Help with Cleaning up the Classroom

I usually need reminders of good ideas, and this is one I've heard many times before but always seem to forget when the classroom is messiest. 


Play secret scrap.  Tell kids that there is a certain piece of garbage or debris on the ground and that you will reward the student who picks it up with a prize.  (Sticker, pencil, etc)  This little trick usually gets every piece of everything picked up off the floor and you don't have to try to find the broom or crawl around the floor picking everything up while trying to leave on time.

Mailbox DEALS 5 for $10!!

Mailbox is a staple in the teaching world.  I'm sure you know all about it!  Right now they have activity and theme books on closeout $3 each or 5 for $10.  Some of these would be great to keep in your substitute bag, if you sub in elementary school often.


Their graphic........

1. Click this email and shop for Closeouts. No coupon code is needed. 2. Add 5 or more Closeouts to your shopping cart and each Closeout item will drop to only $2!

While supplies last. No adjustments on previous purchases. Subject to change without notice. Qualifying items are found on the page titled "Closeouts".

Interesting ways to take roll....

I hate taking roll. It's super important for us, but the kids see no value in it and even the best classes can't stay quiet and attentive the entire time.  Their only bright spot is getting to take it to the office.  Hopefully I see that kid again.  I haven't on a few occasions in the upper grades.

I was reading the blog "Dr. Jean & Friends".  She has some great ideas for ECE and Kindergarten teachers, which is what I have been doing the last few months.  One of her posts sparked a great idea for subs. 

Give students a question and have them answer instead of saying "Here" or "Present".   Here are her suggestions, which could be altered for older kids but they would probably like to answer these questions as well. 

Here are a few starters:
If you were an animal, what would you be?
If you found a genie in a bottle, what would you wish for?
If you were a candy bar, what would you be?
What is the theme song for your life?
What book character would you like to change places with?
If you found $100, what would you buy?
If you could go on a magic carpet ride, where would you go?
Happiness is…
If I were the teacher I would…

Younger kids will probably give you one or two word answers, but you might want to limit it for the older ones. Maybe three words or less.

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!

 

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.

 

Kids Activities

Kids Activities is a great website with literally thousands of activitiy ideas. I like to have a few ideas on hand in case we need fillers or there are no sub notes.

WOO!

Woo Jr.

Woo Jr. is a kids website that has lots of fun stuff, including coloring sheets, game and lesson ideas, craft ideas and more.

Everything on the site isn't gold, but they do have some things that can be helpful in your sub kit.

They have a newletter they send, it comes about twice a week, with updates, new activities, and ideas.

That early morning call

Early Morning Telephone Call

When you get that early morning call, you know it's going to be an interesting day!

Yesterday I got a call at 7am.  You have to be there at 7:30! 

I am notorious for taking an hour to get ready in the morning, so I knew I would be late, but I also worked at that school in a non-teacher capacity for 2 1/2 years, so I figured they would forgive me a few minutes. 

I don't know how, but I actually made it on time.

I have been getting several late calls.  I don't know if I should take the job or not.  I assume that they know I won't be there on time, if they call me 5 minutes before the shift starts, but I don't want to assume anything.  I would hate to ruin my reputation by being late.

I guess I could get up and get dressed at 6am, just in case, but I am not a morning person and it is very hard to convince myself to do that when I'm tired.

Today I got a call from a school that is about an hour from my home.  The call came at 8am, to be there at 8am.

Even though I need the work, I figure the best thing to do is to let someone take the job who is ready to go and near to the school.

What I do to get ready faster.....

•  Have a couple of outfits of appropriate clothes already put together
• Have a bag packed with supplies for the day
•  cereal bars
• an orange 
• a bottle of water
• some cash to buy lunch if needed
• Have some quick lunches in the fridge or freezer ready to grab and go.
• Keep the car gassed up.
• Get a good night's sleep!

Your Future Classroom

    If you are like me, you want to have your own classroom sometime in the near future.  So, you are probably saving up lots of ideas.  Problem is, printing all of the cool stuff you find on the internet isn't cheap, and it takes up lots of space.
   What I have started doing is keeping digital copies, instead of printing. 
    I have created a folder on my computer called, "Elementary Education".  In that folder I have LOTS of sub folders for different subjects and different sub subjects.  For instance, my Math folder has sub-folders for Mutliplication, Division, Money, Patterns, etc. 
     I keep great ideas I find for all grades, because who knows what grade I will teach. 
     I am signed up for all types of teacher newletters.  I get at least 4-5 emails a day. "Great FREE Math Sheets", "Fun FREE Printables", "FREE Lesson Plans for Earth Day!"  I go through them quickly and glean the best ideas for my digital file.  When I have my own classroom I will be more prepared!
    In some upcoming posts I will share websites that have great resources.

Go with the Flow!

     One of the first things I start my day with, after the roll, is to tell students who I am, why their teacher is gone, and the plan for the day.  I have a mantra I share, "Go With the Flow".  I have them repeat it, depending on the feel of the class, we might even sing song it. But the point is, that I am not Mrs/Mr ClassroomTeacher and things will be slightly different than usual.  I let them know that we will still follow the teacher's plan but things might seem a bit different and its OKAY!
     Some kids just get so anxious when things are different.  You start to hear, "Mrs. CT does this."  "Mr. CT does it like that."  and once that starts, it seems to come up for the rest of the day, over and over.
     We can't do things EXACTLY like their teacher, because chances are, we have never been in the room before, never seen them in action. 
     We know that the anxiety is probably cause by kids being in Piaget's Concrete Stage.  We also know that no matter what they say, subconsciously kids thrive on rules and restrictions and continuity.  Problem is, it is super hard to provide that in a totally new environment.
    If kids hear, right off the bat, that you are going to do your best, but things will be a little different, they know that an inconsistent day is coming, it strangely calms them down. 
    I will remind them a few times during the day, by saying something like, "Math might seem a little different today, but let's remember to________(Making a wave motion with my arm.)"  And usually they can repeat, "Go With The Flow."
   When I return to a classroom, they will usually remember that before they remember my name! 
     I recently returned to a Kindergarten classroom I haven't been in for months and just said,  "Hello Ladies and Jellyfish, what are we going to do today?"  They made the arm wave motion and started singing, "Go With The Flow!  Go With The Flow!  Go With The Flow!"  The new boy in class cried though because he didn't know the game.

Getting More Substitute Teaching Jobs

It didn't take me long to realize that in this economy, in a large metro area, there are thousands of substitutes.  Because of all of the budget cuts, teachers are no longer getting to take days off for meetings and development classes.  This means LESS subbing jobs. 

One way to pad the pay check is to think of creative ways to get jobs.

• Sign up for lots of area districts.
• My closest districts didn't even accept applications for new subs this year.  They just stuck with the subs they had last year.  UGH!  So I have to drive further, but I am signed up for 12, yes 12 area districts.  Some are nearly an hour away, maybe more, but I need the paycheck and the contacts that these sub days provide.
• Charter Schools
• There are TONS of charter schools in my state.  Most of these schools are not on the district sub network, so I have to make individual connections with each of their secretaries.  You can get a list from your local department of education website.
• Private Schools
• If you aren't religious, it's okay!  Not all private schools are religious, and many that are will accept subs who do not subscribe to their religion, as long as you agree not to share your views with the students or contradict the teachings of the school.  Again, check the department of education for a list and start emailing your resume.
• Tutoring
• Usually pays well, but is like 2-4 hours a week.  Another drawback is that they typically want a commitment that may not fit in with accepting a full time teaching job on the day you tutor.
• Instructional Assistant/Teacher's Aid
• Sure, it pays less, but it's a great way to get to know many people in a building.  Just make sure and work into the conversation that you are a fully certified sub, and available for work!  Drop off your sub card in the staff room!
• After School Programs
• These typically pay much less, and are only 3-4 hour shifts, but if you don't have a job for the day it's a great filler.  It also gets you into a school and meeting people.
• Sub Cards
• I have a card that I leave a teacher, to let her/him know that if they liked my work, I can come back.  Repeat work is the best way to get jobs!  Some subs use a little business card, but I want to make an impact, so I purchased postcards from www.VistaPrint.com and had them specially printed with a cute graphic and my personal info, along with enough space on the back to leave a note about the class and my request number on Subfinder, Aesop, or whatever subfinding software they use.  I also leave one in the staff room. 
• Teaching Outside Your Certificate
• Several states allow subs to teach any grade regardless of their certificate.  For example, I am certified for Early Childhood and Elementary, but I can also sub for Middle School, High School, or even Special Education and English Language Learners.
• The trick to remember here is to know your limits of comfort.  I don't take music, foreign language or Special Education classes, because I don't feel that I would be best for those classrooms.

Any other ideas?