know some pretty salty people, but they got nothin' on these Freshmen.  The severe anger and attitude toward any authority figure was pretty surprising for 14 year olds. 
They have called me back 3 times.  Funny enough, I had something going on each time.  Schucks!

Polish Proverb?

It's time!

Summer is winding down and it is time to get back into the swing of things.  Time to hear those early morning phone calls and rush off to a new school and a new class each day. 

The worst part of subbing, for me, is the unknown.  Will the class be friendly?  Will the teacher be prepared for me?

I always try to go prepared for the worse case scenario, and usually have lots of activities in my toolkit, just in case.

My newest is "This Is My Favorite Part".  It's an easy time filler. 
You could easily make one of these yourself, or I have made it for you and listed it on TPT for only $1.25.

All you do is read any book, or chapter from the class read aloud.  Give the students the worksheet and have them draw and write about it.  If you need to fill more time, have them share with the class.  You could easily fill 60 minutes with reading, writing and sharing time.  Or just fill an extra 10 minutes after reading a story.  The beauty is, you aren't just filling time, the kids are actually making connections to literature and writing.  The teacher is sure to appreciate that when she sees the pile of these cute drawings and descriptions.

Don't forget my other sub plans as well.

• Scattergories - Game Sheets, Rules & Ideas FOR Themes Sub Plans Afterschool FUN
• The Incredible Gummi Worm Science Project Good Emergency Sub Plan
• Make a Monster or Make an Alien Art Game Activity 4 Class, Parties, After School                                   







Orchestra in Middle School

Today I was an Orchestra teacher.  You have heard plenty about my previous forrays into Middle School and their less than stellar results.  Today was different.  These kids really enjoyed playing in the orchestra and were excited about the songs they have been learning. When a song didn't go well they insisted on doing it again so I wouldn't think that's how they really sounded.  It was actually pretty cute.  

I was a little nervous about this for a few reasons. For one, Middle School!  Secondly, I am not musical and don't know anything about tuning or notes or anything.  Mostly, I was afraid of listening to poorly played orchestra music that I don't much enjoy when it is professional.

I was surprised to hear how well they played their pieces and how much I really enjoyed hearing it.  They mostly sounded fantastic, and insisted on stopping and restarting when they didn't.

Too Popular?

For years, before teaching, I worked in after school programs and kindergarten enrichment.  I did this for 15 years and had the same
kids from K-6 along with their older or younger siblings.  You really get to know kids and their families this way. Now, when subbing, I go into a school and kids know me well.  By my first name.  Not only that, but they want hugs, high fives, special dances, sharing of inside jokes, etc.  If they see me, they run out of lines or jump out of their desks and come running into the hallway.  Or, come running down the hall yelling my name and JUMP into my arms.  While I love that they miss me and are so excited to see me.  I have noticed that some teachers aren't so happy about their little guys yelling my name as I walk by the classroom during their spelling test.

I always tell the kids to wait and come see me at lunch or recess, but it doesn't seem to work.

I have also noticed that some administrators, who weren't around during my many years, are giving somewhat concerned looks as well.

I don't want to get a negative reputation because of this.  I know that in the after school program world, if a leader is very popular, it is often because they let the kids do whatever they wanted and were often VERY unprofessional.  More like a kid than an adult.  I am NOT that way.  I always ran my program like a classroom with strict discipline expectations with a fair mix of organized fun and education.  I feel I connect with kids on a special level and that is what makes me popular, but that doesn't come across in this situation. 

Hmm, what to do?  I hope that my skills speak to my strength as a teacher because I really do try to treat each job like a day long job interview.

Showing Movies.......

Usually when I sub for High School it is pretty boring.  Mostly because the students are testing or silent reading or watching a movie.  I have to sit there for period after period watching the kids read, or take a test.  It's not why I got into teaching, but it pays the bills.  Today the classes are watching part of a movie, which drives me kind of nuts to see the same 45 minutes of a movie over and over, but it was my favorite movie, so I thought, "No Problem". 

The Shawshank Redemption is NOT APPROPRIATE for school!!!  I  didn't even think about it as I was reading the sub notes, but guess what, there is sex, swearing, F Bombs, talk of sex, more talk of sex, rape, beatings, and yeah MORE.  I always watched it more for the story, but all of the details STAND OUT when watching it with a room of teenagers.   The kids seemed to know they were going to watch it, so they must have discussed it ahead of time, maybe got permission slips? Although some of the kids seemed really uncomfortable.
 It's not like they were reading the book.  I haven't seen Stephen King on the approved high school reading list yet.  It seems like a different movie could have been picked. 

Fun in First Grade.....

I subbed for a class today that I was in early in the school year.  They all remembered me and were happy to see me.  I have known the teacher for years and so she just left when I got there.  It was a half day job and they were headed to lunch.   They came back, I read them a story, and they went to music.  They did a little writing and then it was free time and time to go home.  It's not often that I get lobbed these softball days lately. It was super nice.  The kids were a little chatty, but great for a sunny Friday afternoon. 

Sign In - Sign Out

I've made my own sign in and out sheet.  I know that kids, older ones especially, want to try to take advantage of a sub teacher.  I look nice, and that can definetly be to  my personal disadvantage in subbing.  I made a sign in and out sheet that I use in every classroom and only allow one student to be gone at a time.  I also leave it for the teacher.  It's a good indicator of how long students are goine, etc.

It looks something like this.....

Ms D's Sign-Out Sheet

Name              Time Out      Time In        Reason For Leaving

______________      _____         _____          ___________________


It sits at the desk in front of me, so that they have to come up and ask before just walking out of the room.

Kids really want you to be one of those "nice" subs that just let them screw around and go anywhere and do anything.  There are plenty of those around.  But I may want a job in this district and I know that those subs get a reputation that is less than favorable.  Their behavior also makes it MUCH more difficult for subs who are actually trying to maintain a little continuity and do the job that we have been asked to do.



I'm Watching!

 

Middle School

You haven't heard much from me lately.  I have been subbing in Middle School quite a bit.  My mom taught me that if I don't have anything nice to say, I shouldn't say anything at all!  So I have been quiet!

I don't know what happens when kids hit middle school that makes them.....not so nice, but I haven't been having a lot of luck lately.  I think I am going to take a little Middle School break.

Mysterious Middle School Mind

I have learned a few things though.  When a teacher's subject is listed on the registration software, you should double check it on the school website.  There are certain jobs I don't feel comfortable subbing for, and apparently I am not the only one, because a district I work for hides those class titles.  Instead of "Shop" or "Industrial Arts"  they just say "Art".  And then you walk into a room where 13 year olds are using band saws and drill presses.  I know how to use power tools, but I am NOT comfortable allowing kids to use them in my presence.  I will not be responsible for the loss of limbs.

I have also realized that certain MS teachers have jobs listed quite often and even though subbing is SUPER competitive around here, these jobs stay up for hours, sometimes even days, when most jobs are gone the minute they are posted.  I have snagged a few and am learning which ones to avoid!  I guess that is why this district, which I just got on with, added a bunch of new subs.

I lost the Plans!

It was like a circus!

So it finally happened.  I lost the days plans, never to be found again!  I think one of the Kindergartners took them home.  I know that one boy was very anxious about my writing a note to his teacher on the plans.  Maybe he swiped them.  I don't know.   I looked EVERYWHERE during my lunch.  I had a morning Kindergarten class that went pretty well, and in the afternoon I had 4 groups of students coming in and out of the classroom.  I was supposed to be teaching them all different things, pick them up from their classrooms, and return them to different classrooms or specials!!! I looked high and low, I asked for help from the partner teacher, I asked for her afternoon schedule from the office, and I tried to call her from the number the office gave me.  No Love!  I was completely on my own.  I waited until the first time, that I could remember and I hoped that the teacher would know that there was a sub.  She didn't, her kids were left alone in her classroom.  One of them finally came down looking for their teacher and then went back to get all of the rest.  They knew who was coming next, so I took them to where they were supposed to go, but no one was there!  I could go on like this.  Point being, sometimes you have to roll with it and HOPE everything turns out okay.  It did, as far as I know.  Hopefully there isn't still some kid waiting in an intervention room hoping for a teacher to show up!

     So maybe now I will copy the plans first thing and stash a copy, especially if they are complicated, like these!

Sicky, Sicky, Sick, Sick!

I have been sick since early January.  Some days I just don't feel like getting out of bed and end up shutting off my phone.  Most days that I have worked over the last month and a half, I feel like I may have been sicker than the teacher that called out!

I've had the flu, chest cold, head cold, a really bad cough, sore throat, ear aches, and MORE!  It just doesn't stop!!!   It feels like I may just be sick for the rest of my life!

One day I had a job and when I woke up I just knew there was no way I would be able to teach Junior High Science while feeling like that.  I tried to cancel my job at 5am, but the system would not let me cancel the job.  I had to call and call until I could get a hold of someone in Human resources or at the school.  I wasn't able to get a hold of anyone until about 15 minutes before I was supposed to be there.  The HR gal explained that it is cutting it too close if they let people cancel their jobs day of, so they don't.  I explained that they would be able to have someone there on time with no problem, if I would have been able to cancel the job at 5am, it would have gotten snapped up by someone else.  So many teachers have been laid off here that it only takes seconds for sub jobs to get taken in the system.  Every district is completely saturated with subs.  Actually this year has been a bit better for subbing, for me, but that is mostly because I have teachers who request me now.  That has made up almost half of the jobs I have gotten this year!



I need help from the Care Bears!  Maybe they will make me better?

 

Do you lose your sub plans?

I am always walking around with my sub plans.  If I need a room number, specific instruction, or time, I just never remember it!  The problem is, I leave it anywhere around the room!  So I started highlighting all around the edges of the page.  Now, if when I leave it somewhere, I can see it among the other masses of papers.  Plus, I can ask the kids if they have seen a paper with highlighter all over it.  I've been doing it for a couple of weeks now and it's working out pretty good!  The other day I heard, "Ms. D, you left your pretty papers over here again!"  

 

Student Stealing

Thursday I was in a classroom I have been in once before.  I also have known some of the kids for a long time. Last time it was kind of a tough day. This time I felt quite comfortable with this class and we had a really good day. 

 

As I have mentioned before, I sometimes give a little prize at the end of the day.  Yeah, I am one of those subs.  This can be a tough job and if it costs me $3 to have a good day, I'm totally okay with that. 

 

I keep an assortment of CHEAP prizes in my sub bag, which I will lay out at the end of the day for students to choose.  Typically I will have them come up two or three at a time after they get their backpacks and are ready to go.  On this particular day a student asked me for help and, as I felt comfortable with the students, I walked away to help.

 

While cleaning up, after bus duty, I realized that there were WAY more than 22 prizes gone.  Usually I don't put too many out, but I just pulled everything out this time, for some reason.  So there were more than 60 items gone. 

 

I feel like it is my fault because I should have stayed there, or stopped the line while helping someone else.  I also should not have put out so many things.  But, I still shouldn't expect theft from elementary students. 

 

I can't decide if I should talk to the teacher about it or talk to them about it at the end of this week when I am scheduled to come to the same class again.  Or just chalk it up as a lesson for myself.  I am leaning toward the last one, but I also don't think kids should get away with stealing.  What to do, what to do?

Cover the classroom Expectations! Great idea!

One of my fav blogs, Clutter Free Classroom, has blogged about her emergency sub plans.  One of the things she asks any sub to do is to review her classroom expectations chart.

 That's a great idea.  Most elementary classrooms have some kind of chart on the wall.  At the beginning of the day you could have students read each of the expectations and review line rules, free time rules, movies rules, etc.  As those things come about during the day.

 

Emergency Sub Plans - Incredible Gummi Worm Science Experiment

I have created a fun and tasty science experiment for students. I think this would be a great emergency kit to have in your car, just incase the sub plans are a little light or there aren't any at all!  All you need is a bag of gummi worms, a pack of cups and this sheet.  You can get both the worms amd the cups at a Dollar Store.  So for only $2-$3 you can have a good back up that will keep the kids interested for a good amount of time at the beginning and the end of the day.


The Incredible Gummi Worm

I have a few other fun things at  TeachersPayTeachers.com.

FREE Valentine's Clipart Border Set TPT

Teachers Pay Teachers Valentine's Day Clipart Border Set FREEBIE

I have been having fun creating some stuff on Inkscape and I thought I would share a freebie with you. 

Okay, this one is a little gross.....

In a fourth grade classroom some kids were having some interesting conversations as they were working on finishing a project just before Christmas.  I walked by one of the groups and they asked for my expertise.

Student:  "Ms. D, if you hold in your fart, does it come out as a burp?" 
Me:       "I don't think that's how it works."
Student:    "I think so!  And if it's true, does the burp have poop particles in it?"
Me:        (Trying really hard not to completely crack up because they were super serious.)  "Guys I don't think there are poop particles in your burps."
Student:    "Are you sure because sometimes my burps taste like poop."