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."

 

 

My Super AWESOME class!

      Near the beginning of the year I had a 2 day job for a fourth grade class.  They were so AMAZING.  They came into class quietly and go right to work on what I had written on the board.  There was some quiet chatting and whispering, but school had not started yet.  When the bell rang they got silent and all looked at me for directions.  I mean ALL.  There wasn't one student being distracting, or starring off into space.  No pair of girls were chatting and giggling.  It was like they were waiting for me to say the most interesting thing they were ever going to hear.  I figured it was just a fluke and it wouldn't me like that the rest of the day, but it was.  Every time I quietly asked for their attention, they went silent.  They followed all of my directions and did each and everything that I asked them to.  Both days were completely amazing and I had had some VERY BAD days previous to this class so I was SUPER thankful for these guys.  I bought them Frostys from Wendy's for a thank you at the end of the second day.  They totally deserved it!

       I got a call to work in that class again about two weeks later.  I was concerned that they would be expecting Frostys again.  But I should have known they were too polite to expect that.  In the morning, after roll call, I said, "Wow!  Everyone is here today and on time, that's great!"  As in most schools there was a reward chart if that happened.  One of the boys raised his hand and said, "Ms. Day, we all knew you were coming today and no one wanted to miss it!"  Another student raised her hand and said, "Don't worry Ms. Day we know that teacher's can't afford to bring us Ice Cream everyday.  But it was a nice treat."  This was followed by a chorus of "Thank Yous".

 

     I have now been back to that class 10 days.  The teacher goes to several meetings.  I feel like they are my class.  Maybe I will get super lucky and get a job as a fifth grade teacher at that school next year!