Today was a very easy day in subland. I was a roving sub, basically auditors needed to meet with teachers so I would break them and they would be gone for about 15 minutes and then be back. Needless to say it was a very easy day, especially since it was an early release day.
I did get to go into one of the third grade classrooms which was nice because I got to see some of the students I had when I was student teaching. Of course they were in 1st grade when I had them so they have gotten bigger. They remembered me too, which was nice. There was one student in that class that I really remembered because he was awful in 1st grade, he was ADHD and always forgot to take his medication, so of course he would be causing a lot of problems. One day in class he was putting together a puzzle with a couple other students. It was a puzzle of Chucky from Rugrats, I asked the students who it was to make sure they knew. He said "It's Chucky from Rugrats and it could be the Chucky that kills people." I was very shocked when I heard him say this because obviously he had seen the movie. Just goes to show how much parenting really plays in the lives of children because who lets a six year old watch that movie! Well that is my reflection for today!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Lesson Plans
Today I had a very nice 2nd grade classroom, except of course one student who was constantly going out of the way for attention. All together a good group! The only thing that gave me frustration was the lesson plans themselves, hand written and on binder paper!
As a substitute teacher I find lesson plans on binder paper completely unacceptable! There have been times where I couldn't read what the teacher had written because of their handwriting. All classrooms in the district that I work in have computers in them. Most teachers are issued their own laptop to use for lesson planning. So I ask, why do they hand write plans? One thought is out of laziness, do they simply not take the time out to type of some lesson plans? Most teachers have a template on their computer for substitute lesson plans and just alter it accordingly. Teachers need to get with the times and use technology that is there!
When writing lesson plans teachers need to make sure to add in details, like how they usually teach lessons, that way a sub has a place to start. Frequently I have to ask the students the procedures of the class since the teacher doesn't have them included. What I would love most to see included in lessons plans would be a seating chart. Yes the teachers know their students names but as a sub going to a different class everyday can be challenging. Knowing students names give you power. Most of the time for upper grades I make a quick seating chart before the students come in, sometimes there are names on the desks, other times I have even snooped in desks to find a paper with their name on it. For primaries since they aren't at desks too often I make name tags out of masking tape. Yes I used to actually buy name tags, but they are not very sticky and would fall off, masking tape works best. Sometimes teachers actually leave name tags that they have for the students and that I must say is fabulous. I guess most teachers don't realize these things because they have never been a sub before. I can't wait until I have my own classroom because I will provide awesome plans and support for my substitutes!
As a substitute teacher I find lesson plans on binder paper completely unacceptable! There have been times where I couldn't read what the teacher had written because of their handwriting. All classrooms in the district that I work in have computers in them. Most teachers are issued their own laptop to use for lesson planning. So I ask, why do they hand write plans? One thought is out of laziness, do they simply not take the time out to type of some lesson plans? Most teachers have a template on their computer for substitute lesson plans and just alter it accordingly. Teachers need to get with the times and use technology that is there!
When writing lesson plans teachers need to make sure to add in details, like how they usually teach lessons, that way a sub has a place to start. Frequently I have to ask the students the procedures of the class since the teacher doesn't have them included. What I would love most to see included in lessons plans would be a seating chart. Yes the teachers know their students names but as a sub going to a different class everyday can be challenging. Knowing students names give you power. Most of the time for upper grades I make a quick seating chart before the students come in, sometimes there are names on the desks, other times I have even snooped in desks to find a paper with their name on it. For primaries since they aren't at desks too often I make name tags out of masking tape. Yes I used to actually buy name tags, but they are not very sticky and would fall off, masking tape works best. Sometimes teachers actually leave name tags that they have for the students and that I must say is fabulous. I guess most teachers don't realize these things because they have never been a sub before. I can't wait until I have my own classroom because I will provide awesome plans and support for my substitutes!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Back Again
Today I had the class that I had last Friday. !st graders who normally behave. Again they were very talkative and some of them weren't being very nice to one another. I did take pictures this time of the classroom since I find it organized nicely. You'll notice that there isn't a lot of clutter which is so common in other classrooms.
Here is the listening center area and display for students writing.
Here is the word wall, all magnetic and laminated.
Here is the class name list, this is how the teacher chooses the helpers of the day, the next two names on the list.
Here is the calendar area as well as the count for how many days of school.
Here is the centers organization. The students are in color coded tables (determined by the supply basket in the middle of the tables.) They move through centers with their table group, centers are magnetic, and are rotated once per day. This shows where they start and then they they go to the one underneath, 15min at 4 centers per day.
Here is a view of the tables.
Here is the rug area for shared reading and read alouds
This is my example of the art project we did over the past two days. We drew flowers on a paper, cut them out and then used tissue paper squares that we wrapped around a pencils eraser, dipped in glue and then pressed it to the paper.
That is all for today! 5th grade tomorrow!
Here is the listening center area and display for students writing.
Here is the word wall, all magnetic and laminated.
Here is the class name list, this is how the teacher chooses the helpers of the day, the next two names on the list.
Here is the calendar area as well as the count for how many days of school.
Here is the centers organization. The students are in color coded tables (determined by the supply basket in the middle of the tables.) They move through centers with their table group, centers are magnetic, and are rotated once per day. This shows where they start and then they they go to the one underneath, 15min at 4 centers per day.
Here is a view of the tables.
Here is the rug area for shared reading and read alouds
This is my example of the art project we did over the past two days. We drew flowers on a paper, cut them out and then used tissue paper squares that we wrapped around a pencils eraser, dipped in glue and then pressed it to the paper.
That is all for today! 5th grade tomorrow!
Friday, June 11, 2010
A Year Gone By
Yesterday I substituted at a school where I long termed subbed last year for about two and a half months. I had about half of the students that I had last year, but I knew most of the students in the class. They were so talkative it was crazy! We ended up getting through most of the work but getting them quiet was so hard and frustrating!
First off, I had one student who right away I found out he had not taking his medication that day so he was bouncing off the walls all day and was constantly shouting out. That didn't help the rest of the class, mostly just instigated things.
Secondly, one of my students from last year has not changed one bit! He is still misbehaving constantly, picking on other students, not getting his work done etc. I tried to talk to him about how I was disappointed in him and asked him why he was acting that way but he wouldn't even look me in the eye. I think he gets away with things like that at home so why should school be any different. It makes you wonder how our future generations will turn out...
Anyway, the day was rough and I was glad when it was over!!
However, today was a much better day! I had first grade at a very nice school. They were a bit chatty but other than that we had a great day. I even learned a new art project, I'll post some pictures of it later after I finish one. Also, the classroom is one of the best organized classes that I have ever seen. I have visited some classrooms that are overwhelming with the piles of stuff everywhere but this one was perfect! I am going back on Monday and will post some pictures so you can see how lovely it is! I will also explain how some of her centers and things work.
One of the hard parts about subbing is thinking on your feet. Today I had to come up with a poem off the top of my head! Here it is:
My Dogs
My dogs like to play
They are silly everyday
One is white with black spots
The other is brown with no dots
They run, jump, and bark
All day long and in the dark
I love my dogs, they are my joy
One is a girl, the other a boy!
Also, I had to come up with a P.E. game too. I tried something new where I started with a motion and every student then added a motion of their own. We got through most of the class but then they were getting silly, it might work better with an older class. After that I resorted to playing four corners which is always a favorite for primaries. I need to come up with something good to play for Monday! That is all for now!
First off, I had one student who right away I found out he had not taking his medication that day so he was bouncing off the walls all day and was constantly shouting out. That didn't help the rest of the class, mostly just instigated things.
Secondly, one of my students from last year has not changed one bit! He is still misbehaving constantly, picking on other students, not getting his work done etc. I tried to talk to him about how I was disappointed in him and asked him why he was acting that way but he wouldn't even look me in the eye. I think he gets away with things like that at home so why should school be any different. It makes you wonder how our future generations will turn out...
Anyway, the day was rough and I was glad when it was over!!
However, today was a much better day! I had first grade at a very nice school. They were a bit chatty but other than that we had a great day. I even learned a new art project, I'll post some pictures of it later after I finish one. Also, the classroom is one of the best organized classes that I have ever seen. I have visited some classrooms that are overwhelming with the piles of stuff everywhere but this one was perfect! I am going back on Monday and will post some pictures so you can see how lovely it is! I will also explain how some of her centers and things work.
One of the hard parts about subbing is thinking on your feet. Today I had to come up with a poem off the top of my head! Here it is:
My Dogs
My dogs like to play
They are silly everyday
One is white with black spots
The other is brown with no dots
They run, jump, and bark
All day long and in the dark
I love my dogs, they are my joy
One is a girl, the other a boy!
Also, I had to come up with a P.E. game too. I tried something new where I started with a motion and every student then added a motion of their own. We got through most of the class but then they were getting silly, it might work better with an older class. After that I resorted to playing four corners which is always a favorite for primaries. I need to come up with something good to play for Monday! That is all for now!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Blog Idea
I have been substitute teaching for over two years now and have had some interesting experiences during my time. I am hoping that soon my time subbing will end and I will have a classroom all of my own. That may or may not happen this year because of more state budget cuts. A teacher that I am friends with ended up subbing while her school was on break because of something to do with how she went from a traditional school to a year round school this year. Anyways I ran into her a few times and she just couldn't believe that it is what I do every day since it gets so crazy. I just saw her last week and she told me that I should write a book about my subbing experiences. Good idea, but instead of a book I thought a blog would work better for me. So on here I will be recounting the experiences that I have had already as a substitute and also input recent experiences that I have had.
First off, I began substitute teaching when I lived in Northern California, before I attended a credential program. I got my emergency credential so I could sub. I would go to random elementary schools in the county, find lesson plans left for me and do the best that I could to follow them. I even ended up subbing in a preschool classroom for two weeks while the teacher they had hired was waiting on having her finger prints cleared. I did enjoy playing with the four year old, helping them learn their letters, do puzzles and just figure out how to socially be in a classroom. If preschool teachers weren't paid so poorly it would definitely be an area I would consider going into. I only subbed until November and then I moved back to San Diego. That was my start of substitute teaching and I didn't sub again until the spring, in April I believe. More later....
First off, I began substitute teaching when I lived in Northern California, before I attended a credential program. I got my emergency credential so I could sub. I would go to random elementary schools in the county, find lesson plans left for me and do the best that I could to follow them. I even ended up subbing in a preschool classroom for two weeks while the teacher they had hired was waiting on having her finger prints cleared. I did enjoy playing with the four year old, helping them learn their letters, do puzzles and just figure out how to socially be in a classroom. If preschool teachers weren't paid so poorly it would definitely be an area I would consider going into. I only subbed until November and then I moved back to San Diego. That was my start of substitute teaching and I didn't sub again until the spring, in April I believe. More later....
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